HSBC Group wins first Financial Times Sustainable Banking Award

HSBC Group is the overall winner of the first edition of the UK Financial Times Sustainable Banking Awards. The award, recognising the bank's leadership in integrating social, environmental and business objectives in to its operations, saw HSBC coming out top from a total of 49 financial services companies.

"HSBC is pleased to be awarded the sustainable bank of the year award," Jon Williams, head of Group Sustainable Development, HSBC Holdings plc, said.

"This recognises the outstanding contribution of employees, clients and partners across the world in meeting HSBC's sustainability goals. It also sets a new standard by which future performance will be measured."

Sustainable banking means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the wellbeing of future generations. "This means that we take account of how our business affects society and the planet when making our commercial decisions," he added.

The approach is at the heart of HSBC's corporate social responsibility (CSR) and is a vital part of the HSBC brand. "It's something to which everyone at HSBC can contribute," Mr Williams said.

During the awards, HSBC also received a commendation for excellence in the 'Sustainable Deal of the Year' category for a project finance deal to provide 1,800 low-emission buses to Santiago, Chile.

"Winning awards is always great but in this case the most important thing is that it highlights the fact that when HSBC says it cares about sustainable development, it means it," Shaun Wallis, HSBC Bank Malta's chief executive, said.

"In Malta as in London, HSBC is committed to meeting the environmental and social challenges that face communities where it operates."