About this report
Reporting structure
Argenta has reported on its sustainable activities in the Activities and Sustainability Report since 2012. The sustainability report is also 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 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.
The report covers the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023. It has been prepared on the basis of the most recent GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) Standards. The sustainability report is also linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
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 available in PDF format, a short version is available online. This short version only contains information that 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. More specifically it is about Argenta’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts.
To identify the material sustainability topics, Argenta organises a stakeholder survey every two years to map the sustainability expectations of existing and prospective customers, branch managers, staff, shareholders and stakeholder groups. A new stakeholder survey was carried out in 2022. The material topics were re-evaluated in 2023 on the basis of this input and of general source research.
This analysis is included in the preparations in connection with the double materiality analysis that must be carried out in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which comes into force from financial year 2024 (from 1 January).
The result of this double materiality analysis will be available in 2024 and will be included as the basis for the layout of the new 2024-2027 sustainability action plan.
Scope and boundaries
The Activities and Sustainability Report covers the non-financial reporting of the whole Argenta Bank- en Verzekeringsgroep, including the subsidiaries and Argenta Netherlands, for the 2023 financial year ending 31 December 2023. This report became mandatory with the implementation of Directive 2014/95/EU as regards disclosure of non-financial and diversity information, transposed into Belgian law on 3 September 2017 and introduced into the CCA in Articles 3:6, §4 and 3:32, §2. The scope of the 2023 Sustainability Report covers Argenta Bank- en Verzekeringsgroep nv and the underlying companies (Argenta Spaarbank nv with its branch in the Netherlands, Argenta Asset Management sa and Argenta Assuranties). The independent branches are not included, as they fall under the direct responsibility of self-employed branch managers. Argenta does however encourage 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 the previous report.
Reporting and Governance
The information for the Activities and Sustainability Report was gathered from the following Argenta departments: Marketing & Sustainability, Data & Delivery, Legal Affairs, Organisation & Talent, Internal Audit, Family & Protection, Insurance Non-Life, Housing, Digital Channels, Asset Management, Insurance Life, Business, Branches & Contact Centre, Argenta Asset Management, IT, Financial Management, Procurement, Treasury & Investment Management, Compliance, NFRM & Supervisory Office and Risk & Validation. The underlying companies and Argenta 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, who reports on this 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 reporting on it. The sustainability report was produced with the help of the various business and sustainability managers at Argenta. Senior management reviewed the report and the executive committee approved it. The board of directors gave its final approval to the Activities and Sustainability Report on 23 April 2024.
Independent attestation
This report has been certified by the independent professional practitioner 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 2023 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.