Financial Health and Sustainability - ESG

The fundamental premise guiding us at Sparkasse Bank in our operations is the belief that, as an institution, we can only be successful if the community we operate in is sustainable and developed. Similarly, as a financial institution, given the nature and far-reaching impact of our work, we bear a special responsibility toward that community.

This is why we have created and follow a business model that, in many ways, goes beyond the traditional role of a commercial bank. We draw this approach from over 200 years of banking tradition established by our parent group, Erste and Sparkasse from Austria, which was founded on the idea of financial inclusion—as a savings bank accessible to all people, regardless of their social or financial status. This founding principle has evolved over two centuries into various models of modern banking, yet the mission to be more than "just a bank" remains a key part of our identity and shapes everything we do.

This means we don’t want to be merely a traditional lender and provider of financial services; instead, by actively building financial health, we aim to improve the quality of life for people in the communities we serve. We have translated this mission into numerous concrete projects and initiatives directly aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, promoting financial literacy and inclusion among youth and women, protecting the environment in collaboration with our employees, and supporting socially vulnerable groups. Throughout all these efforts, we strive to be a good “neighbor” who recognizes the specific needs of local communities and responds where it is most needed.

What’s even more important is that we have embedded the mission of sustainability and financial health into our core banking business, primarily by prioritizing the long-term stability of the Bank and our clients over short-term profits. We follow a responsible lending policy and strive to practice humane, fair banking—supporting our clients with innovative products when they grow and standing by them during challenging times. At the same time, we maintain a broad perspective—recognizing the influence banks can have on the economy and how they can empower it. We deliberately focus on industries and sectors that generate the highest share of business activity and create new jobs, contributing to a truly independent and sustainable Bosnian economy.

Through our example and best practices, we aim to inspire change in the perception of the banking sector’s role. We want to demonstrate that banking oriented toward sustainability and community well-being is not only compatible with financial success but can also be an even more successful model. In fact, Sparkasse Bank is one of the fastest-growing yet most stable banks in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This success is owed to our dedicated team of employees, which is why we strive to be a bank where they feel satisfied and purposeful.

We view this success as a responsibility and will continue to leverage it to actively contribute to the quality of life of the people around us, the sustainability of the economy, and the planet we leave to future generations.

Bank Management

Amir Softić   Amer Hadžikadić   Igor Bilandžija    Igor Jokić