About this report
Structure of the report
Since 2012, Argenta has reported on its sustainable activities via the Activities and Sustainability Report, with these activities increasingly interwoven with the traditional annual report topics. This form of reporting is in line with the Argenta philosophy, in which sustainability is viewed as an integral part of the banking and insurance activities. The sustainability reporting is intended for all customers, branch managers, employees, cooperative and family shareholders, institutional investors, regulators, social representatives and other stakeholders who are interested in the sustainability strategy and performance of the Argenta Bank- en Verzekeringsgroep and all underlying companies.
The report covers the period from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. It has been drawn up on the basis of the most recent GRI Standards. The sustainability reporting is also linked to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals ('Sustainable Development Goals' or 'SDGs').
The Activities and Sustainability Report also contains a number of disclosures in accordance with the draft European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). These form the basis of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive which will come into effect from 2024 onwards.
Since 2021, Argenta has reported on its climate change efforts in a climate report which forms part of the extensive Activities and Sustainability Report, but is made available as a separate document. The climate report is intended for all customers, branch managers, employees, cooperative and family shareholders, institutional investors, regulators, social representatives and other stakeholders who are interested in the sustainability strategy and performance of the Argenta Bank- en Verzekeringsgroep and all underlying companies.
In addition to the extensive Activities and Sustainability Report which is provided in PDF format, a short version is available online. This short version contains some information which can also be found in the full document.
Content and materiality
The Activities and Sustainability Report covers sustainable topics that have a material impact on Argenta's policy. Every two years, Argenta organises a stakeholder survey to map the sustainability expectations of customers, prospects, branch managers, employees, shareholders and stakeholder groups. The results of each of these surveys have formed the basis of adjustments to the sustainability action plan. A new stakeholder survey was carried out in 2022. This update will be used to re-evaluate the material topics in 2023 and incorporate them in the new 2023-2026 Sustainability Action Plan. The 2022 Activities and Sustainability Report contains information about Argenta’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts.
Scope and boundaries
The Activities and Sustainability Report contains the non-financial reporting of the whole Argenta Bank- en Verzekeringsgroep, including the subsidiaries and the branch in the Netherlands, for the 2022 financial year ending 31 December 2022. This reporting became mandatory with the implementation of Directive 2014/95/EU as regards disclosure of non-financial and diversity information, transposed into Belgian law on 03/09/2017 and introduced into the CCA in Articles 3:6,§4 and 3:32,§2. The scope of the 2022 Sustainability Report consists of Argenta Bank- en Verzekeringsgroep nv and the underlying companies (Argenta Spaarbank nv, including its branch in the Netherlands, Argenta Asset Management sa and Argenta Assuranties). The independent branches are not included, as these fall under the direct responsibility of self-employed branch managers. Argenta nonetheless encourages them to endorse the commitments set out in this report. In this they are also supported by Argenta. There are no substantial changes in scope and boundaries from previous reporting. You will find the previous Activities and Sustainability Report of 2021 here.
Reporting and governance
The information was gathered from the following Argenta departments: Commercial Marketing, Distribution, Distribution Support, Strategic Marketing, IT, Financial Management, Organisation & Talent, Legal Affairs, Procurement & Facility Management, Risk & Validation and NFRM and Supervisory Office, Compliance, Internal Audit, Treasury & Investment and the operational departments. The underlying companies and the branches in the Netherlands were also consulted where necessary. The information used for reporting on sustainability in this annual report has been monitored by the Sustainability Manager, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO is also responsible for the field of corporate social responsibility. The Board of Directors is also involved in corporate social responsibility and the reporting on it. The sustainability reporting was therefore prepared with the help of a number of business and sustainability managers at Argenta. The report has been reviewed by senior management and approved by the Executive Committee. On 07/04/2023, the Activities and Sustainability Report received the final approval of the Board of Directors.
Independent attestation
This report has been certified by the independent professional firm KPMG Bedrijfsrevisoren. The audit certificate relates to a limited review of the selected information in accordance with International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 (Revised), ‘Assurance engagements other than audits or reviews of historical financial information’.
The selected information that has been verified for this limited assurance attestation has been identified throughout the extensive 2022 Activities and Sustainability Report with the symbol Ⓐ. For the sake of clarity, the short online version of the Activities and Sustainability Report does not form part of the scope of the auditor’s certification.