Good corporate governance creates and sustains shareholder value
In a few words
As a leading financial institution in Castries with a social conscience the Board and staff of HerMes are fully committed to the highest level of corporate governance and sustainable social and economic responsibility throughout every aspect of our business towards those stakeholders affected by our business activities. Our vision is to be Castries’s most responsible and sustainable Bank. We’re committed to sustainable social and economic development
This is because we believe in being involved in developing the community within which we operate.
Our drive for sustainability has made us recognize that social giving is not enough. Rather, for Corporate Social Investments to be truly effective and make an ongoing and meaningful impact in the lives of our communities, environment and stakeholders, it needs to be well-managed and underpinned by the driving principle of sustainability. In so doing, we have adopted four (4) pillars; SDGs 4, 5, 7 and 13 in the Sustainable Development Goals. These pillars are translated into specific initiatives to which we focus as a bank.
Sustainable Finance
As a leading Caribbean financial institution, we promote sustainable finance. We’re committed to supporting sustainable economic growth, expanding renewables financing, and investing in sustainable infrastructure where it is needed most.
In our day-to-day business operations, we apply international standards and best practices. We adopted the Environmental, social, and management system (ESMS) framework which we have embed directly into all our credit approval process. The framework guides the Bank in balancing the potential environmental and social risks with positive social and commercial impact arising from our business operations. We will not provide financial services support to clients who breach our ESMS framework. Read more about the framework here
We are passionate about communities and the impact our business directly or indirectly may impact on our communities, environment and stakeholder livelihoods.
What we believe
HerMes is very passionate about community involvement activities and we believe in investing and developing the community in which we operate. Referencing the SDG Pillar 4 of quality education, HerMes continues to invest in the education of less privileged children in the society. We believe that contributing to the development of well-educated individuals who are qualified, employable, and will make them contributors to the broader economy.
This is because education and culture form the foundations for social, economic, community development. We attach special priority to the underprivileged in society – needy children, the vulnerable, and other discriminated groups.
Our Core Objectives
Our objective of joining the promotion in the UN Sustainable Development Goals is to help tackle economic inequality through education, access to better health for all, entrepreneurship as a way of enhancing employability, and provision of affordable and clean energy.
Under listed are the Bank’s core objectives:
- To improve the level of education of the underprivileged in society and to contribute to the overall development of education in Saint Lucia
- To make a positive contribution to the underprivileged by supporting a wide range of health initiatives
- To develop and promote the known and lesser-known sports as a means of fostering social integration
- To support access to affordable and clean energy
- To support and promote entrepreneurial skills and employability to the youth with special emphasis on women
- To promote arts and culture in Castries
- To promote inclusive communities by addressing important societal needs
Our Focus
As a bank, our four (4) thematic areas of sustainable and social investment is in education with a special priority for the underprivileged (orphanages), healthcare, national arts and culture and sports development portray our interest and commitment to the sustainable development of our communities of operation.
Other socially responsible initiatives:
Aside our focus on the four main pillars of HerMes’s community development, we are also committed to support some sectors that have been outlined below.
- SDGs Goal 13 of Climate Action. Staff across the bank undertook tree planting as one of their promises to help sustain the environment.
- SDGs Goal 1 of no poverty. To improve the living conditions of the underprivileged in homes that the bank was sponsoring, especially the needy children in homes and children in need. More importantly, to make a positive difference in their lives
