March 2, 2017

To our stakeholders:

I am pleased to confirm that Fidelity Bank Plc reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.

In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

Sincerely yours,

Nnamdi Okonkwo
Managing Director/CEO

Fidelity Bank identifies with the responsibility to respect human rights as set out in the International Bill on Human Rights and the conventions of the International Labour Organization. While dealing with employees, suppliers and third-party contractors, the Bank ensures that business is done in a manner that respects human rights, that everyone is treated fairly and without discrimination. In order to ensure that we always meet this responsibility, we maintain an effective grievance mechanism and whistle blowing platforms that facilitate prompt identification and remediation of grievances. In pursuit of these objectives, the Bank introduced the HR Clinic, an initiative designed to provide an interactive platform between the HR team and the employees bank-wide. It encourages staff to provide feedback on HR processes and creates opportunity for HR advisory and counselling to staff where required. This encourages freedom of expression amongst the staff.

Furthermore, Fidelity employee policies prohibit use of child labour; forced labour and discrimination on grounds of race, religion, age, gender or economic background.

The Bank maintains an effective grievance mechanism and whistle blowing platforms that facilitates prompt identification and remediation of grievances.

The Bank also introduced the HR Clinic, an initiative designed to provide an interactive platform between the HR team and the employees bank-wide which encourages employees to provide feedback on HR processes and creates opportunity for HR advisory and counselling where required.

Feedback from the Bank's HR clinic has led to the total overhaul of employees' health care system and significant improvement in their Career Development. This has also strengthened freedom of expression.

Fidelity Bank recognizes the Nigerian and International Labour Laws in its dealings with employees, suppliers and third-party contractors by ensuring that business is done with fairness and without discrimination

Furthermore, Fidelity employee policies prohibit use of child labour; forced labour and discrimination on grounds of race, religion, age, gender or economic background.

The Bank has adopted a policy of non- discrimination against any employee or customer on the basis of their HIV/AIDS status. Employees living with HIV/AIDS have the right to confidentiality and privacy concerning their HIV status. All medical information regarding employees with HIV/AIDS is kept strictly confidential, except where required by law to be disclosed to specific people or with the expressed consent of the employee. In the event of a noticeable deterioration in the health of an employee living with HIV/AIDS matched by a decisive impact on the employee work ability, the Bank’s standard incapacity procedures are usually applied.

Female genders are significantly represented in our work force.

In this regard and in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria requirement, Fidelity Bank ensures a minimum 43% female representation in its workforce at all cadres.

Over the years, the Bank has supported initiatives aimed at identifying and promoting the preservation, protection and beautification of the environment.

Fidelity recognizes that climate change is a serious global challenge and addressing it therefore is a strategic priority for the Bank. In pursuit of greenhouse gas emissions reduction

Fidelity Bank partners with public institutions – state and local governments – to create and maintain green parks in chosen locations in Nigeria.

The Bank also supports environmental advocacy groups like the Nigeria Conservative Foundation (NCF) in their advocacy programmes.

To address the challenges associated with climate change, we have implemented strategies at the Bank to reduce local and overseas travels.

The Bank also assents to relevant international Accords and Protocols aimed at promoting sustainability, like the Equator Principles.

Currently, the Bank maintains 14 gardens across States in Nigeria.

The Bank is a Gold Member of The Nigerian Conservation Foundation, a body that advocates conservation of nature and good environmental practices. Consequently, the Bank participates actively in all the Foundation's activities e.g The Annual Walk for Nature and Yearly Financial Support.

The positive impact from the use of our online learning and conferencing facilities by our employees have reduced official travels within the Bank. Also, as a deliberate carbon emissions reduction strategy, we ensure that our over 734 ATMs are powered with inverters instead of generator.

We also undertake green initiatives that assist the environment. In this regard, we dispense cash with recycled biodegradable cash bags.

Because of the Bank's zero tolerance for corruption, bribery and extortion, we have in place anti corruption policies and processes that seeks to detect, try and punish all established cases of corruption.

The Bank's policy on anti corruption is contained in employees' policy handbook available to all staff.

There is also the whistleblowing mechanism and disciplinary committee in place that exposes and punishes staff involved in bribery and corruption.

Periodic training on anti corruption like anti money laundering (AML) and others are available to employees as well.

No established case of corruption recorded in 2016
Refresher training on AML was administered to all employees in 2016