ESG VISION

Doing what is right has always been an integral part of who we are.

Popular strives to put people at the center of progress and promote the social and economic well-being of everyone with whom we interact.

 
 
 

FOCUS AREAS

 
 
 

PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

We are privileged to live and work in some of the most beautiful places on Earth.

We recognize that it is incumbent upon us to protect the land in which we live and serve. At Popular, we are committed to being part of the solutions to the challenges being created by a changing climate and are continually on the lookout for new and innovative opportunities to do our part to protect the planet.

 
 
 

Provide Opportunity

We believe that investing in the places we serve is a key part of how we achieve the goal of improving our employees, customers, and community’s well-being.

 
 

Inclusive
Banking

Equal access to financial services is crucial to achieving inclusive growth and can be a catalyst in the fight to end poverty and boost shared prosperity. Our commitment to put people at the center of progress is embedded in everything we do, from our hiring and retention practices to the way we design our products and how we imagine our customer and employee experiences.

Some of the financial services available to clients are:


In 2022, Popular became the first financial institution in Puerto Rico to eliminate the charge for insufficient funds for returned transactions. We also eliminated overdraft fees on transactions of five dollars ($5.00) or less paid against insufficient funds, as well as the fees charged for maintaining overdrawn accounts. These modifications to our overdraft fees are in part the result of a multi-year strategy that began with Popular’s efforts to obtain the Bank On certification for certain bank accounts.

We currently have a Certified Bank On checking account in each of our main markets with no overdraft fees and a low monthly fee: 

Popular account in Puerto Rico

Easy Access Checking in the Virgin Islands

Popular Everyday Checking in the mainland U.S. 

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Financial
Growth

As a responsible banking institution, we believe that financial literacy is an important tool in helping people manage their personal finances in order to achieve their dreams.

In 2023, we facilitated

277

workshops

with

10,008

participants.

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Accelerating
Entrepreneurship

We are proud to support the inception, development, and growth of new enterprises that strengthen our local economies and add new jobs. Our focus on entrepreneurship embraces projects ranging from teaching elementary school students the ABCs of ideating an enterprise, to helping experienced businesspeople further evolve their companies.

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Community
Investment

Our community investments in 2023 amounted to approximately $11.8 million as we continue to strengthen our philanthropic giving both in Puerto Rico and the mainland U.S. through Fundación Banco Popular, Popular Foundation and Corporate Grants. This investment brings us closer to our vision where Puerto Rico has accessible education of excellence for all, and prosperous community development.

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Their well-being and their families is of utmost importance to us. We strive to provide gratifying and meaningful work experience for everyone.


Diversity and Inclusion

Our diversity reflects who we are, and at Popular, we understand the value of fostering an environment in which Diversity and Inclusion Policy can flourish, regardless of our employees’ and customers’ gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, religion, or any other factor.


Diversity and Inclusion Policy

 

Focus on Inclusion

 
 
2018

During 2018, Popular’s CEO reaffirmed our company’s zero-tolerance stance on harassment and discrimination. Workshops on the topic were offered to leaders in all our markets.

Popular has also held various events tailored specifically for veterans and military personnel. On this front, Popular Bank in Miami was recognized in 2018 with the Patriot Award by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

2019

In 2019, Popular started conducting focus groups with the goal of developing initiatives to meet the needs and interests of our employees.

2020

Popular invested nearly $400,000 in closing gender pay gaps in 2020, for a total of $2.5 million over the past nine years. As a result, our gender pay gap continues to narrow and is now lower than the nationwide median, according to data from the US Census Bureau.

2021

Popular was included in Bloomberg’s Gender Equality Index and recognized as a Great Place to Work ®for Women in Central America and the Caribbean.

Updated the Gender and Domestic Violence Policy with a paid 15-day leave available for victims of gender violence, domestic violence, stalking, and/or sexual harassment.

Launched the first Employee Resource Group for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.

2022

Included for the second consecutive year in Bloomberg’s Gender Equality Index.

Launched three additional Employee Resource Groups on Functional Diversity, Women, and Multicultural.

2023

Launched a new regional Employee Resource Group (ERG) for the Black/African American community, expanding our diversity and inclusion efforts to this underrepresented group.

To deepen understanding and foster DEI progress within Popular, held development sessions including “On Purpose and Belonging: Our HR impact on DEI” and a Leadership session about Inclusion as the key to put people at the center of progress.

Implemented important measures to integrate DEI into our company processes, such as adding a DEI section to the New Employee Orientation, updating and approving our DE&I Policy, and aligning the activities of our ERGs with our organizational values. These actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to creating a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.

 

Our Employees Lead by Example

One of Popular’s central values is working together with the communities we serve.

A 71% of Popular’s workforce in Puerto Rico and a 74% in the U.S. made voluntary contributions to Popular’s foundations through recurring payroll deductions. Also, over 1,600 employees participated in volunteering projects during 2023.

 
 

Monetary

Contribution

$766,489.66

with a matching contribution from Popular of $1.1 million

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Volunteering

1,647

employees

9,124

hours of service

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PROMOTE TRUST



Our Board of Directors believes that high standards of corporate governance are an essential component of the strength of our corporate culture and ensure that our institutional values are embedded in our day-to-day business operations.

Our priority topics in this area include:

Security & Privacy focused on the management of risks related to collection, retention, and use of sensitive, confidential, and/or proprietary customer or user data.

Corporate Governance ensuring the mechanisms to provide adequate oversight of our operations and foster an ethical environment.

 
 
 

Report Center

 
 

To obtain previous corporate sustainability reports, please contact us at corporatesustainability@popular.com.