Sustainability Assurance for Banks

Independent assurance for sustainability and responsible banking information

Banks increasingly communicate sustainability information through annual reports, sustainability reports, responsible banking disclosures and other public reporting.

That information can influence decisions by customers, investors, regulators, counterparties, employees and other stakeholders.

FBRH provides independent sustainability assurance for banks using an ISSA 5000 methodology, supported by strong quality management, ethics and independence controls and our secure Assurance Platform.

Our banking assurance experience includes work relating to the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, sustainability reporting and other sustainability information.

Evidence. Judgement. Review. Confidence.

Banking sector assurance experience

FBRH has been appointed to undertake sustainability and responsible banking assurance work for banks and financial institutions across international markets.

Our experience includes organisations such as:

• Ahli United Bank
• Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait
• Banque du Caire
• Banque Misr
• Crédit Agricole Egypt
• Gatehouse Bank (UK)
• Kuwait Finance House
• National Bank of Kuwait

Working with financial institutions requires disciplined engagement management, independence, confidentiality, evidence and professional judgement.

These same principles underpin every FBRH sustainability assurance engagement.

Relevant client references and engagement experience can be provided during proposals, tenders and supplier due diligence where confidentiality and permissions allow.

Principles for Responsible Banking assurance experience

FBRH has experience providing assurance relating to reporting under the UN Principles for Responsible Banking.

The Principles place transparency and accountability at the centre of responsible banking implementation, including public reporting on progress.

FBRH understands the relationship between responsible banking commitments, sustainability information, supporting evidence and independent assurance.

Our experience means we are familiar with the practical realities of reviewing responsible banking disclosures, supporting information and evidence in a banking environment.

Why banks choose FBRH for sustainability assurance

Sustainability and reporting specialists

Sustainability reporting is our field.

FBRH combines more than two decades of sustainability experience with specialist knowledge of sustainability reporting, the GRI Standards, responsible banking and independent assurance.

This means we understand not only assurance requirements, but also the sustainability information, reporting principles, materiality considerations and value chain context behind the information being assured.

Banking assurance experience

FBRH has already undertaken assurance work for banks and financial institutions.

This experience matters because banking organisations typically operate within demanding governance, risk, compliance, confidentiality and procurement environments.

A controlled international assurance methodology

FBRH sustainability assurance engagements are performed using a controlled methodology based on ISSA 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements.

Our assurance activities are supported by assurance specific quality management arrangements based on ISQM 1 and ethics and independence controls incorporating applicable IESSA requirements.

A transparent evidence process

Our secure Assurance Platform provides a structured and traceable process from evidence request through findings, responses, practitioner evaluation and review to the final assurance conclusion.

Professional judgement remains human

Technology and AI can support our assurance practitioners, but they do not replace professional judgement, professional scepticism or practitioner responsibility.

Assurance judgements and conclusions remain the responsibility of appropriately competent human practitioners.

What sustainability information can be assured?

The scope of an assurance engagement depends on the reporting requirements, sustainability information concerned, applicable criteria and intended level of assurance.

Depending on the engagement, assurance may relate to:

• selected sustainability disclosures
• sustainability metrics and indicators
• responsible banking information
• sustainability statements or claims
• selected GRI disclosures
• other defined sustainability information

Assurance procedures may consider matters such as:

• source evidence and supporting documentation
• processes used to prepare sustainability information
• methodologies, definitions and calculation approaches
• consistency between reported information and supporting evidence
• relevant systems and controls
• significant judgements made in preparing the information

The precise scope, criteria and level of assurance are agreed before the engagement is accepted.

Assurance of GRI sustainability information for banks

Many banks use the GRI Standards as part of their sustainability reporting.

FBRH has extensive experience with the GRI Standards through both professional training and sustainability assurance.

We undertake independent assurance engagements involving sustainability information prepared using the GRI Standards, subject to the proposed engagement meeting FBRH’s acceptance, competence, ethics and independence requirements.

Depending on the agreed engagement, the subject matter may include selected GRI disclosures, sustainability metrics or other sustainability information.

Our role as assurance provider is independent. Management remains responsible for preparing the sustainability information and for the underlying systems, processes, controls and evidence supporting it.

What working with FBRH looks like

We aim to make the assurance process rigorous without making it unnecessarily complicated.

At the beginning of the engagement, we agree the sustainability information to be assured, applicable criteria, level of assurance, timetable, responsibilities and evidence requirements.

Evidence is then managed systematically through the FBRH Assurance Platform.

Where questions or findings arise, they are recorded and traced. Your team can respond and provide additional evidence, while our practitioners document their evaluation and resolution.

This creates a structured evidence trail throughout the engagement and helps both FBRH and the reporting organisation understand what information has been requested, what remains outstanding and how matters identified during the assurance process are progressing.

At the end of the engagement, the assurance conclusion is reached through professional evaluation of the evidence obtained, not simply through completing a checklist.

A structured banking assurance process

1. Acceptance and independence

Before accepting an engagement, FBRH considers the proposed scope, applicable criteria, engagement preconditions, ethics and independence, competence and resources, and whether appropriate evidence is expected to be available.

2. Planning

We develop an assurance approach appropriate to the sustainability information, applicable criteria, level of assurance and circumstances of the engagement.

3. Evidence

Relevant evidence is requested, obtained and evaluated through a controlled process.

4. Testing and evaluation

Assurance procedures are performed in accordance with the engagement plan and applicable professional requirements.

The nature and extent of those procedures depend on the individual engagement rather than a standard checklist.

5. Findings and responses

Where matters require clarification or additional evidence, they are raised with the reporting organisation.

Responses and additional evidence are evaluated by the assurance practitioner.

6. Professional judgement and review

Evidence, findings and significant professional judgements are evaluated and reviewed before the engagement conclusion is reached.

7. Assurance conclusion and report

The independent assurance report communicates the conclusion reached in accordance with the applicable professional requirements and agreed engagement scope.

Independence is fundamental

The value of sustainability assurance depends on the independence of the assurance practitioner.

FBRH is structured to protect the independence of its assurance work.

We maintain assurance specific ethics and independence controls incorporating applicable requirements of the International Ethics Standards for Sustainability Assurance, including International Independence Standards (IESSA).

Potential threats to independence are considered before an engagement is accepted and, where relevant, reassessed throughout the engagement.

FBRH maintains a clear distinction between professional sustainability training and independent sustainability assurance.

We do not provide sustainability advisory services that could compromise the independence of our assurance activities.

Secure Assurance Platform

FBRH’s sustainability assurance methodology is supported by our proprietary secure Assurance Platform.

The Platform provides a structured environment for managing:

• evidence requests
• supporting documentation
• assurance findings
• client responses
• additional evidence
• practitioner evaluations
• review
• engagement documentation

This creates a traceable engagement record from evidence request through evaluation and resolution to the assurance conclusion.

Technology and AI may support elements of this process, but they do not make assurance conclusions.

Professional judgement remains with the assurance practitioner.

Assurance quality you can examine

Independent assurance requires more than a methodology. It requires a system designed to support quality throughout the engagement.

FBRH’s corporate quality foundation is its ISO 9001 certified Quality Management System.

This is supplemented by an Assurance Quality Management Framework based on ISQM 1, together with assurance specific arrangements covering ethics and independence, engagement acceptance, competence, resources, engagement performance, consultation, review, monitoring and continual improvement.

Where an Engagement Quality Review is required, the relevant requirements of ISQM 2 apply.

See how FBRH manages sustainability assurance quality →

Why banking experience matters

Banks operate in environments where governance, risk management, regulatory expectations, confidentiality and evidence quality matter.

An assurance provider working in this environment must be able to manage information carefully, challenge evidence appropriately and document professional judgements clearly.

FBRH’s banking assurance experience demonstrates our ability to operate within this type of environment while maintaining independence and a controlled assurance process.

It also means prospective banking clients can evaluate FBRH not simply on what we say about our methodology, but on our experience of delivering assurance work in the sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does FBRH provide sustainability assurance for banks?

Yes. FBRH undertakes independent sustainability assurance engagements for banks and financial institutions, subject to engagement acceptance, competence, ethics and independence requirements.

Does FBRH have experience with the Principles for Responsible Banking?

Yes. FBRH has experience providing assurance relating to reporting under the UN Principles for Responsible Banking.

What banking sustainability information can FBRH assure?

Depending on the engagement, assurance may relate to selected sustainability disclosures, responsible banking information, sustainability metrics, GRI disclosures or other defined sustainability information.

The scope and applicable criteria are agreed before the engagement is accepted.

Which sustainability assurance standard does FBRH use?

FBRH sustainability assurance engagements use a controlled methodology based on ISSA 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements, together with applicable ethical, independence, quality management, legal, regulatory and engagement requirements.

Can FBRH assure GRI sustainability information produced by banks?

Yes. FBRH undertakes independent assurance engagements involving sustainability information prepared using the GRI Standards, subject to applicable engagement acceptance requirements.

How does FBRH protect independence?

FBRH applies assurance specific ethics and independence controls incorporating applicable IESSA requirements.

Independence is considered before engagement acceptance and, where relevant, reassessed throughout the engagement as circumstances change.

Does FBRH provide sustainability advisory services to assurance clients?

FBRH does not provide sustainability advisory services that could compromise the independence of its assurance activities.

Professional sustainability training is maintained separately from independent sustainability assurance.

Does FBRH use AI in sustainability assurance?

Technology and AI may support aspects of FBRH’s controlled assurance process.

They do not replace practitioner responsibility, professional judgement or professional scepticism. Assurance judgements and conclusions remain the responsibility of appropriately competent human practitioners.

What is the FBRH Assurance Platform?

The FBRH Assurance Platform is a secure proprietary system supporting the controlled management of evidence, findings, client responses, practitioner evaluations, review and engagement documentation.

Can FBRH provide information for bank procurement or supplier due diligence?

Yes. Appropriate information on FBRH’s assurance quality arrangements, independence, competence, experience and supporting controls can be provided during proposals, tenders and supplier due diligence, subject to confidentiality and information security considerations.

Discuss your banking assurance requirements

Choosing an assurance provider is ultimately about confidence.

Confidence in their independence. Confidence in their competence. Confidence in their methodology. Confidence in how they evaluate evidence and exercise professional judgement.

FBRH combines banking sector assurance experience with sustainability expertise, an ISSA 5000 methodology, controlled quality management and a secure evidence process.

If your bank or financial institution is considering independent sustainability assurance, speak with FBRH about your proposed scope, criteria, timetable and assurance requirements.

Important information

Information on this page is provided for general information about FBRH’s sustainability assurance services and does not constitute professional advice or an assurance conclusion.

Acceptance of any assurance engagement is subject to FBRH’s engagement acceptance, ethics, independence, competence, resource and other applicable requirements and to agreed terms of engagement.

The reporting organisation remains responsible for the preparation of its sustainability information and for the underlying systems, processes, controls and evidence supporting that information.