The Bank made major progress in 2025 as it firmed up its sustainability commitments and strengthened the coherence between its ambitions and actions. This dynamic laid the foundations of a more structured governance, improved the integration of ESG (environmental, social and governance) risk management and increased transparency regarding how the Bank assumes its role as a public institution.
As the ESG guarantor on the Board of Directors with responsibility for CSR at the Bank, we make sure we guarantee the methodological solidity, credibility and strategic alignment of our sustainability approach. On that subject, one major project during the year was the completion of a double materiality assessment performed over several months and supported by an external company specialising in sustainable development.
This assessment allowed for the rigorous and documented identification of:
- Impact materiality, i.e. the areas in which the Bank’s operations have significant outcomes for the environment and society;
- Financial materiality, which evaluates how ESG issues can affect the Bank’s performance, business model and risks.
The involvement of the Executive Board and final validation by the Board of Directors ensured the strategic relevance of this exercise. Clear priorities based on an internationally recognised methodology were defined by combining external expertise and in-depth operational knowledge.
Over and above the outcome, this work marks a significant development: it makes the CSR approach professional, reinforces the robustness of decisions and gives credibility to the commitments to all our stakeholders. It constitutes a structural reference going forward to steer internal policies, guide investments, reinforce risk management practices and structure future reporting obligations.
In 2026, the priority will be to specifically integrate the lessons learned from this analysis in our processes, offers and client support. Our ambition is to ensure that this dynamic is embedded over the long term at all levels of the Bank. That means:
- Strengthening the internal sustainability culture;
- Ensuring coherence between governance, risk management and operational activities;
- Accompanying employees and clients through this transition;
- And maintaining constant and transparent dialogue with all our stakeholders.
Our responsibility as sustainability actors within the Bank is to guarantee that this approach remains coherent, exacting and rooted in the reality of the Canton of Fribourg.
Dominique Jordan Perrin
Member and Head of Sustainability of the Board of Directors
Sandra Galliker
Head of CSR