Unicaja Banco and Malaga Provincial Council (Diputación de Málaga) have signed a general action protocol for the development of joint actions to contribute to the promotion of financial inclusion and education in Malaga province, with specific measures such as the installation of ATMs in sparsely populated villages and with a reduced financial offering, especially in benefit of those people that are less familiar with new technologies, such as older people and other vulnerable groups. Additionally, it also includes initiatives for environmental and forest regeneration of the areas of Sierra Bermeja affected by the 2021 wildfire.
This action protocol, entered into today by the Chairman of Unicaja Banco, Manuel Azuaga, and by the Chairman of Diputación Provincial de Málaga, Francisco Salado, falls within the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, supporting public and private alliances and with special focus on the elderly population, especially in rural areas.
Installation of ATMs and financial education
The agreement includes measures to improve the financial inclusion of citizens, especially those who live in sparsely populated areas and with a reduced access to banking services. More specifically, nine ATMs will be installed, initially, in Algatocín, Júzcar, Benalauría, Jimera de Líbar and Serrato, in the area of Serranía de Ronda, and in Arenas, Canillas de Albaida, Cútar and Macharaviaya, in the area of Axarquía. All of those villages have a total population of less than 5,000 inhabitants.
Both entities also intend to develop initiatives in the field of financial education, developed through the Edufinet Project, promoted by Unicaja Banco and Fundación Unicaja. These will be held both online and in-person, depending on the audience they are intended for, and will include general topics and digital skills. They are aimed at the rural population, older people and other vulnerable groups.
Environmental recovery of Sierra Bermeja
Additionally, Unicaja Banco will collaborate in actions in Sierra Bermeja to contribute to the recovery of the areas damaged by last year wildfire.
The bank will support initiatives for the recovery and reforestation, will develop volunteering programs with the participation of Unicaja Banco staff, and will offer a specific funding line, under preferential conditions, for those affected by the blaze.
With this protocol, Unicaja Banco reinforces its long-standing collaboration with Malaga Provincial Council, as evidenced by the different activities that both institutions have jointly developed in the province and focused mainly on care-dependent people, the elderly, young people, women and children, as priority groups to reach welfare standards in line with the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
CSR and sustainability
Unicaja Banco strategy for the medium and long-term is based on values such as prudence, solvency and stability in the management of resources, as well as on transparency, ethical commitment and CSR. Additionally, it considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in all its actions.
Diputación de Málaga works boost initiatives and policies to improve access to basic opportunities and services for population in rural areas and for the most vulnerable, through actions that ensure the conservation and development of the territory.
