Bank of America announced it has established an ESG-themed Issuance Framework to further enhance its issuances of green, social, and sustainability bonds and other ESG securities by Bank of America Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. The Framework builds upon last year’s $2 billion Equality Progress Sustainability Bond issuance designed to advance racial equality, economic opportunity and environmental sustainability. The Framework aligns to Bank of America’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) leadership and the company’s sustainable finance strategy, which aims to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Bank of America designed the Framework to align to the Green Bond Principles (2021), the Social Bond Principles (2021), and the Sustainability Bond Guidelines (2021) (collectively the “Principles”) as administered by the International Capital Market Association acting as Secretariat. The Framework also outlines Bank of America’s approach to social or sustainability issuances with the ‘Equality Progress’ label. This label indicates an objective to advance equality and economic opportunity by focusing on financing and investments that provide people of color or women with expanded access to essential services, including affordable housing, or business capital.

“Our focus on sustainable finance is one of the ways we drive responsible growth. By addressing these critically important issues through ESG-themed issuances and products, we are offering a way for investors and clients to be a part of our contribution towards environmental and social sustainability. We believe in the power of market-based solutions,” said Karen Fang, Global Head of Sustainable Finance at Bank of America.

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This work highlights the company’s commitment to advancing environmental transition and social inclusive development as part of its sustainable finance goal of $1.5 trillion by 2030 and its long standing ESG efforts. Since 2013, Bank of America has issued $9.85 billion across eight ESG-themed debt securities—five “Green” Bonds, two “Social” Bonds and one “Sustainability” Bond.

S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) provided a Second Party Opinion (“SPO”) on the alignment of Bank of America’s Framework to the Principles.

For more information on the Framework or S&P’s SPO, please visit our Investor Relations website.

Source: Bank of America