Akbank/Gür: We Operate with a Comprehensive Strategy that Encompasses People, Society, and Every Aspect of Life

Foreks - Akbank (IS:AKBNK), the only bank from Turkey included in the 2024 Gender Equality Working Group of UNEP FI and UN Women, has been recognized as a "best practice example" in a guide developed by the participating banks.

Akbank has been showcased for its pioneering work in gender equality and women's empowerment within the framework established by the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and the United Nations Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Unit (UN Women).

The bank has become the only Turkish bank featured as a "best practice example" in the "Guidelines for Setting Goals on Advancing Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment for Banks," developed collectively by the participating banks in the working group. The bank’s efforts to prioritize women in sustainable financing, SME support, and international borrowing projects have been instrumental in its recognition in this guide at an international level.

In a related statement, Akbank's General Manager Kaan Gür said, "At Akbank, we do not limit sustainability to the environment; we operate with a comprehensive strategy that encompasses people, society, and every aspect of life. Gender equality and women's empowerment are a critical part of our efforts. As a result of the initiatives we carry out with determination, we are proud to represent both our sector and our country internationally as the only bank from Turkey in this important guide by UNEP FI and UN Women."

The Gender Equality Working Group aims to develop a holistic approach to gender equality in banking, providing guidance across a wide spectrum, from human resources to financial health and inclusivity, and from social investments to the supply chain. The "Guidelines for Setting Goals on Advancing Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment for Banks" prepared by the group includes roadmaps for financial institutions in critical areas such as gender-sensitive leadership and workplace environments, portfolio transformation, financial inclusion, and ecosystem transformation.