Housing Bank, the most widespread bank in the Kingdom, issued its fourth annual sustainability report for 2020 entitled 'Committed to Sustainability.' The report is a reflection of the bank’s leading role and institutional approach in integrating sustainability with economic, social and environmental governance.

The report, accredited by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), highlights the bank’s achievements last year in supporting social, economic, and environmental initiatives and activities. The report also highlights the bank’s continuous contributions and efforts in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs), creating awareness for the importance of sustainability.

Despite the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on all sectors, the Housing Bank managed to overcome these challenges through its execution of proper governance practices and its implementation with a high level of transparency and accountability. The bank continues to maintain safety measures while serving customers and employees who have been dedicated to their work despite difficult circumstances.

The bank succeeded in overcoming the pandemic effects and continues to play its societal role through providing support and donations to national efforts and initiatives to face the pandemic, most notably, the Himmat Watan Fund, as part of its social responsibility. The bank was able to direct its customers towards digital banking to ensure the health and safety of employees and customers by reducing presence at its branches, it also made use of its social media accounts and pages to inform, educate and encourage customers and community members to follow preventive measures and health requirements necessary.

In his comments, CEO of Housing Bank, Ammar Al-Safadi stressed, “This report demonstrates the Housing Bank’s ability to integrate sustainability as one of the main components of our work and achieve a balance between them and our commitment to this sustainable approach through the highest standards of governance, transparency and accountability.”

He added, “the report also reflects the continued support for the environment and society to further strengthen the bank’s leading position in the Jordanian banking sector” referring to last year's collaborative spirit that prevailed between the bank and its stakeholders, including employees, customers, and shareholders, despite the challenges experienced due to the pandemic.

The Housing Bank issued its first sustainability report in 2017, monitoring the bank’s social, economic, and environmental practices, in addition to the application of sustainability principles in the bank’s branches and headquarters across the country.