Corporate Responsibility
As a leading FTSE100 organisation, we operate very much in the public eye. That brings with it great opportunities but also great responsibilities. For us, corporate responsibility means managing our business responsibly in every area and at every level – for customers, employees, the environment and the communities in which we live and work. It’s intrinsic to who we are and integral to who we want to be.
As part of this commitment, 2007 saw the launch of YourWorld, our online initiative that encourages RBS people to think about their impact on the environment and take steps to reduce it. With some 50,000 hits in the first six months, YourWorld has proven to be a huge success. And nearly 14,000 employees have already used it to calculate their carbon footprint.
As well as a website offering practical advice and links to competitively-priced energy and transport providers, YourWorld has heralded a number of environmental initiatives of our own. Many of our people, for example, have bought discounted bikes through our Cycle to Work programme and bus passes through the first national scheme that allows them to do so from their pre-tax pay.
As always, customers are our top priority. And in line with our policy of financial inclusion, we work hard to ensure that everyone has access to the services they need. In 2007, we opened more than 200,000 Basic Bank Accounts for customers in the UK and 20,000 Step Accounts in Ireland. We also run the largest free ATM network in the UK, which saved everyone – not just RBS customers – £2.1 million last year.
Like any ethical organisation, we make every effort to ensure our marketing is accurate and clear. But at RBS, we believe our responsibility goes way beyond that, which is why we’re also investing heavily in financial education. Our MoneySense programme not only helps school children understand how to manage their money, it now includes a website for adults with advice and guidance on how to make the right financial decisions.
And then of course, there are the various community projects we’re involved in. Over the course of 2007, we invested more than £57.7 million in the community, including £12 million for charities through our unique double-matching Give As You Earn and Community Cashback programmes. The decisions and actions that we take can affect many people’s lives. It is important that we get these right. This is about integrity – ours and yours.
