Social Reporting as a Tool for Building Confidence Between the Bank and Its Environment

Abstract

The assumption of socially responsible attitudes and the provision of information regarding this aspect are becoming especially important in the activities carried out by banks, seen as unique service providers and public trust institutions. This is necessary from the perspective of building lasting relationships with their environment. It is, therefore, desirable that traditional reports, containing data recounting their ability to generate financial profits, be augmented by statements concerning social responsibility facilitating the assessment of the impact of their overall economic activity on groups of stakeholders, society and the environment as a whole. The aim of the article is to present social reporting as a tool for building confidence in relationships between a bank and its environment, to show the national and international trends in publishing these types of reports by banking sector entities and to analyze contents of social reports prepared by selected banks operating in Poland.