Sustainable impact at a glance
Our impact is measured against key metrics and reported transparently to our stakeholders. We are making a tangible difference in communities across Africa through our sustainable finance initiatives, social investments, and responsible business practices focusing on four positive impact areas.
Financial health and inclusion
Ways in which we support financial inclusion and financial health for individuals and households include:
Our goal
- Enabling access to and effective use of a range of quality financial products and services
- Providing innovative solutions for under-served individuals and communities, including women and young people
- Providing effective financial education to improve customers’ knowledge of available products and services, empowering them to manage their finances effectively, and raising awareness of the benefits and cost savings offered by digital solutions
Our impact in 2024
- 2.8 million MyMo account holders with total deposits of R7.38 billion, South Africa
- 388 780 participants in financial literacy initiatives.
- R567 million estimated savings for homeowners through LookSee solutions and discounts on home loans in EDGE certified developments.
Business growth and job creation:
We provide businesses with financial and non- financial services to enable them to expand, improve productivity, access new markets and create jobs. Our business development programmes include access to finance and markets and bespoke training provided by specialists and sponsored by Standard Bank. Targeted support includes mentorship, skills development and industry certification.
Our goals
Ways in which we support MSME growth and sustainability include:
- Providing convenient, accessible and relevant financial services, including affordable credit
- Supporting businesses to access value chains and markets and enabling intra-African and inter- African trade
Our impact in 2024
- We provide services for 762 790 SME clients across 16 African countries
- In 2024, SBSA onboarded more than 54 000 new SME clients, providing them with support as they start, manage and grow their businesses.
Infrastructure development
Sustainable economic growth and human development depends on the development of appropriate infrastructure to ensure access to energy, water, transport and telecommunications. Africa however faces major deficits in critical infrastructure. Of the continent’s population of 1.2 billion, about half (600 million) lack access to grid electricity.
Our goals
Standard Bank supports economic growth and human development in Africa by financing the development of large scale infrastructure projects in sectors such as energy, water, transport and telecommunications across our countries of operation. We also aim to support greater regional integration by enhancing connectivity among African countries, thereby promoting intra-African trade and strengthening economic ties.
We working with governments and the private sector to facilitate and finance large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa, supporting economic development and improving access to public goods including water, telecommunications and transport services
Our impact in 2024
- R33.6 billion in sustainable finance mobilised for infrastructure including R19 billion finance for new renewable energy power plants, representing 1 703MWp capacity
Climate change mitigation and adaptation:
Africa has already experienced significant biodiversity loss, water shortages, reduced food production, loss of life and reduced economic growth owing to climate impacts. Standard Bank partners with our clients to understand their climate risks and provide solutions to help them reduce their carbon emissions, manage and mitigate climate risks and improve their resilience.
Our goals
We do this by:
- Financing utility scale and decentralised renewable energy. We aim to substantially grow lending to and investment in the renewable energy sector in the short, medium and long term and to be a leading enabler of Africa’s just energy transition
- Partnering with business owners to understand their climate-related risks and opportunities and develop solutions to help strengthen their resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
- Engaging our clients to understand their transition plans, to support alignment of our portfolio with our climate commitments
Our impact in 2024
- R2.4 billion green-aligned financing disbursed to homes
- R2.2 billion finance mobilised for climate-smart agri finance
- 1 500 business and commercial clients provided with R2.9 billion for renewable energy solutions, representing 235MWp
- 27% increase in onsite solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation capacity for own operations
More on sustainability
Environmental, social and governance
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk management is embedded in our policies, processes, and governance structures.
Our climate strategy
We are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and supporting a just energy transition in Africa.