Insurance Overview

No evidence of an ethical lending policy found for MINT.

Mint is part of the RBS Group. RBS Group’s Policy states:

“It is our responsibility to minimise these risks and to enter into lending relationships with companies who share our commitment to responsible business practices.”

Based on the information in its 2012 Sustainability Report, RBS Group places heavy restrictions and requires enhanced due diligence for higher Environmental, Social and Ethical (ESE) risk companies in specific sectors. These sectors include power generation, gambling, defence, oil and gas, mining and metals, and forestry.

The group refuses to provide financial services to “to companies involved in either the production, sale or stockpiling of highly controversial weapons including cluster munitions and anti-personnel landmines (including bespoke  components) banned under international agreement ratified by the UK.” See page 32.

However, the group does not refuse outright to lend money to companies operating in other areas typically considered to be unethical.

RBS Group’s positions on Environmental, Social and Ethical (ESE) risk companies are approved by a Senior Risk Committee and are endorsed by the Group Sustainability Committee (GSC). These positions are reviewed at least every two years.

No evidence found of the Group’s ethical lending policy in action.

No policy was found to indicate that MINT avoids lending to or insuring companies that directly contribute to human rights violations.

Its parent company, RBS Group’s position on human rights states that the group assesses each lending, investment and services decision on an individual basis through its defined risk and credit committee procedures and take into account relevant social, ethical and environmental issues as a part of that process. See RBS Group Position on Human Rights.

Regarding its supply chain, RBS Group’s Human Rights Policy expects that suppliers should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights and make sure they are not complicit in human rights abuses. They should not be complicit in discrimination child labour, or any form of forced or compulsory labour.

Human rights modules have been built into relevant compulsory online training programmes for RBS Group employees. In addition, client specific human rights risk training is delivered to risk professionals and appropriate employees across the Group.

No evidence of an environmental policy found for MINT.

This RBS Group Environmental Policy, which applies to the whole of Royal Bank of Scotland Group and its subsidiaries, covers the key areas of climate change, energy efficiency, water use and waste management.

The bank appears to be committed to continued improvement of its environmental performance.

In 2012, the bank achieved a 5.5% reduction in its energy use, putting it on track to achieve its 2014 target of -15%. It continues to purchase electricity from renewable sources in the UK with 66% of electricity from renewable sources in 2012.

No information found on MINT’s diversity policy.

The RBS Group, has a diversity policy takes into consideration the key equality issues of physical characteristics, such as gender, race, age or disability, sexual orientation, beliefs and opinions.