We are aware that climate change is one of the greatest challenges that our planet is currently facing. Contamination, environmental degradation, and the excessive consumption of natural resources are affecting the quality of life of our communities.

As a financial institution, we have made a commitment to manage our operations with environmental responsibility and understand where we can have the most impact, reducing our carbon footprint, evaluating environmental risks in our credit process, and supporting our clients in making the transition to a cleaner economy.

2023-2025 Objectives

2023-2025 Objectives

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Carbon footprint emitted in 2023 in Tons Co2*
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Carbon footprint emitted in 2023 in Tons Co2*

For more than 10 years, Banco General has been measuring its carbon footprint and has worked on different initiatives to reduce it, thanks to a specialized team and important investments.

In 2021, Banco General joined the “Reduce Tu Huella Corporativo (RTH Corporativo)” program, the first voluntary government initiative for the management of carbon and water footprints of organizations in the Republic of Panama. This program has established a standardized process to identify, calculate, report, and verify the carbon and water footprint within the operational limits of public, private, and civil society organizations that are legally registered in Panama.

What is our commitment for 2025?

What is our commitment for 2025?

To reduce our carbon footprint by 33%  Scope 1 & 2

To reduce our carbon footprint by 33%  Scope 1 & 2

What have we done to reduce our footprint?

What have we done to reduce our footprint?

Solar panel installation

22 branches &
headquarters
Capacity installed: 1.425 MW

LED lights installation

94% of all our luminaires are LED

Efficient A/C unit installation

98% of our A/C units are efficient

Remote controllers

10 branches with measurers controlled from our headquarters

We support our personal and business clients with products and services that will also allow them to make the transition towards renewable energy and environmental sustainability.

Products we offer

¿Qué hemos hecho para reducir nuestra huella de carbono Alcance 1 y 2?

Solar energy loans for businesses

We offer financing of solar panels under special conditions (preferential rates and closing commission) for our business clients, promoting their transition towards renewable energies.

We are committed to financing a minimum of $105 million in solar energy by 2025.

Solar energy loans for residences

Through a special loan with preferential rates and special conditions for the purchase of hybrid and electric cars, we support our customers going green.

Electric and hybrid cars loans

We have a special loan for the purchase of hybrid and electric cars, with preferential rates and special conditions, to promote the acquisition of these vehicles.

With 74 branches, four office buildings, and more than 5,000 employees, we understand we must monitor our consumption of natural resources and be responsible in their use.

In addition to our initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint under the “Reduce tu Huella” program, we are also measuring our water footprint. In 2020 we installed a water reutilization system in our headquarters, the biggest building in our company and with the largest number of employees.

Water Reutilization System

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gallons of water reused in 2024

This system collects rainwater and water generated by the building’s air conditioning system, which is then stored in special tanks and re-used in gardening and car wash services.

Recycling

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pounds recycled in 2024

Botellas de Amor

Botellas de Amor

In 2023, we began an alliance with Botellas de Amor, a non-profit organization focused on recycling plastic and contributing to a circular economy. Sixteen collection points were established: 1 at our corporate headquarers and 15 at different bank branches. Correspondingly, 4,668 kg of plastic bottles were collected between September and December 2023, resulting in a bench that now resides in our headquarters.

Transition to electric cars

Transition to electric cars

Starting in 2023, Banco General began replacing its fleet of fuel cars with electric cars, purchasing its first 7 vehicles. In 2024, 64 additional cars will be replaced. With this investment, the Bank seeks to promote the transition towards renewable energies: each unit acquired represents a reduction equivalent to 1.5 and 1.8 Ton CO2 per year.

Building with a conscience

Building with a conscience

Banco General believes in the importance of incorporating concepts of environmental sustainability in the construction of its offices. Branches with LEED ® certification

Clayton and Ciudad del Saber
LEED ® Gold

Panamá Pacífico
LEED ® Silver

Versalles
LEED ®

The LEED certification system was created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and its the main program at global level for buildings, houses, and communities that are designed, built, maintained, and operated to reach a superior performance level.

Our Environmental and Social Risk Management System consists of an analysis of the environmental and social risks within our credit process. At the time of analyzing the granting of a credit, one does not only analyze the company´s financial statement, but also the client´s performance through the management of potential environmental and social risks that may be related to their industry. We possess an Environmental, Social, and Reputation Risk Manual that guides our operation.

In order for the system to function properly, clients have been ranked according to their risk profile and there is a rigorous monitoring of industries with a high-risk profile.

In 2024, 8,813 clientes were analyzed with loans amounting to $9,929 million in Panama and the region.

It also includes an Exclusion List that provides information on specific industries in which Banco General has decided not to invest or partake in due the social and/or environmental risks associated with them.