Introduction by the chairman              
 Our vision and values                      
 Sustainability report overview              
 Group overview                               
 Group executive committee          
 Executive summary                           
 Stakeholder engagement               
 Economic contribution                    
 Corporate governance and ethics
 BEE and FSC                                   
 Shareholders                                
 Customers                                        
 Employees                                     
 Suppliers                                         
 Corporate social responsibility
 Environment                                    
 African footprint                                  
 International footprint                       

Sustainability report overview
   
 

Standard Bank Group endorses the Code of Corporate Practices and Conduct (Code). One of the Code requirements is for companies to produce a balanced and integrated report on its economic, social and environmental performance (the triple bottom line).

This, our third consecutive annual sustainability report covering the triple bottom line, is our first standalone publication. Our previous two sustainability reports were included in our 2002 and 2003 annual reports. Some relevant sustainability issues are still reported in our 2004 annual report and, from time to time, readers will be referred to the annual report for more details.

The aim of this report is to demonstrate our commitment to sustainable development by sharing information and statistics with our stakeholders about what we are doing and our plans to ensure our future sustainability.

Our report follows a similar format used for our two previous reports and draws on the criteria of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Guidelines. The guidelines are being applied increasingly worldwide to provide a consistent approach to sustainability reporting.

The GRI content index is published here and cross-references the reader to the relevant pages in the sustainability and annual reports for convenience. Our report is divided into sections covering our specific stakeholders: shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, government, communities and others.

The report is still primarily based on our South African activities for the financial year to 31 December 2004. Liberty Group Limited (Liberty Life), a listed subsidiary company, is not covered in our report. Liberty Life’s sustainability report can be found on its website at www.liberty.co.za. Click on the links for information on our African and International operations.

Any decisions regarding changes to our business operations can be found in the annual report under the directors’ report.

Our internal audit division conducted a high level review of this report and provided reasonable assurance that the evidence supplied by management is valid. We will commission independent assurers to verify future sustainability reports.