Our memberships and benchmarking

We’re a member of the Australian Banking Association, opens in new window which provides analysis, advice and advocacy for the banking industry and contributes to the development of public policy on banking. 

In 2020, NAB joined the Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative, opens in new window which aims to accelerate informed action by Australian industry towards the achievement of net zero emissions in hard-to-abate sectors by 2050, while managing the transition to thrive in a decarbonised global economy.

We’re a member of the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute, opens in new window, which brings members together to work towards a sustainable and resilient financial system that supports greater ESG outcomes.

We’re a member of the Business Council of Australia, opens in new window which advocates for policy on behalf of the business community.

We’re a member of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia, opens in new window, a business think tank and advocacy group that promotes commercial solutions to sustainability challenges.

We were the first bank to join the Clean Energy Council, opens in new window, Australia’s renewable energy association, in 2016.  

In 2020, we joined the cross-sector Climate Measurement Standards Initiative, opens in new window which is focused on supporting implementation of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures’ recommendations, in addition to better understanding of the financial system’s exposures to climate-related risks. 

In 2020, we joined as an Alliance Member. The Constellation Project, opens in new window has a vision to end homelessness in a generation by delivering practical solutions through harnessing the power of collaboration and innovative ideas that can be taken to scale.

In October 2007, we became a signatory to the Equator Principles, opens in new window (EP), which are a voluntary set of standards for determining, assessing and managing social and environmental risk in project financing. Read our annual EP reports. 

We’re a member of the Green Building Council of Australia, which supports the sustainable transformation of our commercial buildings and communities through the Green Star Certification process, opens in new window. 

As a member of LBG Australia / New Zealand (now know as Business for Societal Impact, opens in new window (B4SI)), we have been measuring and benchmarking our corporate community investment contributions using the LBG methodology since 2006. 

We are a launch signatory of the Natural Capital Declaration, opens in new window, endorsing a finance sector declaration on natural capital in December 2011.

We joined NZBA, opens in new window in 2021, which is an industry-led, UN-convened alliance that brings together a global group of banks, opens in new window committed to aligning their lending and investment portfolios with net-zero emissions by 2050.

BNZ is a member of the New Zealand Bankers’ Association, opens in new window, which is a forum for New Zealand banking sector members to work together on non-competitive industry issues. 

We're committed to upholding the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, opens in new window and have publicly done so since 2004. The OECD Guidelines articulate good corporate practice for companies operating in different jurisdictions. 

As an inaugural signatory, we were one of 30 founding global banks that worked to develop the UN Environment Program Finance Initiative's Principles for Responsible Banking, opens in new window. These six principles, launched in 2019, provide the banking industry with a single framework to embed sustainability at the strategic, portfolio and transactional levels and across all business areas. 

We’re a member of the Sustainable Business Council, opens in new window (SBC) of New Zealand, a group of companies playing a leading role in creating a sustainable future for business, society and the environment. 

We’re a member of the Sustainable Business Network NZ, opens in new window, a not-for-profit incorporated society with a vision of a transformed business world in which organisations thrive because they cherish the resources and people they depend on. 

We’re a member of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Forum, opens in new window, a global group of institutions supporting the TNFD’s research and technical work on nature-related risk management and disclosure trends and developments.

In November 2020, we became a signatory to the Tobacco-Free Finance Pledge, opens in new window, a global initiative to accelerate progress towards a tobacco-free future.

We have been a signatory of the UNEP FI, opens in new window since 2002. UNEP FI is a global partnership between the UN Environment Programme and the financial sector.

In 2010, we became a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, opens in new window and in 2014, we became a member of the UN Global Compact Australian Network. This is a strategic policy initiative for businesses committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of: human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. 

We’re committed to upholding the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, opens in new window, and we are working to integrate these principles into our approach to managing human rights. 

BNZ is a member of UN Women National Committee Aotearoa New Zealand, opens in new window, which supports the mission of UN Women through advocacy and fundraising.

The UN Women's Empowerment Principles, opens in new window are a set of principles for business that offer guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. NAB became a signatory of the Women’s Empowerment Principles in March 2018. BNZ has been a member of the Principles since March 2012.

Since 2004, we’ve been committed to upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights., opens in new window

Our Human Rights Policy (PDF, 220KB), opens in new window applies across all of our operations – guiding how we address human rights in our policies, practices and business operations.