MBH Bank: Best ESG Bank Hungary 2024
MBH Bank, formed in May 2023 through the merger of MKB Bank, Budapest Bank, and Takarékbank, is Hungary’s second largest banking group. It serves nearly two million clients and employs around 9,000 staff across 500 branches. The bank excels in corporate lending, SME financing, leasing, and Agri-Food business, while delivering modern, accessible financial services to retail, corporate, and institutional customers. MBH Bank is dedicated to sustainability, embedding ESG principles into its lending, investment practices, and operations. The bank’s ESG strategy, introduced in 2022 and updated in 2024, focuses on five pillars: sustainability as a business opportunity, ESG risk management, carbon neutrality, governance transparency, and employee welfare. A dedicated ESG department oversees these efforts, ensuring compliance with regulations and tracking emerging trends. MBH Bank has implemented innovative projects, such as green financing, biodiversity support programmes, and the launch of its own Net Zero project, which assesses its carbon footprint across all business activities. The bank also introduced ESG training for all employees, strengthened its ESG data management systems, and received high ESG ratings in 2023. It plays a crucial role in Hungary’s sustainable economic transformation, partnering with national parks to promote biodiversity, reforestation, and wildlife conservation efforts. MBH Bank demonstrates responsible corporate governance, ensuring ethical, transparent, and sustainable practices across its operations. Its commitment to sustainability is evident in its green finance initiatives and environmental projects. The CFI.co Judging Panel congratulates MBH Bank on winning the 2024 award for Best ESG Bank (Hungary).
