Ethics Management

The Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye (TKYB) maintains open contact lines with its stakeholders, clients, and beneficiaries. The “Grievance Management Procedure for Projects Conducted with International Financial Institutions” is being adopted in this area. Integrated into TKYB’s internal systems, the notification center provides bank personnel access to the whistleblowing, ethical, suspicious transaction, suggestion, and complaint lines.

Furthermore, employees not involved in International Financial Institutions’ projects can express their concerns and suggestions on whistleblowing and ethics to the specially constructed e-mail addresses. These procedures ensure that complaints concerning IFC projects are collected through the communication channels and procedures outlined in the Grievance Redress Mechanism.

Employees report illegal practices and behaviors to the e-mail address ihbarhatti@kalkinma.com.tr. Furthermore, the address ihbar@kalkinma.com.tr is available for ethics-related reports, and reports received via this address are transmitted to İÇKU( Internal Control and Compliance). This information is also available on the website.

All notifications are treated confidentially in all of these processes. Only reports of misconduct and wrongdoing reported to the ethics hotline are routed directly to the General Manager. The Bank informs all employees and project participants about these grievance mechanisms.
Simultaneously, the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and ensures that these principles are followed in all of its business procedures.

The Code of Ethics at TKYB seeks to deliver quality service to customers, stakeholders, employees, and the general public, as well as to use resources effectively and efficiently and to avoid unfair competition. The Bank has taken on the obligation to operate in accordance with ethical values by accepting the Ethical Principles Charter and the Banking Ethical Principles established by the Banks Association of Türkiye.

The “TKYB Code of Ethics” and “Environmental and Social Policy” shape TKYB’s ethical understanding, while the “Conflict of Interest Policy,” “Regulation on Combating Laundering Proceeds of Crime and Financing of Terrorism,” and “Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy” support this understanding.

The Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye’s Code of Ethics adopts and implements the Banks Association of Türkiye’s “Code of Banking Ethics”, “the Regulation on the Principles of Ethical Conduct and Application Procedures and Principles for Public Officials”, and the decisions of the Turkish Public Officials Ethics Board.

The ethical standards of TKYB address customer, banking sector, and colleague obligations, the bank, society, and business relations, relationships with the media and external organizations, confidentiality, and anti-laundering measures.

TKYB safeguards customer rights within the legal framework, avoids activities that may create unfair competition, and adheres to the principle of equal opportunity in its internal operations in accordance with these principles. While attempting to maintain its reputation, the Bank provides finance and consulting services promoting societal and environmental sustainability. The Bank operates in compliance with its Conflict-of-Interest Policy in its commercial relationships.

TKYB stresses societal benefit, individual rights, and objectivity in its interactions with the media and public institutions. The confidentiality clause is governed by the Bank’s applicable policies and processes and is implemented in line with the requirements of Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data. These ethical guidelines are carried out by the TKYB Board of Directors and take effect on the date of approval by the Board of Directors.

The Supplier Code of Conduct of the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye addresses issues such as workplace standards, health and safety measures, wage and working hour regulation, freedom of association and collective bargaining agreements, forced or compulsory labor, child labor prevention, anti-discrimination, harassment and abuse prevention, compliance with laws and regulations, and ensuring the principle of sustainability.

TQRMU assesses sustainable development along three dimensions: environmental, social, and economic. The “Environmental and Social Policy” of the Bank controls the direct and indirect environmental and social implications of operating activities and financial services.

This policy seeks to systematically monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by activities, regulate resource consumption and waste, meet legal requirements connected to sustainable development, and raise environmental and social awareness.

Finally, TKYB adheres to the sustainability principle by adhering to the “Environmental and Social Policy”, “Sustainability Principles”, and “Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Policy”.

In accordance with the appropriate rules, the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye maintains an Ethics Commission. Within the scope of the 2022 organizational reform, this commission has a structure with updated committee members. “Ethics Agreements” have been signed by all Bank workers and are meticulously documented in personnel files.

Furthermore, the bank closely adheres to the “Banking Ethical Principles” issued on July 26, 2006, by the Banks Association of Türkiye. The Ethics Commission’s primary responsibilities include ensuring conformity with applicable laws, rules, circulars, and resolutions.

No complaints were brought against the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye for ethical infractions in 2022. This outcome is a positive result of the extensive anti-corruption training that all workers and management receive, and it illustrates the Bank’s strong adherence to its ethical principles and standards.