22nd August 2021 – Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC (ADCB) has received an upgrade in its MSCI ESG rating to ‘AA’ from ‘A’ driven by “leading digital transformation initiatives” to support small businesses as well as its robust customer data protection and information security practices.
Following the upgrade, ADCB is now ranked by MSCI as a global “leader”
and in the top 29% of companies included in the MSCI ACWI global equity index for managing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities.
ADCB’s strong performance in the “social” aspect played an important role in the rating upgrade. MSCI highlighted the Bank’s digital services, particularly those supporting small businesses during the global pandemic. ADCB remains committed to serving under-banked segments of the economy and operates a dedicated division catering to the needs of new start-ups and microbusinesses.
In the area of human capital development, the Bank received “top”
rankings relative to peers for talent pipeline development and its graduate trainee programme in recognition of ADCB’s actions on career and skills advancement, particularly for UAE Nationals.
ADCB achieved industry-leading scores for consumer financial protection, robust data security and compliance, while highlighting the frequency of system audits and employee training. ADCB’s governance score has increased, with the Bank ranking above average globally for business ethics, while MSCI noted favourably the low environmental intensity of the Bank’s loan portfolio.
