Message from the Corporate Vice-President

Many years ago, Grupo Financiero Ficohsa (GFF) took an important and successful step to transition from philanthropy to building a sustainable business model. Sustainability is the strategic axis of our business management – and it involves doing business with ethics and transparency. Ficohsa is committed to aligning our actions with these values, and promoting them throughout the value chain. The key to success is to work hand in hand with our stakeholders, creating lasting relationships with the firms and the people who share our values and principles. It’s these actors who make it possible for us to bond with the communities in the countries where we have a presence.

We have brought Ficohsa‘s corporate social responsibility (CSR) model in line with the United Nation’s sustainable development goals. These 17 principles guide our actions. This year we took a further step in presenting our 8th Annual Sustainability Report in accordance with the GRI’s G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and the ISO 26000 Guidance on social responsibility, the highest international standards. Our sustainability strategy is focused on financial inclusion. We want to reach more people and sectors to promote banking participation and to create products and services that fulfill all financial necessities. This strategy aims to strengthen the business of SMEs by reaching the millions of people they employ, boosting their productive capabilities and inserting them in the global market of goods and services.

This pursuit of financial inclusion is a sign of our commitment to educate. At Ficohsa, our priority is to prepare our customers -- and society in general -- to correctly use our products as well as their personal and business finances.

We have different projects in financial education and training programs for young adults and children, as well as effective tools, bulletins and websites, among other resources.

Of our sustainability initiatives, the most recognized is the promotion of preschool education through the Ficohsa Foundation, which serves children in marginal urban areas who lack access to quality training. The program is run through 145 centers in Honduras, Guatemala, Panama and Nicaragua. Thanks to the work shared with teachers, parents, employees, local communities, organizations and friendly institutions, we’ve benefitted 94,830 children over the past 17 years.

These and other actions have allowed us to be recognized internationally and to become a reference point in the region for CSR.

We have shown our efforts to be worthwhile and we’ve reaffirmed our commitment to continue improving our results, thus enhancing the sustainability of the business.

Luis Atala
Corporate Vice President and Chairman of the CSR Committee