BRAC Bank ranked No.1 in Bloomberg ESG, named Top Sustainable Bank by Central Bank

BRAC Bank has reinforced its leadership in sustainability with two prestigious recognitions from global and local institutions. The bank ranked number 1 in Bloomberg's ESG Rating 2024 among all Bangladeshi organisations, marking the third consecutive year in the top ten. Simultaneously, Bangladesh Bank named BRAC Bank as one of the top sustainable banks for the fifth consecutive year.

Bloomberg's ESG Rating 2024 awarded BRAC Bank an overall score of 3.8, comprising Environmental (1.76), Social (5.83), and Governance (3.07), outperforming peers including IDLC Finance and City Bank. The recognition reflects BRAC Bank's transparent disclosure of carbon emissions and governance benchmarks through its Sustainability and Impact Report 2024, IFRS S1 & S2 Report 2024, and Annual Report 2024. The bank also leads in sustainable financing, with BDT 50,215 crore in outstanding green loans as of December 2024, representing 82% of its total assets.

Bangladesh Bank's sustainability rating highlighted BRAC Bank's performance across five criteria: Sustainable Finance Index, CSR activities, Green Refinance, Core Banking Sustainability Index, and Banking Services Coverage. The bank is the first in Bangladesh to publicly disclose Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions under the PCAF framework and to publish independent IFRS S1 and S2 reports aligned with ISSB standards. Plans are underway to issue a BDT 1,000 crore Social Bond in line with ICMA Principles.

BRAC Bank has also established 50 Sustainable Finance Helpdesks nationwide to expand access to green financing. CSR initiatives in 2024 benefited 50,000 individuals through health programs, 46,000 through climate-resilient agriculture projects, and 700 underprivileged women with higher education scholarships.

Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, managing director and CEO (current charge) of BRAC Bank, said, "Sustainability is the foundation of long-term resilience and growth. Recognitions from Bloomberg and Bangladesh Bank affirm our commitment to responsible banking, transparency, and impact. ESG is not only about serving communities and protecting the planet but also about building a future-ready institution that investors, regulators, employees, and customers can trust."