BPI earns global honors for sustainable finance and community impact

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has been recognized with multiple international awards for its pioneering role in sustainable finance, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to responsible banking practices that create lasting impact for communities, businesses, and the environment.

At the Best Investment Banks and Sustainable Finance Awards by Global Finance, BPI was honored with the following distinctions:

• Best Bank for Sustainable Bonds – Global
• Best Bank for Sustainable Bonds – Asia Pacific
• Best Bank for Sustaining Communities – Asia Pacific
• Best Bank for Sustainable Finance – Philippines

These accolades highlight BPI’s innovative ESG+E₂ framework, where sustainability is achieved when Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives translate into measurable economic (E₂) value. This model, which BPI has championed since the 1980s, drives inclusive growth while ensuring long-term benefits for all stakeholders.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) reaffirms its role as a pioneer and thought leader in sustainability, underlining its long-standing commitment to responsible banking and operations that benefit communities, businesses, and the environment. With a sustainability journey that began as early as the 1980s, BPI continues to lead by example, championing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices designed to create progressive economic value—an approach the Bank has coined as ESG+E₂.

At BPI, sustainability is achieved when ESG initiatives result in measurable economic (E₂) gains for all stakeholders. This innovative formula not only drives sustainable outcomes but also promotes inclusive growth, directly supporting BPI’s mission to build a better Philippines, one family and one community at a time.

“Sustainability is not a side initiative at BPI—it is deeply embedded in the way we do business,” said Eric Luchangco, BPI’s Chief Finance Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer. “Through ESG+E₂, we ensure that our sustainability initiatives generate positive real economic value, enabling progress that is both inclusive and enduring.”

“These awards validate our approach and reflect the collective effort of our teams to integrate sustainability across every aspect of our operations,” Luchangco added. “More importantly, they reaffirm that doing what’s right for people and the planet is also good for business.”

BPI’s comprehensive, Board-approved Sustainability Agenda guides the integration of ESG principles across its strategy, operations, and risk management framework. This Agenda is anchored on two strategic business pillars: Responsible Banking and Responsible Operations.

Under Responsible Banking, BPI consistently designs and offers financial solutions that integrate ESG criteria into lending, investment, and advisory decisions. These solutions aim to support economic development while delivering long-term benefits to clients, communities, and the environment. Whether through green financing, sustainable bonds, or inclusive financial products, BPI ensures that sustainability remains at the core of its client relationships.

In parallel, Responsible Operations ensure that the Bank responsibly manages its environmental and social footprint in day-to-day activities. From energy efficiency initiatives to sustainable procurement practices, BPI actively reduces its impact while promoting ethical and efficient operations across the organization.

Supporting both pillars are robust systems in Corporate Governance, Compliance, and Risk Management, ensuring alignment with local, national, and global standards—including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These mechanisms act as vital checks and balances in the implementation of the Bank’s sustainability objectives.

BPI Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala has long championed these efforts and was recognized globally in 2017 as one of only ten Corporate Champions of the United Nations SDGs, the only Filipino to date. His leadership underscores the Bank’s commitment to sustainability at the highest levels of governance—a commitment that continues to shape BPI’s strategic direction.