Sustainable impact at a glance
Through our core business activities, we help to create positive change in four impact areas, driving Africa’s sustainable and inclusive growth. We're committed to transparency, measuring our impact against key metrics and reporting to our stakeholders.
Business growth and job creation:
We partner with entrepreneurs and SMEs to help them to get started, stay in business, grow and prosper.
Our goals
- Convenient, affordable and relevant services from affordable banking options to integrated payment solutions
- Tailored solutions for women and young entrepreneurs
- Credit solutions tailored to cash flow and investment needs
- Access to new markets for imports and exports.
Our impact in 2025
- 802 220 SME clients in 16 countries
- R31.8 billion in loans disbursed to 28 800 SMEs
- 174 150 SMEs participated in Incubator-led capacity development programmes
Infrastructure development
Investing in infrastructure development and the energy transition creates jobs, boosts economic growth and enhances access to essential services for all Africans.
Our goals
Sustainable economic growth and human development depend on the development of appropriate infrastructure to support economic activity and enable access to basic goods such as water, electricity, communication and transport services.
Our impact in 2025
- Mobilised R39,9 billion in renewable energy projects representing over 2GW of installed capacity
- Mobilised R6 billion for affordable basic infrastructure
- R108 billion renewable energy finance mobilised in South Africa since 2011, representing 11GW installed capacity.
Climate change mitigation and adaptation:
By financing climate change mitigation and adaptation, we contribute to a greener and more prosperous Africa. We partner with our clients to support their transition to a low carbon economy.
Our goals
- Partner with our clients to understand their climate risks and provide solutions to reduce their environmental footprint and strengthen climate resilience
- Providing finance to support nature conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural ecosystem services
- Support agriculture sector clients to adopt climate smart agricultural solutions
- Support homeowners and businesses to improve energy efficiency and adopt renewable energy solutions.
Our impact in 2025
- R3,45 billion mobilised for climate smart agriculture
- 1 661 business and commercial clients provided with renewable energy solutions worth R3.18 billion
- Estimated 285 633 CO2 emissions avoided through Standard Bank-financed projects
- 4 100 clients accessed information and support on sustainable business practices through the SBG Sustainability academy
Financial health and inclusion
Access to financial services such as savings, credit and insurance helps individuals to save for the future, invest in homes and education, start businesses and manage financial shocks. Such services, coupled with access to financial literacy training and appropriate advice, supporting individuals to achieve long-term financial health.
Our goal
- Ensure people have convenient access to relevant and affordable financial products and services that they can use effectively, including digital solutions that can be accessed anywhere and at any time
- Provide effective financial education to empower individuals to manage their finances effectively
- Support our clients to confidently manage their day-to-day finances, plan and invest in their financial future, protect what matters to them, and strengthen their resilience to financial shocks.
Our impact in 2025
- 402 030 participants in financial literacy initiatives for unbanked, underbanked, under-served customers (Financial Fitness Academy, Liberty Mind My Money, WalletWise)
- 11 219 students accessed student loans (with and without surety) to the value of R615.9 million
- 6 010 clients access affordable housing home loans to the value of R3.57 billion
More on sustainability
Sustainability risk management
Effective management of sustainability risk is embedded in our policies, processes, and governance structures.
Climate risk and opportunity
We are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and supporting a just energy transition in Africa.