Introduction

I am pleased to confirm that the National Bank reaffirms its support to the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti Corruption.
In our second annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to integrate the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We are also committed to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

Yours Sincerely
Talal Nasser Aldin
Chairman of Board

The National Bank adopts the United Nations Global Compact principles of human rights. TNB respects human rights and makes sure to implement all its related principles in our day to day operations .TNB has made it clear that it refuses any kind of human rights abuses.

Human rights principles in The National Bank are adopted in several ways, first, we believe in equality, and therefore we are proud to develop specialized programs for empowering women in the conservative society we work in, women make 1/3 of our employees, whereas the percentage of working women in the Palestinian Territories recorded 21.3% in the latest survey done by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. Second, we are the first bank in Palestine to develop a microfinance lending program for disabled people in an attempt to give them the chance to be productive and change the stereotype and reduce unemployment among this group of people in the Palestinian society. TNB has also developed a special lending program for empowering women through financing micro projects that help them be productive members of the society. TNB has developed its own CSR policy and has engaged this principle as one of the major frameworks that determine our social contribution. Our clients and employees are also provided with a suggestions and complaints box, and an online suggestions and complaints box that help us report any problem and solve it and on the other hand harmonize our services and enhance it as they suggest. Our staff is also committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality at work and outside. TNB refuses all kind of abuses to human rights including discrimination and stereotyping, which has been made clear to all our employees and stakeholders.

Reports on regular basis, are provided by our Human Resources Department to our senior management team on implementing the UNGS’s human rights principles, if any violation occurs, the investigation committee that consists of HR, Internal Audit and the Legal Departments immediately take care of these incidents and make sure it is reported directly to the Top Management and take the right actions directly.

The National Bank adopts the United Nations Global Compact principles of labour, we also work within the regulations of the Ministry of Labour, which ensures implementing all regulations including abolition of child labour and the elimination of discrimination.

TNB is an equal organization that believes in democracy and negotiations which will definitely lead to finding productive solutions to any potential problems, we built an internal system to encourage collective bargaining and ease the communication between employees and the senior management team. TNB has developed a social committee for employees to ensure surrounding them with social activities and encourage keeping strong relationships between them and the senior management team. TNB also provides health care insurance to all employees and their families. Motivations are granted on an annual base according to evaluations revised and signed by the employees themselves. TNB invests in their own employees by training and exposing them to the latest scientific researches done to keep them up to date with all business developments. Our Human Resource Department has circulated UNGS’s 10 principles to all our employees, and were asked to engage them in their day to day operations. TNB’s working environment is full of respect, neutrality and democracy

Our senior management team receives regular reports from the Human Resources Department concerning recruitment, and implementation of the labour principles. If any violation occurs, it is reported immediately and correction actions are taken instantly. Our PR department also provides senior management team with reports evaluating the satisfaction of employees, to guarantee a healthy work environment full of equality and democracy.The Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) on regular basis inspects maintaining compliance with the legislated Palestinian labour rules.

The National Bank has adopted the United Nations Global Compact principles concerning the Environment. Ever since signing up with the UN Global Compact, environment related issues became one of the major priorities in our strategies. Environment is also one of the major guidelines for our CSR policy.

TNB always ensures spreading the awareness of protecting the environment against pollution in the Palestinian society, through our initiatives and our banking programs. TNB reinforces this principle along with all other UNGC’s principles among its employees, TNB’s employees greened several lands last year on different occasions by planting olive trees encouraging at the same time all business firms to take care of the environment we live in. In addition to that TNB financed () agricultural projects among which we have the highest share within the Palestinian banking market. Business wise, TNB designed special banking programs for sustainable agriculture to help increase the number of green lands .TNB employees also volunteered in several cleaning up campaigns to help protect the environment that we live in and work for. Within our CSR strategy, protecting environment forms one of the main sectors for our contributions. Since TNB is still expanding its branches, our future plan is to go for green buildings and depend on alternative energy solutions.

Reports on regular basis are provided by our Administrative Department to our senior management team regarding our operations to guarantee fulfilling the environmental related issues and implementing our friendly environment policy in all our operations

The National Bank adopts the United Nations Global Compact principles on Anti-corruption. And works under other universal policies such as: Anti Money Laundering, Know Your Customer and Combating Terrorists Financing . And also adopts other universal policies concerning Governance.TNB combats corruption in all its forms and refuses all kinds of extortion and bribery, which is our core value.

The National Bank always ensures that its operations are all done in compliance with the UNGC’s anti-corruption principles; reports on every client are made, sources of money must be identified, all precautionary procedures are taken in order to guarantee clean sources of money. TNB also maintains the highest levels of transparency and regulatory compliance, in accordance with the highest international and regional standards, implementing international policies such as Anti Money Laundering (AML), Combating Terrorists Financing (CTF), and Know Your Customer (KYC) in addition to creating and implementing a Governance Guide to fulfil the highest standards of integrity . UNGC’s principles on Anti-corruption are circulated to all TNB’s employees, and are asked to engage these principles in their day to day operations.

Our Compliance,Risk and Internal Audit Departments regularly provide our senior management team with reports concerning compliance with the UN Global Compact principles about Anti-corruption, if any violation occurs, it is reported directly and correction actions are taken immediately . TNB works with an External Audit Company to assure consistency with our anti corruption commitment and on the other hand the Palestine Monetary Authority regularly inspects banks and check if all operations meet the universally accepted standards.TNB was given Aman’s Integrity Award for its transparency and integrity