Since its foundation in 1825, sustainable management has meant for Steiermärkische Sparkasse to assume comprehensive responsibility for society and the community in Styria - since 1990 also in the Western Balkans region.
Since then, part of the profit generated has been invested in projects for the public. For Steiermärkische Sparkasse, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an essential building block of its DNA.
Good corporate governance is the basis of corporate responsibility and, for Steiermärkische Sparkasse, includes transparent corporate development both internally and externally, regular stakeholder involvement, continuous work in accordance with our Code of Conduct, the Code of Conduct of the Sparkassen, as well as ensuring long-term compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Our essential sustainability topics
The essential sustainability topics put emphasis on the responsibilities in the "Society and Governance" area of activity.
Steiermärkische Sparkasse aims to achieve long-term and sustainable economic success. The foundation is to remain profitable, efficient and to achieve our targets in terms of key business ratios. We attach great importance to a strong equity and liquidity base. Only then we can be a long-term and stable partner for our customers and continue to guarantee the security of the funds invested with us.
Our founding philosophy already incorporates CSR aspects. Therefore, sustainability will be increasingly embedded in the corporate strategy in the future.
Sustainable Corporate Strategy
Since its foundation in 1825, charitable commitment has been an elementary building block of Steiermärkische Sparkasse. By providing long-term and reliable support to society, we aim to create added value in order to maintain the quality of life in our region, and to make it future-proof for generations to come. With targeted support in the areas of art and culture, social affairs, science and research as well as youth, financial literacy and the environment, we succeed in doing so throughout Styria as well as in our extended home market in the Western Balkans.
Within this commitment, Zweite Sparkasse represents a special project close to our hearts. In cooperation with welfare and counseling organizations, such as Caritas or the debt counseling service, it offers affected people a bank account without the possibility of an overdraft, as well as personal counseling by volunteers. This holistic support gives those affected a realistic chance of solving their economic problems.
Non-profit Engagement
Corporate Governance
As an independent Sparkasse and part of the Austrian Sparkasse Group, we are committed to complying with the Sparkassen Governance Code. This sets out governance principles that go beyond the legal minimum. These are the basis for ensuring transparency at Steiermärkische Sparkasse.
Through good governance, we manage to ensure responsible and value-based control and management within the company and for our stakeholders.
Compliance in all its facets is an essential part of our corporate culture. As Steiermärkische Sparkasse, we attach great importance to compliance with legal regulations and regulatory requirements in our business activities. For this purpose, we have set up extensive processes and precautions, which we evaluate on a regular basis.
The Code of Conduct of Steiermärkische Sparkasse contains important recommendations for our employees regarding legally and ethically correct behavior in their everyday work.
Providing children and young people with convenient and free access to financial education is, in Steiermärkische Sparkasse's view, an essential basis for an unrestricted and carefree future. Financial education is intended to create equal opportunities and promote economic prosperity. In addition to our school platform and the associated offers, a further focus has been set with the Austrian-wide financial education initiative FLiP2Go since 2019.