Our Values

As a bank in the legal form of a registered cooperative, we are committed to the cooperative values of solidarity, fairness, partnership and transparency. Our decisions and business activities are oriented towards stability and sustainability, making them a core component of our corporate culture. When it comes to promoting a sustainable future, the expectations of the banking industry are high. We address these in our sustainability strategy.

For us, sustainability means actively engaging with environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and meeting our responsibilities. Below we describe the measures we are taking to achieve these goals. 
 

Transparency and Commitment

We report regularly and transparently on the topic of sustainability. The annual non-financial statement and allocation reporting have been included in the annual report since the 2024 financial year. Münchener Hypothekenbank’s sustainability performance is measured by selected rating agencies. Through our actions, we contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

We are actively involved in various associations and working groups in order to promote professional intercommunication, support dialogue and continuously refine the measures we take. These include the 

• the National Association of German Cooperative Banks (BVR)
• the Association of German Pfandbrief Banks (vdp) and
• the German Association for Environmental Management and Sustainability in Financial Institutions (VfU)
   

Feel free to contact us at nachhaltigkeit@mhb.de

Environment

We consider it our responsibility to respect our planet’s ecological limits and actively promote sustainable development. Therefore, our business and sustainability strategy systematically integrates environmental aspects into all relevant business areas.

Our climate targets

We are committed to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. We have consequently developed plans to reduce our carbon footprint. We set specific climate targets in 2024 for our loan portfolio, for both private and commercial customers. We have also set climate targets have also been defined for our investment portfolio and our own operations. In addition to business decisions, political and macroeconomic factors also influence the decarbonisation of the German economy significantly (e.g. the availability of sustainable sources of heat and electricity). 

Our sustainable financing solutions, such as the Green Loan, promote energy-efficient buildings, thus contributing to climate change mitigation. We also offer our customers housing subsidy programmes from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) to support financing of energy-efficient residential property. In our Impact Report, we show how much CO2 has been saved through our sustainable loans.

We are constantly working to reduce negative environmental impacts at our eleven locations. With a comprehensive environmental management system, we aim to achieve our environmental goals efficiently and systematically reduce our environmental footprint. We operate sustainable, resource-efficient building management technology at our headquarters in Munich.

We track and communicate progress on sustainability via transparent, quantifiable key figures that assist continuous improvement. Selected key figures and further information can be found in our non-financial Report. 

Social Issues

We strive to create added social value, both internally for our employees and externally for society.  

Responsibility for our employees 

We place great effort on our employees’ satisfaction and well-being, so we encourage individual talents, provide career opportunities and support our employees in achieving a good work-life balance. We also actively advocate for diversity and equal opportunities. 

The health and safety of our employees is also of central importance to us. We are committed to the mental and physical health of our employees above and beyond legal requirements. For example, we offer voluntary medical exams, a fitness subsidy, an employee assistance programme and other extensive social benefits. We also aim to be a family-friendly employer.

Responsibility for society

We are conscious of our responsibility to society, and our financing solutions reflect this. For example, we offer loans to private customers specifically to provide support for families, as well as a special product open to older generations.

We are also involved in domains outside our business activities, supporting social causes through regular donations for social, cultural, athletic or scientific purposes, as well as through sponsorships. In addition, we enter into partnerships with organisations like the Klasse Gregor Hildebrandt programme at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts.

Governance

Responsible corporate governance forms the basis of our efforts to operate sustainably. For us, this means offering secure jobs and pursuing a long-term business model. We take complaints from customers and partners seriously and have a management system that aims to address concerns, continuously improve our processes and reduce the number of complaints.

Responsible corporate governance also involves having defined responsibilities and clearly established policies and guidelines so that the Board of Management and Supervisory Board, as well as all the employees of our bank, know their responsibilities and and can fulfill their tasks in the best possible way. 

The structures and responsibilities for all sustainability issues are defined within our ESG Framework. The Board of Management is regularly involved in relevant meetings. Employees at all levels are also involved. In addition, an ESG Committee has been set up for all department heads and technical experts and meets regularly.

We have also established ESG Officers in all departments. The Sustainability Managers and ESG Risk Managers work in the Non-Financial Riskmanagement department in the responsibility of the  CRO. 

Compliance

Legal and regulatory compliance is a top priority for us. We have established a compliance function at the bank, which covers prevention of corruption, bribery, money laundering and terrorist financing. All employees receive regular training on these topics, and straightforward procedures exist for them to report suspicious activities (a whistleblowing system).

Data protection and information security

To protect personal data, Münchener Hypothekenbank complies with the legal requirements, rules and regulations concerning the processing and use of data. Employees receive regular training on data protection and cybersecurity, and we present data protection information on our website in a transparent form. 

Human rights

We are committed to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). We also follow the principles of the UN Global Compact. Our Code of Conduct, the Supplier Code of Conduct and the Policy on Human Rights and Diversity clearly set out our expectations towards  employees, business partners and service providers.