ANZ ranked lead bank globally in Dow Jones Sustainability Index

ANZ today welcomed the announcement that it has been ranked the most sustainable bank globally in the 2012 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the fifth time in six years.

ANZ Chief Executive Officer Mike Smith said: “We’re pleased the efforts of our 48,000 people to improve our contribution to sustainability have been recognised by the world’s leading organisation for measuring sustainability performance.

“Across the bank we have worked hard to improve our performance through initiatives such as our target to increase the finance we provide to the renewables sector or through the work we’ve done to improve financial literacy in underserved communities in the Pacific.

“We recognise there is still plenty to be done but we’re making good progress and we’re pleased to be recognised for our achievements to date,” Mr Smith said.

The report said: “ANZ’s sustainable business practices, exceptional risk and crisis management procedures and its strong focus on sustainable investment products as key factors for its leading position in the banking supersector.”

To further ANZ’s sustainability objectives in New Zealand, ANZ this month launched a pilot MoneyMinded financial education programme in South Auckland, developed especially for learners with low literacy levels.

The launch coincided with MoneyWeek, the Commission for Financial Literacy & Retirement
Income’s nationwide financial education awareness campaign, and also celebrated the
partnership between ANZ and Solomon Group, which will be delivering the programme.

MoneyMinded is a financial education programme that helps teach basic budgeting, saving
and money management skills.

Further information on ANZ’s corporate responsibility programmes can be found at anz.com