Nearly 65% of KTB's branches are concentrated in the Yunlin-Chiayi- Tainan area, demonstrating our high regard for local service. We are committed to deeply engaging with the community and integrating into local culture. We actively invest various resources and collaborate with our branch partners in different regions to jointly organize diverse community activities, support the development of local businesses, and promote educational programs, thereby realizing our vision of mutual prosperity and inclusivity. As a city rich in historical heritage, Tainan is not only a cultural treasure trove but also a vital foundation for promoting community prosperity, serving as a core base where KTB puts sustainable values into practice. We will continue to use Tainan as our starting point to convey local warmth and achieve the goal of mutual benefit between enterprises and society.
Social Investment Evaluation Mechanism
We abide by Article 27 of the "Sustainable Development Best Practice Principles," and when making social investment project, we will firstly evaluate possible opportunities or impact of such investment action on the community. In its social engagement efforts, KTB embraces a core principle of “localization,” striving to create a warm and welcoming environment that brings “local touches of care” to every corner of the community. Through initiatives such as promoting financial education, raising awareness on fraud prevention, delivering thoughtful customer services, encouraging employee volunteer participation, and organizing heartfelt outreach activities, KTB not only meets the financial needs of local residents but also strengthens its connection with the community. We believe that localization is key for the financial services industry to foster social prosperity. By understanding local culture, needs, and challenges, we are able to provide timely and appropriate support. This human-centered banking approach transcends the cold transactional nature of financial services, transforming them into a bridge that connects communities and co-creates a better future. It fosters long-term relationships and promotes social prosperity.
Social Investment Action and Measures
In order to fully demonstrate the efficiency and extend impact of our social investment, KTB focuses its social prosperity efforts on three main pillars: "Academic Education," "Social Support," and "Arts & Culture." These initiatives are implemented through two primary models: "Call of the Headquarters" and "Branches are Good Neighbors." All social investment activities are monitored and consolidated by the ESG Team, serving as a basis for the continuous enhancement of the Company’s social contribution efforts.
Call of the Headquarters: Expand Influence and Foster Internal Participation
This model primarily addresses social needs through employee-generated proposals. These proposals are compiled, discussed, and developed into comprehensive plans by the ESG Team, then submitted for executive approval and budget allocation. Depending on the nature of the activity, implementation is assigned to the appropriate responsible unit. To encourage active employee participation, KTB has implemented a “Volunteer Leave” policy. Employees who take part in Call of the Headquarters initiatives are granted one day of paid leave. This incentive aims to mobilize greater manpower and collectively expand social impact. Details of the 2024 Call of the Headquarters initiatives are provided in CH4.3 Sustainable Operating Environment and CH7.1 Academic Education.
Branches are Good Neighbors: Local Connections, Deepening Community Engagement
Leveraging the advantage of our branches being distributed across various counties and cities in Taiwan, the ESG Team proposes annual promotion focus and directions, and the branch offices are responsible for holding "community care activities" by combining local cultural characteristics and customs to becoming good neighbor to the local residents. In recent years, the prevalence of fraud has increased significantly, with methods becoming increasingly sophisticated. We recognize that promoting financial literacy is of utmost importance. Since 2019, we have established "Financial Education" and "Anti-Fraud Advocacy" as the two core components of our community care activities. Each branch is required to conduct at least one "Financial Education" and one "Anti-Fraud Advocacy" event annually, thereby taking concrete actions to enhance the community's awareness of financial security. Additionally, we regularly share and provide feedback on the outcomes of these initiatives during meetings, serving as a measure of our social investment and implementation effectiveness.
Types of KTB's social investment resources (form of contribution) can be divided into "Cash," "In-kind," "Time" and "Management Cost," and the investment motives (driver for contribution) are divided into "Charitable gifts," "Community investment" and "Commercial initiatives in the community." In the meantime, KTB assesses the overall condition of resource investment regularly by reference to London Benchmarking Group (LBG) framework, for the benefit of follow-up evaluation and tracking.
