Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) (https://www.Ecobank.com/) is pleased to announce its adherence to the UN Principles for Accountability in Banking, as an official signatory. This comprehensive framework for sustainable banking was born out of an innovative partnership between banks around the world and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Finance Initiative.

The six Principles for Responsible Banking1 align the banking sector with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. They integrate sustainability into all sectors of banking and enable banks to identify areas where the impact in terms of sustainable economic development is most significant on a global scale. These principles aim to build a financial sector that serves people and the planet, and that has a positive impact on people's lives while improving their quality of life, without compromising that of future generations.

Ade Ayeyemi, Chief Executive Officer of ecobank Group, said: "At Ecobank, we take our sustainability responsibilities very seriously by ensuring that sustainable practices are in place in our decision-making process, our leadership, business and organization. In addition to our commitment to our customers and our desire to be a partner of good advice, we play a proactive leadership role in sustainable development so that our decisions and actions always take into account social objectives and the preservation of future generations. By adhering to the six Principles for Accountability banking, we are publicly declaring that we are following best practices in sustainable development, adopted by major international banks."

UNEP FI stakeholder banks have developed the six Principles for Accountability in Banking to improve the business, environmental, social and governance practices of the banking industry. The principles guide banks in their management of sustainable development and encourage them to play an increasingly active role in building a sustainable future.

Ecobank has been a signatory to the United Nations Environment Programme's Finance Initiative since 2009. The Initiative brings together 274 financial institutions in the banking, insurance and investment sectors. Ecobank is also a member of the UNEP FI Global Steering Committee.

The six Principles for Responsible Banking are:

1. Alignment: We will align our business strategy with the needs of individuals and the goals of societies, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement and regional and national frameworks.

2. Impact & goal setting: We will continuously increase our positive impacts and minimize our negative impacts on people and the environment, resulting from our activities, products and services. To this end, we will set and publish targets in areas where we can have the highest impact.

3. Clients: We will work responsibly with our clients to promote sustainable practices and foster economic activities that generate shared prosperity for current and future generations.

4. Stakeholders: We will consult, engage and partner with stakeholders proactively and responsibly to achieve the objectives of companies.

5. Governance & Culture: We will put our adherence to these principles into practice through effective governance and a culture of responsible banking.

6. Transparency & Accountability: We will regularly evaluate the individual and collective implementation of these principles. We will transparently announce our positive and negative impacts, as well as our contribution to the achievement of companies' goals, and we will assume our responsibility in this area.

Ecobank has integrated the UNEP Finance Initiative framework into its Internal Social and Environmental Management Systems (ESMS), based on its adherence to internationally recognized ESG frameworks, such as the IFC Performance Standards, and its association with other financial institutions on their interpretation of social and environmental management in relationship to the credit assessment process. In addition, our membership allows us to better ensure that funded projects and eligible transactions in the environmental and social sector are developed in a socially responsible manner and reflect good environmental management practices. The bank continues to be careful to avoid negative socio-economic impacts and, where possible, encourages project actors to take corrective action.

About Ecobank Transnational Incorporated ('ETI'):

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated ('ETI') (https://www.Ecobank.com/) is the parent company of the Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African independent banking group. The Ecobank Group employs more than 15,000 people and has approximately 20 million Retail, Commercial and Corporate Banking customers in 33 African countries. The Group has a banking licence in France and has representative offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Johannesburg, South Africa, Beijing, China, London, United Kingdom and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Group offers a full range of banking products, services and solutions: bank and deposit accounts, credit, cash management, advisory services, business development services, securities, asset and wealth management, among others. ETI is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagos, the Ghana Stock Exchange in Accra and the Regional Stock Exchange in Abidjan

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