Sustainability and Responsible Banking Committee

Committee Officer: Seray İmer

Type of Committee: Main Committees

Subcommittee Type: Orientation / Coordination

Committee's Aim / Responsibilities: The purpose of the committee is to ensure that responsible banking and sustainability practices are integrated into banking services and the Bank's strategic priorities, and to systematically ensure that the Bank places its stakeholders at the center of decision-making processes.

The Committee's responsibilities are as below;

  • Creating and revising documents as policies, standards, procedures, etc. in accordance with sustainability and responsible banking principles and ensuring that these documents guide the activities of the Bank,
  • To ensure that all decisions made and projects carried out within the framework of the sustainability strategy are in compliance with the Bank's other policies and relevant regulations,
  • To ensure that the institution's banking activities comply with Environmental and Social Credit Standards and to supervise the integration of the principles determined within this framework into investment decisions,
  • To monitor comprehensive assessments made in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas related to banking activities, to follow up studies on the management of risks that may negatively affect the bank's reputation, and to give opinions on effectively reducing these risks when necessary,
  • To monitor the studies aimed at evaluating the risks that may arise from our Bank's direct effects on the environment with the help of factors such as energy consumption, waste management etc.
  • To follow the Bank's efforts to provide products and services that support sustainable development and to give direction when necessary,
  • To follow projects related to banking processes and reporting in connection with sustainability and to direct the process when necessary,
  • To inform the Board of Directors about its activities when necessary,
  • To follow Responsible Banking trends globally and the development of Responsible Banking within the BBVA Group, to evaluate issues related to how these trends and developments can be implemented within Garanti BBVA and to direct the development of Responsible Banking at Garanti BBVA,
  • To evaluate the contribution we provide with our social investment programs within the framework of the global goal of the Social Investment Plan and to obtain information about new social investments,
  • To monitor the institution's sustainability-related initiatives and commitments, to obtain information about new initiatives and to give approval when necessary,
  • To monitor the preparation of sections related to sustainability and responsible banking in comprehensive reports published on the activities of the institution and to promote transparency and accountability to stakeholders and the public in these reports.

Committee History: Established on February 2017. Merged with Sustainability Committee in January 2020.

Meeting Frequency: The Sustainability and Responsible Banking Committee meets at least twice a year, at a frequency sufficient to achieve its goals.

Number of Meetings (2023): 2 meetings were held. (May, December)

Number of Meetings (2024): 2 meetings were planned. 

Committee Members 

Committee Members Committee Members' Titles Committee Members' Roles
Mahmut Akten CEO / Board Member Member
Aydın Düren Board Member / Responsible for Legal Services Member
Çağrı Süzer Corporate, Investment Banking & Global Markets EVP Member
Sibel Kaya SME Banking EVP Member
Tuba Köseoğlu Okçu Talent & Culture EVP Member
Aydın Güler Finance & Treasury EVP Member
Ceren Acer Kezik Retail Banking EVP Member
Cemal Onaran Commercial Banking EVP Member
Murat Atay Chief Credit Risk Officer Member
İlker Kuruöz Engineering Services and Data EVP Member
Elif Güvenen Corporate Brand Mgmt. & Marketing Comm. Director Member
Ufuk Aydar Endem Retail Customer Product Management Director Member
Özgür Özkan Seamless Experience and Relationship Model Discipline Director Member
Hakan Birhan Investment Banking & Finance Director Member
Eren Gülpınar Mass Customer and Product Management Director Member
Mustafa Sağlık SME Banking Istanbul Marketing Director Member
Handan Saygın Investor Relations Director Member
Nurdan Tunay Günaylı SME Banking Anatolia Marketing Director Member
Koray Öztopçu Consumer Finance Director Member
Selim Selimata Corporate and Specialised Loans Director Member
Demet Yavuz Commercial Banking Istanbul Marketing Director Member
Zeynep Özer Yıldırım Commercial Banking Anadolu Marketing Director  
Gülay Başak Commercial Banking Director Member
Fulya Göyenç Corporate Banking Director Member
Kaan Kırtız Construction & Premises Director Member
İrem Barzilay Sustainable Finance Manager Member
Seray İmer Sustainability Manager Member / Secretary