BUSINESS: 327 PRACTICES
Alpha Bank Group
The Alpha Bank Group is one of the leading Groups of the financial sector in Greece. It offers a wide range of high-quality financial products and services in the domestic and international market and has one of the highest capital adequacy ratios in Europe.
Alpha Bank, through the program "Together, with the aim of the environment", implements a set of actions with the aim of preventing and dealing with natural disasters, protecting the environment, but also the practical support of local communities.
Through the program "Together, with the aim of the environment" the Bank has always been a helper of society, responding to natural disasters, directly supporting local communities and numerous social groups that have been affected by fires, floods, earthquakes or other extraordinary events. At the same time, it strengthens the work of the competent bodies active in prevention and response, takes extraordinary regulatory measures to support its Customers, Individuals and Businesses who live or are based in the affected areas.
Alpha Bank has been helping for decades in the effort to strengthen areas affected by disasters. This initiative concerns actions to support the project of forest fire fighting, reforestation and support of fire-affected populations from 2018 until today.
The "Together, with the aim of the environment" Program includes a set of actions that cover:
More specifically, the Bank supports the work and institution of volunteer firefighters, supporting their commendable and continuous effort to save human lives, property and forests. Based on the data of the European Forest Fire Information System, during 2021, 84 forest fire events were mapped in Greece, which burned a total area exceeding 1,300,000 hectares, with Evia, Attica and the Peloponnese have suffered the most serious and extensive disasters.
Taking responsible action to prevent and deal with fires, Alpha Bank proceeded to donate fire trucks to the following Associations, active in the areas that suffered the most catastrophic damage in 2021, Evia, Attica and the Peloponnese:
At the same time, he financially supported the work of the Associations:
This Corporate Responsibility initiative follows previous actions of the Bank that contribute to the protection of the natural environment, but also to the overall response to the environmental crisis. On the occasion of the devastating fires of Attica in 2018 and with the aim of strengthening the work of the Fire Brigade, Alpha Bank proceeded with a sponsorship of Euro 325,000 for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment, specifically 2,000 helmets. Also, in the summer of 2021, it helped those affected by the fires in Evia and Attica with essential items, through the Greek Red Cross, as it has done in recent years and following the fires in Marathon, Rafina, Kythira, Oropos and Kapandriti.
At the same time, during 2021, as part of its sustainable and responsible strategy, the Bank contributed to the restoration of the Arona forest in Katerini, in collaboration with the environmental company Reforest'Action and the Forestry Research Institute of Thessaloniki. It designed and offered its clients the opportunity to make investments with an Environmental Impact and finance the planting of 17,379 trees (broadleaf oaks, hornbeams and small hedges). The restoration of the Arona forest, an area of over 10,000 acres, through the implementation of a sustainable and quality management program, leads to a gentle and careful intervention that will strengthen the resilience of the forest, the improvement of its environmental quality, the timber and the wildlife protection, while during the period 2021-2026 it is planned to plant 30,000 trees.
Accordingly, in the devastating fire in the Mastic villages of South Chios, the restoration of which was necessary for the local economy and heritage, Alpha Bank stood by the Union of Mastic Producers of Chios, with the donation of 2,000 mastic saplings for the replanting of the affected areas.
In addition, for the last five years, the Bank has been supporting the Master's Program "Environmental, Disaster and Crisis Management Strategies" of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, by providing scholarships and covering operating expenses. The Program has formed a qualified community with specialized knowledge and skills in matters of the environment, disasters and crises, which is mobilized in events of great severity, such as the fires of recent years in Attica, Evia and the Peloponnese, setting up research and volunteering groups, with the aim immediate support for those affected, but also informing society and the scientific community.
Alpha Bank, motivated to be close to those in need, responds immediately to affected areas, based on the strategy it has developed. It offers immediate and substantial help, covering recorded material needs. With its contribution in emergency situations, it stands by not only its Customers, but the whole of society. The direct results through the provision of basic necessities such as medicine, food, clothing, huts and ranches are the strengthening of the affected families and the support of the state agency, which in times of crisis is unable to cover all the needs arising from the Natural Disaster.
For example, in response to the fires in Western Attica in 2018, the Bank proceeded to replace the damaged terminals in its Business Clients that had suffered damage from the fires, as well as the possibility of interest-free suspension of payments for a period of up to twelve months, to its Clients, (Individuals and Businesses), who are residents or active in the affected areas and have suffered damage.
At the same time, the Bank, introducing to the Greek market the concept of Investments with Environmental Impact (Impact Investments), in the context of its sustainable and responsible investment strategy, gives its Customers the opportunity to become participants in "Together, with the aim of the environment". With this innovative initiative, the combination of an investment product with a targeted tree planting action is achieved, as for every Euro 1,000 nominal value of participation in these investment products, a tree is planted by the environmental company Reforest' Action. Starting in 2021, Alpha Bank's Private Banking Clients contribute to the protection of the environment by financing through Reforest' Action the planting of 17,379 trees in the Arona forest in Katerini. Tree planting has contributed to the sequestration of 2,606 tons of carbon dioxide, providing shelter to over 52,000 wild animals, producing more than 69,500 months of oxygen and creating approximately 17,380 new work hours.
Evia, Peloponnese, Attica, Katerini, Chios, Kythira
Hellenic Red Cross, Reforest Action, Forestry Research Institute of Thessaloniki, WWF, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chios Mastic Producers Union.
The Bank strengthens the affected areas even after the end of the emergency by participating in environmental restoration actions, either through the donation of saplings or through voluntary actions such as tree planting, olive picking and oil purchase, etc. Alpha Bank Employees are encouraged to participate in the initiatives in question that are organized every year by the Bank, contributing to further awareness and contribution to social and environmental issues but also to the spirit of modern business and the need for business to contribute to social development and progress.
Respect for human values is a priority for the Bank and is taken into account both in the formulation of its strategy and in its business model, which aims to create value for its Stakeholders.
As the Bank's activities are directly linked to society and citizens, it is committed to operating responsibly, taking into account the economic, social and environmental parameters of its operation and seeks to contribute to the support of local societies, prioritizing culture, education, health and environmental protection. The Corporate Social Responsibility department coordinates all the Bank's Departments, in order to jointly formulate the best possible response plan in cases of extraordinary events, when they arise.
In this context, Alpha Bank supports local communities affected by natural disasters either through financial support or through donations in kind. At the same time, it is taking extraordinary regulatory measures to support its Customers, Individuals and Businesses residing or based in the affected areas. This social action of the Bank has the effect of further strengthening the relations of the Bank's branch network with the residents of the regions and developing the feeling of social contribution of its representatives. In addition, through its physical presence in the affected areas, it listens to the ongoing needs of the local community more effectively and provides solutions related to its industry and beyond.
Finally, the social action of the Bank brings additional positive results to society through the strengthening of awareness of the business community and the Banking sector.
