IFC Congratulates National Australia Bank on Adopting the Equator Principles

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, welcomes the announcement by National Australia Bank that it has become the 55th financial institution to adopt the Equator Principles. This confirms the bank’s commitment to sustainability, and it further establishes the Equator Principles as the international environmental and social standards for project finance.

According to Rachel Kyte, IFC Director for Environmental and Social Development, “National Australia Bank’s adoption of the Equator Principles is particularly meaningful to us, as IFC worked with the bank toward achieving this goal. It was a great pleasure to interact with such a dedicated team. We welcome the bank into the Community of Learning.”

The Equator Principles are a voluntary set of guidelines for managing social and environmental issues related to the financing of development projects, which are based on IFC’s Performance Standards. Launched by 10 banks in June 2003, the principles were revised in June 2006 and have been adopted to date by 55 financial institutions. In total, these banks are estimated to arrange about 85 percent of project financing worldwide. The Community of Learning is a learning initiative sponsored by IFC for banks and financial institutions that apply the Performance Standards.


In adopting the Equator Principles, National Australia Bank will provide loans only to projects that are in compliance with internationally recognized social and environmental standards.