Bank Natixis: The Bank of the Year with a Commitment to Sustainability

Author

Reads 424

The sleek architecture of the Rietumu Bank building against a summer sky in Riga, Latvia.
Credit: pexels.com, The sleek architecture of the Rietumu Bank building against a summer sky in Riga, Latvia.

Bank Natixis is making a name for itself as a leader in the financial industry. It was named Bank of the Year by a leading financial publication for its commitment to sustainability.

This recognition is a testament to the bank's dedication to environmental and social responsibility. By prioritizing these values, Natixis is setting a high standard for other financial institutions to follow.

One of the key ways Natixis is living up to this commitment is through its investment in renewable energy. The bank has made significant investments in solar and wind power, helping to reduce its carbon footprint.

As a result, Natixis is not only doing its part to combat climate change, but also reaping the benefits of a more sustainable business model.

Additional reading: Natixis Aum

Natixis Rebranding

Natixis is a French multinational bank that has undergone significant rebranding efforts in recent years.

In 2014, Natixis rebranded itself as a standalone bank, following the acquisition of the asset management business of Fortis by Banque Populaire.

Bank of Spain Building in Madrid
Credit: pexels.com, Bank of Spain Building in Madrid

The rebranding aimed to emphasize Natixis' independence and focus on its core business.

Natixis' new brand identity was designed to be more modern and dynamic, reflecting the bank's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.

The rebranding efforts included a new logo, visual identity, and messaging framework that would be used across all channels.

The goal was to create a consistent and recognizable brand image for Natixis.

The rebranding was a significant investment, with a reported budget of €100 million.

The bank's leadership believed that a strong brand identity was essential to its future success.

Natixis has continued to evolve and refine its brand over the years, incorporating feedback from customers and employees.

Bank of the Year

Natixis CIB was named Investment Bank of the Year by Environmental Finance.

This is a significant achievement, considering the bank's efforts to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics within its internal credit processes and IT systems.

Natixis CIB's proprietary analytical tool, the Green Weighting Factor (GWF), actively manages and steers the transition of the bank's loan book in line with Paris Agreement objectives.

Exterior of modern bank building with arched passages
Credit: pexels.com, Exterior of modern bank building with arched passages

The GWF has evolved from being a deal-by-deal decision-making tool to a transition steering mechanism, indicating the bank's commitment to sustainable finance.

Anne-Christine Champion, co-head of Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking, emphasizes the bank's focus on accelerating the integration of ESG in its solutions across all asset classes.

Judges praised Natixis CIB for its achievements in sustainable finance, including the launch of the Impact Hypotheken Investment platform with CMIS Group in November 2021.

This platform provides financing for energy-efficient Dutch residential properties or borrowers that commit to improving the energy performance of their properties by at least 30%.

The bank's Green and Sustainable Hub (GSH) has been a key factor in its success, providing multi-asset expertise in green and sustainable financing and investment solutions.

Launched in 2017, the GSH team now consists of more than 30 specialists, with a presence in the Middle East, in addition to the Americas and Asia Pacific.

Orith Azoulay, global head of Natixis CIB's Green & Sustainable Hub, notes that the bank's recognition as Investment Bank of the Year is a testament to its commitment to making sustainable finance a key pillar of its strategy.

Here's an interesting read: Commercial Banks vs Investment Banks

Sustainable Growth

Illuminated Wells Fargo bank branch at night showcasing modern architecture and signage.
Credit: pexels.com, Illuminated Wells Fargo bank branch at night showcasing modern architecture and signage.

Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking is a pioneer in green and sustainable finance, with a mission to expedite its clients' ecological transition.

The bank has set a goal to align its own financing portfolio with a net-zero emissions trajectory by 2050.

This ambitious target is made possible by the bank's expertise in green finance, which is driving new growth for the company.

Between 2017 and 2020, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking doubled its revenues from green and sustainable activities.

To measure and monitor its own carbon footprint, the bank uses the Green Weighting Factor, a novel capital allocation tool.

This innovative tool ranks each financing agreement in terms of its impact on the climate, allowing the bank to make more informed decisions.

Explore further: Sustainable Banking

The Challenge and Outcome

Natixis, a geographically distributed organization, needed more flexibility in their data storage due to their global growth plans.

Their existing storage solution couldn't keep up with their demands for high-durability, rapid data recovery, and improved performance.

Natixis sought a cost-effective storage solution that could scale with their business.

They found software-defined storage, specifically Scality RING, to be the perfect fit.

With Scality RING, Natixis achieved a 30% improvement in throughput compared to their previous storage solution.

For another approach, see: Core Banking Solution Market

The Challenge

Hands using a TAN generator next to a laptop for secure online banking transactions.
Credit: pexels.com, Hands using a TAN generator next to a laptop for secure online banking transactions.

As a business grows globally, its data storage needs also expand. Natixis, a geographically distributed organization, faced this challenge head-on.

With data spread across different locations, Natixis needed a more flexible solution to manage their backup data storage.

Their existing setup wasn't meeting their needs, and they were looking for a cost-effective alternative that could keep up with their growth.

To achieve high-durability and rapid data recovery, Natixis sought a storage solution that could scale with their business.

Expand your knowledge: Meaning of Core Banking Solution

The Outcome

Natixis' journey with Scality RING has been a resounding success, with a 30% improvement in throughput compared to their previous storage solution.

Their backup and restore operations have seen a nice bump in performance, thanks to the seamless integration with IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM).

Scality RING has allowed Natixis to easily and seamlessly expand their backup footprint multiple times.

Their overall backup strategy has evolved, with one week's backups now stored via Rubrik to Scality RING, thanks to the great integration between Rubrik and Scality RING via S3.

Natixis is 100% invested in Scality RING, with all company-wide backups secured on the platform.

Scality RING's self-healing features ensure that data and its integrity are maintained, even through hardware failures.

Scality and Backups

Letters forming 'Bank Loan' on a vibrant red surface, ideal for finance themes.
Credit: pexels.com, Letters forming 'Bank Loan' on a vibrant red surface, ideal for finance themes.

Scality RING was chosen by Natixis Bank for cost-effective backup storage.

The solution's simplicity and efficiency were key factors in the decision-making process.

Scality RING offers enterprise-grade durability, ensuring no accidents or downtime.

The robustness of Scality RING means no surprises for Natixis Bank.

Scality RING's technical superiority to alternatives was also a major draw.

Its flexible file and object interfaces make it a versatile solution for Natixis Bank's needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Natixis a bank?

Yes, Natixis is a bank that provides corporate and investment banking services globally. It's a leading financial institution with a strong global presence.

Is Natixis a good Investment Bank?

Natixis CIB has been recognized as a top risk manager, indicating a strong ability to navigate global markets. This achievement suggests a high level of expertise and reliability in investment banking services.

What is the rating of Natixis bank?

Natixis bank's rating is A+, upgraded from A by S&P Global Ratings. This upgrade reflects the bank's strong financial position and stability.

Joan Lowe-Schiller

Assigning Editor

Joan Lowe-Schiller serves as an Assigning Editor, overseeing a diverse range of architectural and design content. Her expertise lies in Brazilian architecture, a passion that has led to in-depth coverage of the region's innovative structures and cultural influences. Under her guidance, the publication has expanded its reach, offering readers a deeper understanding of the architectural landscape in Brazil.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.