Top 10: Global Sustainable Banks

From innovative green financing mechanisms to robust net zero targets, these banks are setting new benchmarks for responsible finance. 

As regulatory pressures and stakeholder expectations intensify, their leadership demonstrates how the sector can accelerate progress toward a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable global economy in the years ahead and beyond for all.

10. HSBC

HQ: London, UK

CEO: Georges Elhedery

Chief Sustainability Officer: Julian Wentzel

Serving around 41 million customers globally across 56 countries and territories, HSBC, like all large banks, has an incredible potential for positive investment alongside management of its own sustainability operations. 

The bank mobilised US$102bn in sustainable finance and investment in 2025, contributing to a total of US$495.6bn of sustainable finance and investment between 2020 and 2025. This is all working towards HSBC’s ambition to provide or facilitate US$750bn to US$1tn by 2030.

9. Santander

HQ: Madrid, Spain

CEO: Héctor Grisi

Group Head of Sustainability: Lara Inés de Mesa Gárate

Santander’s key sustainability target is to mobilise €220bn (US$255.89bn) in green finance by 2030. Between 2019 and 2025, the bank raised or facilitated €174bn (US$202.3bn) in green finance – 79% of the 2030 target.

“Europe’s number one priority is to improve its competitiveness and increase economic growth,” explains Lara Inés de Mesa Gárate, Head of Sustainability at Santander Group.

“Without higher growth, all the challenges the EU faces – the need to transition to a green economy, supporting an ageing population, the need to spend more on defence – become that much harder. 

“Banks are part of the solution. We are enablers – powering growth and supporting investment. That’s the case generally, but especially as regards the green transition.”

8. BBVA

HQ: Madrid, Spain

CEO: Onur Genç

Global Head of Sustainability and Corporate & Investment Banking: Javier Rodríguez Soler

In the first quarter of 2026, BBVA has reinforced its position as a leader in sustainable finance, channeling €36bn (US$41.87bn) into sustainable business – a 33% increase compared to the same period last year. 

Of this total, €12.6bn (US$14.7bn) was deployed in Spain, supporting projects that advance the energy transition, improve resource efficiency and address pressing social challenges. 

This momentum brings the bank’s cumulative sustainable financing to €170bn (US$197.73bn), a significant step toward its ambitious €700bn (US$814.18bn) target for 2025–2029.

7. DBS Bank

HQ: Singapore

CEO: Tan Su Shan

Chief Sustainability Officer: Kelvin Wong

“At DBS, our conviction is that sustainability is a core driver of long-term value,” explains Tan Su Shan, CEO of DBS.

“When approached pragmatically, it strengthens competitiveness, improves lives and builds resilience for the future. 

“This belief is reinforced by recent geopolitical developments which have highlighted the importance of resilient systems – particularly energy that is available, affordable, diversified and sustainable.”

6. UBS Group

HQ: Zurich, Switzerland

CEO: Sergio Ermotti

Chief Sustainability Officer: Christian Leitz

With roots dating back to 1862, UBS has positioned sustainability – including philanthropy – as part of a broader capital markets and wealth management strategy.

“Long-term success is rooted in the responsibility we share to help shape a more sustainable future – for our clients, our people and the communities we are part of,” says Colm Kelleher, Chairman of the Board of Directors at UBS Group and Sergio P. Ermotti, Group Chief Executive Officer.

“Our efforts remain anchored in our ambition to position UBS as a leader in sustainability and are guided by three pillars:

“Protect: manage our business in alignment with our sustainable, long-term strategy and evolving standards;

“Grow: embed an innovative sustainability and impact offering across all our business divisions; and

“Attract: be the bank of choice for clients and employees.”

5. Triodos Bank

HQ: Driebergen-Rijsenburg, Netherlands

CEO: Marcel Zuidam

Chief Risk Officer: Marjolein Landheer

Founded in 1968, Triodos Bank was built around a mission to direct money towards positive social and environmental change. 

Unlike mainstream lenders that add sustainability as a product line, Triodos was founded on the principle that finance should serve impact first. 

The bank believes in sustainable financial products, and provides full transparency in its lending and investment – much of which has led to 800 kilotonnes of CO₂e emissions avoided as a result of sustainable energy projects financed in 2025.

4. Societe Generale

HQ: Paris, France.

CEO: Slawomir Krupa

Chief Sustainability Officer: Hacina Py

Societe Generale has been sharpening its sustainability credentials through a disciplined commercial lens, aligning transition finance with profit and portfolio quality. 

The bank has recently seen record revenues, but the more interesting story is how it frames sustainability as part of a broader transformation rather than a standalone branding exercise. 

The results speak for themselves – Societe Generale has achieved its €300bn (US$347.8bn) sustainable finance target (2022–2025) ahead of schedule and set a new target of contributing €500bn (US$579.7bn) between 2024 and 2030.

3. Crédit Agricole

HQ: Montrouge, France.

CEO: Olivier Gavalda

Chief Sustainability and Impact Officer: Quentin Guérineau

Crédit Agricole has long been associated with transition finance, and its sustainability positioning is reinforced by its role in green banking and climate-related financing. 

The group’s investment bank has helped shape industry practice through green bond and climate finance frameworks, while the wider group continues to present sustainability as a strategic growth area. 

Its latest results underline that the model can scale: strong revenues and high profitability sit alongside a clear narrative on client transition support. For a large universal bank, that combination of commercial strength and climate financing credibility remains a key differentiator.

2. BNP Paribas

HQ: Paris, France.

CEO: Jean-Laurent Bonnafé

Chief Sustainability Officer: Laurence Pessez

BNP Paribas remains one of Europe’s most influential sustainable finance players, with climate transition embedded across lending, investment and advisory activity. 

The bank says ecological and energy transition is its top environmental priority, and it continues to channel capital towards low-carbon solutions, biodiversity and resilient operating models. 

“The Group contributed to around 8% of the US$155bn in sustainable financing arranged this year,” says Laurence Pessez, Chief Sustainability Officer at BNP Paribas.

“This progress also highlights how much remains to be done. Green financing has slightly decreased by 0.5% compared to the same period last year, while bonds and loans for fossil-fuel companies have increased by 2.8%. This underlines the need to continue accelerating the transition.

“We remain committed to supporting a low-carbon economy, working alongside clients and partners to move in that direction.”

1. Vancity

HQ: Vancouver, Canada

CEO: Wellington Holbrook

Chief Strategy Officer: Newsha Siouffi

Vancity has built its reputation around member-owned, values-led banking and its sustainability story is rooted in local impact as much as climate ambition. 

The Canadian credit union has used its latest reporting to highlight affordable housing finance, energy-efficient buildings and clean-energy emissions avoided through its lending. 

Its model is practical: directing capital to communities while linking financial resilience with social and environmental outcomes.

“Climate change is not a future risk. It affects our members and communities today,” said Alison Coates, Director of Climate Strategy at Vancity. 

“We are staying the course because our members need action, not retreat.”