Our Sustainability Impact
From climate action to ensuring financial inclusion, we are creating environmental, economic and social impact for a sustainable future.
Impact in 2023
Managing our Environmental Footprint
Since 2022, we continued to maintain carbon neutrality in our own operations. At the end of 2023, over 80% of our manned retail branches in Singapore are certified Green Buildings. An example of net zero building is DBS Newton Green, Singapore’s first net zero building by a bank, minimising its energy by as much as 580,000kWh from 845,000kWh annually and deploying over 1,000 square metres of solar panels on its rooftop.
Sustainable Procurement
We ensure that our partners and wider ecosystem are on the same journey as DBS. We are mindful of who we choose to work. In 2023, more than 99% of new suppliers aligned with DBS’ Sustainable Sourcing Principles.
Democratising Banking Services Access to All
As the former Development Bank of Singapore, we have an ingrained purpose to enable financial and social mobility and security for every segment of the community, regardless of their background.
Creating an Enabling Environment for the Underbanked
We expand our reach to low-income individuals or groups who are typically excluded from traditional banking. POSB is currently the only bank that works with the Ministry of Manpower to avail bank accounts as part of Work Pass Issuance process for Work Permit Holders, which comprise Migrant Domestic Workers and Migrant Workers.
Learn MoreAddressing the Financing Gap for Small Businesses
We improve financing for underserved local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and social enterprises (SEs) to build capabilities, capacities, and to scale businesses.
In 2023, we have approved over 4,400 unsecured loans totalling SGD 665 million to MSMEs in Singapore, which consisted of both government risk share and commercial unsecured loans. We also awarded 24 social enterprises and SMEs across Asia approximately SGD 3.7 million in 2023.
Learn More
Impact beyond banking
A better and brighter tomorrow belongs to everyone, not just a few. We seek to be a force for good by supporting the vulnerable segments of the community.
DBS Foundation
At its 10th year, DBS Foundation has provided more than SGD 17 million in grant funding to 140 social enterprises and SMEs to scale their business models and deepen their impact. The foundation has also launched 22 community programmes focused on uplifting lives launched across region since 2022
DBS’ latest commitment of SGD 1 billion dollars for the next decade to support vulnerable communities, promises a new cycle of enduring change. From a spark within, to impact beyond, we can create a world where every individual and every community has the opportunity to thrive.
Learn MorePeople of Purpose
People of Purpose (PoP) is DBS’ employee volunteer movement that brings our values to life. Our commitment is instituted in two official volunteer-leave days for each employee. Our employees contributed more than 780,000 volunteering hours since 2015, with the bank committing over 1.5 million volunteer hours over the next decade.
Learn More
Helping change mindsets
Providing information on how to live sustainably is important for us to be effective enablers of change. With “Live more”, our sustainable lifestyle content portal, we hope to inspire an eco-friendly community and create a collective movement towards more conscious choices.
Learn More