A striking 86 per cent of these funds flowed to emerging markets, including regions across Brazil, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia — underscoring Bank ABC’s drive to bridge the climate finance gap where it matters most.
This expanded financial deployment forms part of a broader three‑year sustainability roadmap, launched in 2023, which commits the bank to embed environmental, social and governance principles across its operations, governance, risk management and client offerings. The Sustainable Finance Framework, developed in collaboration with ESG specialist ISS, guides the classification of green, social, sustainable and sustainability‑linked finance products.
Beyond capital mobilisation, Bank ABC is extending its internal capabilities. It launched a global sustainability training programme for client‑facing teams and has deployed sixteen dedicated sustainability specialists across six strategic locations — Bahrain, Brazil, Egypt, Tunisia, Paris and London.
Operational impact is also central to the bank’s strategy. Energy consumption and Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse‑gas emissions both fell by 4 per cent in 2024 compared with the prior year, aided by a three‑year environmental reduction programme focused on sites in Bahrain, London, Egypt and, from 2026, Jordan, Tunisia and Algeria. The bank is also advancing emissions measurement across its supply chain, where supplier activity accounted for 44 per cent of its total Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
Bank ABC also pursued strategic innovation in its sustainable offerings. In Brazil, a Carbon Credit Solutions Desk was launched, enabling clients to invest in nature‑based voluntary carbon credits supporting Amazon rainforest conservation. On the capital markets front, the bank served as joint lead manager for green, social and sustainable sukuks totalling US$ 2.1 billion.
The distribution of sustainable finance by category in 2024 comprised approximately 60 per cent green finance, 31 per cent social finance, 6 per cent sustainable finance, and 3 per cent sustainability‑linked initiatives. Notably, about half of its social finance was directed at small and medium‑sized enterprises and microfinance, emphasising its support for economic inclusion.
Sectoral deployment primarily served seven industries — multi‑utilities, real estate, agriculture, retail, financial institutions, transport and professional services — which together accounted for 75 per cent of the sustainable finance portfolio.
At ground level, Bank ABC financed a transformative project in Wales, acting as lead arranger in converting a paper mill into a high‑efficiency facility producing containerboard and tissue from 100 per cent recycled materials. The project, powered by an on‑site combined heat and power plant, is expected to dramatically boost efficiency and sustainability.
In the retail space, the bank has advanced green finance through its digital platform “ila Bank” in Bahrain and Jordan, including financing for electric vehicles in Jordan and Egypt. The number of retail customers across its digital and traditional operations rose by 16 per cent. In Egypt and Tunisia, microfinance initiatives channelled US$ 45 million, supporting micro‑entrepreneurs — 60 per cent women in Tunisia and 44 per cent women in Egypt — reflecting a commitment to empowerment and inclusion.
Already recognised as Bahrain’s Best Bank for Sustainable Finance in 2025 by Euromoney, Bank ABC’s strategy underscores that capital deployment, operational efficiency, capacity building and client innovation can mutually reinforce a transition to sustainable growth.
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