The evaluation of the use of CSR strategy in the tunisian banking sector: STB as a case study

Conclusion

To conclude, this research is a mere attempt to deal with CSR principles and practices as newly adopted strategy in the financial and banking sector. I aimed to evaluate the implementation of CSR (social, economic and environmental dimensions) in STB bank.

I divided my research into three major parts; the first one is an attempt to define CSR strategy, its principles, its objectives and impacts on banking sector. It also comprises a brief

study for the legal environment in Tunisia precisely the financial and banking sector. The second part is the research methodology in which there is a description of the subject, the data collection, and the procedure, and the last part is the results and discussion. After collecting the data from a questionnaire which is positively and comprehensively answered by the bank agents, it seems to be agreed that the basic provisions of CSR consists of considering society, and ethics as key factors in STB bank strategy. Social and economic practices are considered essential in STB, while environmental practices are unobserved.

While CSR principles are not made within specific thesis, the bank's reports may show what is believed and what is pursued, so the possibility of implementing CSR principles to improve and develop economic, social and environmental practices should start at the bank core. Therefore, there is no concrete proof of CSR principles affecting actions more than good business practices normally would.

Making sure of what the bank reporting guidelines aim to, might clarify the reasons why CSR practices were implemented. No plan can fully evaluate the measure to which CSR is performing responsible business practices rather than marketing.

But CSR for marketing purposes deserves less attention than CSR for responsibility purposes. This dilemma offers another possibility for future study.

Questionnaire: CSR in the Banking Sector

My name is Sonia Rawefi; I'm third year Business English student in High Institute of Applied Studies in Humanities in Sbeitla (university of Kairouan). My aim through this questionnaire is to finish my PFE in order to obtain my Business English diploma. My research deals with CSR strategy in banking sector, in other words how economic, environmental and social questions and concerns are handled by banks internally.

Otherwise, whether this strategy is feasible and applicable in Tunisian banks.

Please choose the most suitable answer for each of the question. (Tick only one box per question).

Thank you for your time and cooperation.

Q1: How well do you know the CSR strategy?

· - Very well

· - Poorly

- Not at all

Q2: Do you know of economic, environmental or social projects the bank you work in is engaged in?

· -Yes

· - No

Q3: Have you ever participated in a CSR project or seminar (for example community cooperation projects or environmental education) conducted by your bank?

· - Yes

· - No

Economic responsibility

Q4: How do you perceive your wages?

· - Average industry level - Below industry level

· - Above industry level

Q5: Does this bank engage in charity or other monetary support for ethical causes (such as

environmental preservation or social development)?

· - Yes

· - No

· -I don't know

Environmental responsibility

Q6: Does this bank engage in operating methods that preserve natural resources?

· - Yes

· - No

· - I don't know

Q7: Does your bank engage in projects to preserve the environment?

· -Yes

· -No

· - I don't know

Q8: Does the bank strategy consider radiation and other environmentally harmful substances in its operations, including transportation?

· - Yes

· - No

· - I don't know

Q9: Has this establishment ever received a warning for noncompliance with environmental

policies?

· - Yes - No

· - I don't know Social responsibility

Q10: Do you feel your work is valued?

· - Yes

· - No

Q11: Does this bank acknowledge and follow human rights provisions?

· - Yes

· - No

· -I don't know

Q12: Does your bank engage in projects attempting to remove child or forced labor?

· - Yes - No

· - I don't know

Q13: Does your employer engage in local development or cooperation projects?

· - Yes

· - No

- I don't know

Q14: How do you perceive your health and safety plan?

· Suitable

· Unsuitable

Q15: Do you attend training given by your employer? How often?

· - Weekly - Monthly

· - Yearly

· - Not at all

Thank you for your collaboration.

List of Appendices

Questionnaire

List of Tables

1' Table 1: Respondents knowledge of CSR .23

1' Table2: Respondents knowledge of social, environmental and economic

projects their industry is involved in 23

1' Table 3: Employees' participation in CSR seminars 24

1' Table 4: Respondents' training participation 24

v' Table 5: Employees' perceived wages 24

1' Table 6: employees' perception of the value of their work 25

1' Table 7: Employees opinion towards their health and safety plan .25

1' Table 8: Respondents' knowledge about their bank protection strategy 25

1' Table 9: Respondents' knowledge about following human rights provisions..26 1' Table10: Respondents' knowledge of removing child labor projects which their

bank participate in 26

1' Table 11:Respondents' knowledge of monetary support their bank is engaged

in 27
1' Table 12: Employees knowledge of bank engagement in local development or

cooperation projects .27
1' Table 13: Respondents' knowledge of bank engagement in operating methods

that preserve natural resources .28
1' Table14: Respondents' knowledge about engagements in projects to preserve

the environment 28

List of Acronyms

· CSR :Corporate Social Responsibilit_y

· STB : La Société Tunisienne de Ban_que

· NGO :Non Governmental Or_ganization

· OECD : The Or_ganization Co-Operation and Development

· ANCE :Electronic National A_genc_y of Certification

· ATMs :Automated Teller Machine

· SICAV: Société d'Investissement a Capital Variable

· UBCI : l'UNION BANCAIRE POUR LE COMMERCE ET L'INDUSTRIE

References

> www.stb.net.tn

> Tunisian financial code > STB agency in Kasserine > STB agency in Tunis

> www.wikipedia.com