Volksbank (founded in 1886), based in Bolzano, operates as a regional bank not only in its home market of South Tyrol but also in the North-East of Italy in the provinces of Trento, Belluno, Treviso, Pordenone, Vicenza, Padova, Venice, Udine and Verona. The bank has over 160 branches in operation. It employs more than 1,400 collaborators. The bank's positioning is as follows: "We are the strongest bank in relationships, always close to customers in every stage of life, for a more sustainable society in the North East."
Requirements
In an increasingly sustainability-oriented regulatory environment, Volksbank seized the opportunity to include ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria in its credit assessment processes. It was not just a matter of complying with regulations, but of giving concrete value to ESG data, translating it into useful tools for both the bank and its customers. One of the main challenges was to collect this information directly from companies, especially SMEs, and transform it into useful and operational knowledge. The objective was threefold: to comply with current regulations, improve credit risk assessment capabilities, and support companies on their path to sustainability.
Solutions
Volksbank chose to tackle this transformation through a structured project, developing a digital ESG platform in collaboration with Deda Bit , its technology partner, and BDO, for academic and regulatory alignment. The system allows ESG data to be collected directly from companies, avoiding reliance solely on external and often generic sources. The platform has been designed to meet four operational needs: to assign a consistent and transparent ESG score to each customer, to support the bank's CSRD reporting, to provide useful elements for climate risk assessment, and to provide consultants with concrete tools to support companies in their sustainable transition.
Results
The introduction of the platform aims to achieve positive effects on several levels. At the operational level, it enriches creditworthiness assessments with relevant ESG information, improving the ability to assess risk and identify opportunities. For SMEs, often confused by the complexity of ESG requirements, the bank has become a point of reference, offering assessment and consulting services. In addition, direct interaction with businesses has strengthened the bond between the bank and its customers, helping to position Volksbank as a strategic partner in the sustainable transition. The project has demonstrated that it is possible to combine technological innovation, regulatory compliance, and advisory services, transforming sustainability from a formal requirement into a concrete lever for competitiveness.
“We have developed an innovative ESG tool designed to truly support SMEs. The collaboration with Deda Bit has been fundamental in effectively integrating technology and sustainability.”
- Manuela Miorelli - Head of Sustainability, Volksbank
