Message from the Chairman of the Board of Directors
We are proud to be able to contribute to creating a better future for all our customers and partners.
Chairman of the Board of Directors Bank CenterCredit JSC
Bakhytbek Baiseitov
Dear friends!
Summing up the results of 2023, I would like to note that the economy and banking sector of Kazakhstan have successfully adapted to external conditions and in the past year have reached the trajectory of sustainable growth. Under these conditions, Bank CenterCredit JSC has developed a new development strategy, the consistent implementation of which resulted in positive results.
2023 was a busy year for sustainable development initiatives for the entire financial sector of the country. We recognise that serving our customers means not only a product offer, but also a responsible way of doing business. The Bank understands the value of a professional team of employees, so it strives to create decent working conditions for employees, by taking care of their health and well-being, and providing opportunities for their training and growth. We set ourselves ambitious goals to implement best practices in corporate governance, social responsibility and environmental protection.
We are pleased to present you the first sustainability report of our bank over the past year. In this document, we have compiled the most significant events and indicators that demonstrate our achievements in the environmental, corporate and social areas.
We are proud to contribute to creating a better future for all our clients and partners. This is actively carried out in the regions where the Bank operates. We strive to be transparent and open to the public. In this report you will find information about the projects implemented by the Bank, resolved social and environmental issues, and improved business processes for them to be more efficient and safer for the environment.
This document will help you better understand our mission and values, as well as give you an opportunity to evaluate our contribution to the development of society. As before, we continue to consistently develop to improve the quality of customer service, improve products and services, ensure growth due to the technological efficiency of all existing processes, and further develop together with our partners.
Message from the President
In 2023, we have done a lot of work, having formed the entire management structure of the ESG agenda.
President
Bank CenterCredit JSC
Ruslan Vladimirov
Dear partners, clients and colleagues!
This is the first sustainability report of Bank CenterCredit JSC for 2023 prepared in accordance with international standards.
The report reflects the importance and significance of the sustainable development agenda in the Bank's operations, as well as identifies our priorities and contribution to the business development of our corporate clients and partners. It also discusses about the programs and solutions that we implement to improve the quality of life of ordinary citizens who use banking services on a daily basis, as well as our contribution to creating value for society as a whole through the implementation of an extensive social investment program.
The development of our bank's business model is based on a customer-centric approach, which determines our development strategy and the new and additional services and products that we developed and implemented during 2023. The sustainable development agenda, which includes environmental impact (E), social impact (S) and corporate governance (G), has also become an important element of our corporate long-term development strategy starting in 2023.
At the beginning of 2023, we initiated a project on ESG transformation. Based on the results of the analysis, with the involvement of international consultants, a roadmap for sustainable development until 2026 was prepared and approved, which included the implementation of more than 100 projects and initiatives in the area of sustainable development.
In 2023, we have done a lot of work, having formed the entire management structure of the ESG agenda: from the relevant directorate to the Sustainability Committee under the Board of Directors, which has allowed us to integrate the necessary elements into all operational and strategic areas of the Bank's activities.
Bank Profile
Branches
Facilities
SST
ATMs
POS terminals
Bank CenterCredit JSC is one of the leaders in the country's banking system, providing simple and convenient products and services of the most modern technologies in all regions of Kazakhstan for 35 years.
Today, the Bank has a wide branch network in the republic, serving individuals and legal entities in 21 branches and more than 150 offices in Kazakhstan. The Bank's clients are more than 3 million individuals and more than 140 thousand. The Bank attaches great importance to innovation and customer orientation, developing unique products specifically adapted to the needs of various categories of customers, providing them with a high level of convenience and accessibility of banking services.
The company is actively involved in the implementation of government programs to support entrepreneurship and is regularly awarded with high ratings by the expert community, confirming its reputation as the best bank for small and medium-sized businesses in Kazakhstan.
Key indicators for sustainable development
Green Agenda initiatives
163632 tons СО2 - equivalent
Reducing CO2 emissions from 2021 as part of the GEFF program for financing green economy projects
Staff
65%
Proportion of female employees in the Bank
64%
Proportion of women in senior management
4146 people
Employees who have completed an online course on foundations of ESG
Social Agenda initiatives
1.78 billion tenge
Social investments in charitable projects in the areas of education, health, ecology, culture and sports, as well as employee support
273392 million tenge
Direct economic value created
35202 million tenge
Tax deductions including corporation tax (CT)
Ecology
123636 liters
Water conservation
27%
Reduction of specific indicators of electricity consumption per unit area compared to 2022
191 thousand tons
Transfer of recyclables for disposal and recycling
Corporate governance
BCC recognises that the quality of corporate governance plays a crucial role in ensuring the Bank's sustainability and long-term success. Effective corporate governance underpins the Bank's operations, strategic decisions, and relations with shareholders, customers, and other stakeholders.
Corporate governance structure of the Bank
Bank's contribution to achieving UN Sustainable development goals
In 2023, the Bank initiated an assessment of the priority Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on the results of the questionnaire analysis and the formation of the materiality matrix, it was decided to select 9 UN SDGs.
9 UN priority SDGs for BCC and the Bank's contribution to achieving them in 2023.
Workplace safety and health
Charitable and social initiatives in the healthcare: financing of medical institutions.
The Bank provides health insurance to employees and provides the necessary medical care and compensation in case of accidents at the workplace.
Staff training and development
The Bank is actively developing educational programs, increasing the number of trained employees in the reporting year, updating courses and introducing gamification to encourage the passage of mandatory training courses.
Human rights
The Human Rights Policy was approved during the reporting period.
The Bank has made a significant contribution to the gender agenda at the management level, increasing the share of women among line managers to 54%.
Water consumption
By the end of 2023, 123,636 liters of water were saved.
Developed measures and recommendations based on the results of the energy audit of BCC facilities.
Energy efficiency
The Green Office project: energy efficiency was developed.
Measures and recommendations were developed based on the results of the energy audit of BCC facilities.
The Bank has started the transition to its own fleet of electric vehicles and is gradually abandoning the fleet with internal combustion engines (ICE).
Economic performance. Corporate governance system. Availability of financial products and services.
EBRD funding was attracted to finance SMEs, women in business and green technologies under the GEFF program for a total amount of 28 billion tenge.
The Bank financed 4,911 projects in the amount of 169 billion tenge under the subsidy instrument of “Damu” Entrepreneurship Development Fund” JSC in 2023.
Under the guarantee instrument of “Damu” Entrepreneurship Development Fund” JSC for 2023, as of December, the Bank financed 4,592 projects in the amount of 135 billion tenge.
22.5 billion tenge was raised for portfolio guarantees and subsidies under the National Project on Entrepreneurship Development for 2021-2025.
Digitalisation and innovation. Information security.
Continued implementation of a cashless payment system based on contactless payment technologies for various types of smartphones (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, BCC Pay).
BCC.KZ and BCC.Business mobile apps15.
Bank's Sustainable Development Strategy. Waste management.
In 2023, the Bank started calculating GHG emissions in Scope 1, 2 and 3.
Principles of responsible financing have been developed.
The Green Office project continued to be implemented: energy efficiency, waste.
The Bank has financed more than 100 green projects under the GEFF Green Economy Financing Program since 2021, which has resulted in a reduction in CO2 emissions by more than 160 thousand tons.
Anti-corruption measures.
In 2023, the Bank joined the UN Global Compact.
The Bank is a Partner of the EBRD's GEFF Green Economy Financing Program and the UNDP Renewable Energy Financing Program.
The Bank participates in the SDG Ambition Accelerator.
Human rights compliance and anti-corruption efforts
Approaches to ensuring of human rights.
The Bank has identified the following key commitments in the area of respect and protection of human rights, which it strives to comply with at all stages of its activities:
The Bank applies a comprehensive approach to human rights compliance, covering various aspects of the organisation's activities and focusing on interaction on human rights issues with the following groups of stakeholders:
Bank employees
Society and population of the regions where we operate
Bank customers
Suppliers
Anti-corruption measures
In 2023, the Board of Directors approved a publicly available Anti-Corruption Policy developed in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and internal regulatory documents of the Bank.
100% of employees,
including members of management, were informed about the Bank's anti-corruption policy in 2023.
In 2023, there were no cases of corruption confirmed during internal or external inspections.
100% of the members of the Bank's
in 2023, management bodies received anti-corruption training.
Anti-corruption training for employees:
| Indicator | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of employees who completed training | 3 865 | 2 734 |
| Percentage of employees who completed training | 57,5% | 42,6% |
Interaction with customers and suppliers
The Bank strives to establish and maintain long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with customers, suppliers and contractors based on fair and ethical business standards. The Bank implements an approach of openness and mutual respect in its communications, choosing business partners with special responsibility.
Approach to customer interaction
The total loan portfolio of retail clients, large (wholesale) businesses and small and medium-sized businesses for 2023 amounted to 2.89 trillion tenge, an increase of 42.3% from 2022.
The number of active customers of the Bank increased by 15% in 2023. The number increased from 1.3 to 1.5 million individuals and legal entities. By the end of the year, the Bank served more than 3 million customers.
In 2023, the number of active customers of bcc.kz mobile app increased by 16%, which currently amounts to 1,223,000 people.
More than 100 thousand entrepreneurs successfully migrated to BCC Business platform, gaining access to operations in tenge and foreign currency, card and tariff management, as well as online accounting and many other services.
The Bank actively supports the growing trend of inclusivity. In particular, 168 ATMs of the GRG model and 8 ATMs of the NCR model were equipped with special audio connectors. This allows blind and visually impaired people to use the Bank's services more comfortably and independently, such as adding funds to their card account and withdrawing cash.
Ensuring data security
The Bank strictly complies with the legal norms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and also pays special attention to issues in ensuring the protection of personal data. In its activities, the Bank carries out systematic work related to the protection of personal data.
In 2023, the Bank did not register any complaints or incidents confirming the facts of leakage, theft or loss of personal data of Bank customers due to insufficient information security measures.
Approach to interaction with suppliers
Aware of its responsibility, the Bank strives for sustainable development in all parts of the supply chain. BCC believes that responsible procurement and efficient supplier management are not only an ethical necessity, but also the key to long-term business success.
In 2023, the total amount of all contracts with resident and non-resident suppliers amounted to KZT 96.7 billion. Share of purchases from local suppliers amounted to 99% in 2023.
Interaction with staff
The key success factor of Bank CenterCredit JSC is a team of trained and dedicated employees who ensure the achievement of strategic goals and make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the business. The Bank works to create the best conditions for the development of each employee by providing a wide range of tools for their professional growth, implementing comprehensive systems for evaluating performance and improving efficiency.
7983
employees
65%
women
39
Hours of training per employee per year
100%
Of employees received an overview of performance and career development
64%
Of senior management personnel are women
62%
Of employees hired are under 30 years of age
8637
People were trained
1422
Average number of man-hours worked
The Bank provides benefits to all full-time employees regardless of the term of the contract.
In 2023, BCC paid benefits in the amount of 798 million tenge.
| Types of benefits | Fixed-term and indefinite employment contracts | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Office | Branch network | Total | |
| Life insurance | - | - | - |
| Voluntary medical insurance | 141,5 | 88,8 | 230,3 |
| Disability payments | - | - | - |
| Parental leave | - | - | - |
| Non-state pension provision | - | - | - |
| Other material assistance: | |||
| Medical treatment | 57,5 | 1,3 | 58,8 |
| Birth of a child | 170,4 | 82 | 252,4 |
| Death of a close relative | 48,2 | 24,2 | 72,4 |
| Marriage | 100,8 | 30 | 130,8 |
| Employee anniversaries | 32,8 | 11,6 | 44,4 |
| Retirement | 1,5 | 2,8 | 4,3 |
| Psychological assistance | 4,1 | 0,6 | 4,7 |
| Total amount | 798,04 | ||
Occupational health and safety
The Bank actively operates a comprehensive occupational health and safety management system focused on maximising the safety of working conditions and health of employees. The main principle of the Bank's security policy is to prioritise the life and health of employees over production and financial interests.
Total number of employees who have completed a course in OHS in 2023
Head Office
Managers
Specialists
Regions
Managers
Specialists
Due to the nature of the Bank's business, the risk of personal injury and occupational diseases among employees is minimal.
In 2023, as in the previous reporting period, there were no cases of occupational injuries or fatal accidents among the Bank's employees.
Social responsibility
As a financial institution, BCC provides services to corporate clients from real sectors of the economy and individuals. The Bank focuses on developing open and honest relations with all its clients. One of the largest in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Bank strives to improve the quality of life of citizens, promote socio-economic development and environmental sustainability in the regions of its presence and operations, promote innovation and increase financial literacy of citizens.
In 2023, the Bank allocated 690 million tenge to support charitable, sponsorship and social activities, supporting over 40 initiatives aimed at:
Education
Professional community
Initiatives
Population, public organizations
Initiatives
Sport
Population, public organizations
Initiatives
Population, public organizations
Initiatives
Small and medium business
Health care
Population, public organizations
Initiatives
State and administrative bodies
Initiatives
Ecology
Population, public organizations
Initiatives
Culture and art
Population, public organizations
Initiatives
Other social initiatives
Small and medium business
Initiatives
Population, public organizations
Initiatives
Clients
Initiatives
Since 2021, Bank CenterCredit JSC has been establishing partnerships with organisations representing the interests of people with hearing impairments, which contributes to the creation of additional jobs for this category of citizens. Within the framework of this cooperation, the Bank’s advertising banners are sent for recycling to centers that deal with the social adaptation of people with disabilities.
Support for small and medium-sized businesses
The Bank takes an active part in state business support programs and is one of the largest lenders in all major programs focused on the real sector of the economy. Supporting the development of small and medium-sized businesses is one of the key priorities in the ESG strategy of Bank CenterCredit JCS . In 2023, the Bank actively participated in the implementation of the following programs:
The Bank, together with EBRD, implements such programs as support for women in business and support for the SME sector by providing cheaper lending without industry restrictions.
Environmental responsibility
The Bank recognises its environmental responsibility and recognises that despite the relatively small direct impact on the environment in its daily activities, it is important to contribute to the preservation of the environmental well-being of society in the regions where it operates.
| Main directions in the area of environmental care: | |
|---|---|
|
Implementation of the principles of responsible financing |
|
Green Office project: energy efficiency and waste management |
|
Environmental projects |
The main resources used by the Bank in the course of its activities are electricity, heat and water. Guided by the principle of environmental responsibility, the Bank strives to reduce resource consumption, thereby minimising its negative impact on the environment.
Total electricity consumption, MWh
Total heat consumption, Gcal
Total water withdrawal, thousand m³
Total water consumption, thousand m³
Total amount of water disposal, thousand m³
Gasoline consumption, litres
Diesel fuel consumption, litres
Waste management
The total amount of waste generated in 2023 was 190.49 tons. At that, the amount of hazardous waste, such as batteries and fluorescent lamps, is 144 kg.
In 2023, the Bank allocated 100% of the generated waste for disposal.
Contact information
To leave a review, comment or ask a question, please use the contact information provided. We'd love to receive your feedback.
Address: Almaty, Al-Farabi Ave., 38, block C
Email: esg@bcc.kz
Corporate website: bcc.kz
ESG Databook summarizing the Bank’s key performance indicators
