Sustainability and Responsible Banking Committee

Type of Committee: Main Committees

Subcommittee Type: Orientation / Coordination

Committee's Aim / Responsibilities: The Committee ensures that Responsible Business is integrated into the banking functions and into the strategic priorities of the Bank, also systematically ensures that Garanti puts stakeholders at the center of the decision-making.

The Committee's responsibilities are as below;

  • To monitor Responsible Business trends globally and the development of Responsible Business within the BBVA Group, then to evaluate how these trends and developments could be aligned and performed at Garanti, and to give direction on developing the general Responsible Business approach at Garanti BBVA,
  • To give direction on the preparation of the Responsible Business Plan RBP, its KPIs and to approve them,
  • To monitor updates on all initiatives within the RBP, their KPIs, to request and review changes within the RBP throughout the year if needed,
  • To ensure the correct and timely execution of the actions plans within the RBP
  • To review and approve of the general Community Investment Plan and the RB Communications Plan,
  • To monitor the TCR Plan and its accomplishments, to make proposals to the TCR plan to be reviewed by the Customer Committee,
  • To give direction on developing the Responsible Business Policies and Strategy, to approve these policies and strategy, the Responsible Business Policies and Strategy, to review and approve the Responsible Business Report and/or the Responsible Business-related sections of the Annual Reports.

Sustainability responsibilites:

  • Overseeing the efforts for assessing potential risks resulting from the Bank’s energy consumption, waste management, etc.
  • Supervising the efforts for assessing potential risks arising from indirect
  • Environmental and social impact resulting from financed projects and other loans, and providing necessary opinions to relevant decision-making
  • Monitoring the efforts on managing the risks which can impact the Bank’s reputation and/or other activities negatively in the field of environmental, social and governance issues,
  • Ensuring conformity of all decisions made and all projects carried out within the frame of the sustainability structure created within the Bank with other policies and related regulations of the Bank,
  • To inform the Board of Directors about its activities when necessary,
  • Managing the efforts to develop products and services which support sustainable development,
  • Supervising the efficiency of efforts related to sustainability,
  • Providing information to the Board of Directors on the Committees activities when needed,
  • Monitoring the policies, procedures, regulations and similar documents under its responsibility with respect to necessary updates, and taking action to keep them up-to-date.

Committee History: Established on February 2017. Merged with Sustainability Committee in January 2020.

Meeting Frequency: The Committee meets once a year.

Number of Meetings (2024): 4 meetings are planned. (March, June, September, December)

Number of Meetings (2025):  

Committee Members 

Committee Members Committee Members' Titles Committee Members' Roles
Mahmut Akten CEO / Board Member Member
Aydın Düren Board Member / Responsible for Legal Services Member
Sibel Kaya SME Banking EVP Member
Ebru Taşçı Firuzbay Talent & Culture EVP Member
Aydın Güler Finance & Treasury EVP Member
Ceren Acer Kezik Retail Banking EVP Member
Cemal Onaran Commercial Banking EVP Member
Murat Atay Chief Credit Risk Officer Member
İlker Kuruöz Engineering Services and Data EVP Member
Ufuk Aydar Endem Emekli Sandığı EVP Member
Elif Güvenen Corporate Brand Mgmt. & Marketing Comm. Director Member
Hakan Birhan Investment Banking & Finance Director Member
Özgür Özkan Seamless Experience and Relationship Model Discipline Director Member
Handan Saygın Investor Relations Director Member
Nurdan Tunay Günaylı Sme Banking Istanbul Marketing Director Member
Koray Öztopçu Consumer Finance Director Member
Selim Selimata Corporate and Specialised Loans Director Member
Demet Yavuz Commercial Banking Istanbul Marketing Director Member
Gülay Başak Commercial Banking Director Member
Bora Ergüç Corporate Banking Director Member
Kaan Kırtız Construction & Premises Director Member
İrem Barzilay Sustainable Finance Manager Member