External Evaluation

Inclusion in ESG Index

The various efforts of our group to date have been evaluated by global evaluation organizations, and we have been selected for inclusion in the FTSE Index, which reflects the performance of Japanese companies that meet criteria related to Environmental (E), Social (S), and Governance (G) and excel in ESG responsiveness.

	FTSE4Good Index An index of companies that meet global standards for Environmental, Social, and Governance launched by FTSE Russell, a member of the London Stock Exchange Group.
	FTSE Blossom Japan Index An index maintained by FTSE Russell, a member of the London Stock Exchange Group, which consists of Japanese companies that excel in responding to Environmental, Social, and Governance factors both domestically and internationally.
	FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index An index designed to reflect the relative Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance of Japanese companies in each sector launched by FTSE Russell, a member of the London Stock Exchange Group.

• FTSE Russell confirms that Kyushu Financial Group has been independently assessed according to the index criteria, and has satisfied the requirements to become a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series and the FTSE Blossom Japan Index Series. Created by the global index and data provider FTSE Russell, these index series are designed to measure the performance of global companies and Japanese companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices.These index series are used by a wide variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds and other products.

Awards and recognitions

Environmental field

Year received	Awarded company	Name of award / recognition	Award / recognition details
2019	Kyushu Financial Group	Silver Prize, The 1st ESG Finance Award Japan (Financing category)	The award was commended in recognition of the Group's comprehensive approach to ESG finance, including active financing for renewable energy, and agriculture and tourism which are key industries in the region, through the promotion of SDGs and ESGs in its core business.
2017	Kagoshima bank	Wins Kagoshima Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Award	Received the Kagoshima Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Award.

Social field

Year received	Awarded company	Name of award / recognition	Award / recognition details
2023	Kagoshima bank	The 2023 Best Company Supporting Future Generations Award	It is an initiative by the "Alliance of Governors Supporting Future Generations for the Creation of Japan", commending corporations that are actively engaged in unique and progressive initiatives for childcare support and assistance for women and youth and introducing their activities to the public, to foster an awareness of the need to support future generations in the society as a whole as well as to further promote the creation of a supportive environment.
2023	Higo bank	Certified as a “Company Supporting Sports”	This is a program under which the Japan Sports Agency certifies companies that are actively engaged in supporting and promoting sports activities to improve the health and wellness of their employees.
2022	Higo bank	Awarded by the Health Promotion Council of Kumamoto Prefecture in 2022	Kumamoto Prefecture awards organizations taking initiatives voluntarily to promote health in the community and workplace for the purpose of widely spreading the business of health promotion, with such efforts recognized as being effective.
2022	Higo bank	Recognized as "Bright Company"	Kumamoto Prefecture recognizes companies with energetic, bright employees and an environment they feel secure working in. The term "Bright Company" is coined by the prefecture in contrast to the image of a "black (blacklisted) company." The system was started in the hopes that widely communicating outstanding initiatives of companies in Kumamoto would lead to improvement in the working environment and conditions of the prefecture as a whole and encourage the younger generation to stay and become employed in Kumamoto.
2022	Higo bank	Wins the Third Annual "Practicing Good Health Care Award	An award presented by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare aiming to encourage and promote outstanding initiatives to contribute in improving health care practices by insurers, medical institutions, companies, various organizations, local governments, etc. Higo Bank was presented the Special Prize in the MHLW Health Policy Bureau Director-General's Commendation 'content' category of the third award for organizations and businesses promoting a campaign informing people of things they should know when receiving health care services.
2022	Kagoshima bank	Wins the Kagoshima Prefecture Governor's Award for Outstanding Promotion of Women's Activities in 2022	Kagoshima Prefecture awards companies that actively work toward assigning managerial positions to and developing skills of women, as well as supporting child-raising and creating a positive corporate culture throughout the company, serving as role models for other businesses.
2022	Kagoshima bank	Recognized as the Company Promoting Workstyle Reform by Kagoshima	Kagoshima Prefecture recognizes companies that work to correct long working hours, improve conditions of non-regular employees, and create a comfortable working environment including implementation of telecommuting and other flexible working conditions with the aim of promoting active initiatives toward workstyle reform at companies within Kagoshima Prefecture.
2022	Kagoshima bank	Wins "Ikuboss Award 2022"	Kagoshima City awards companies undergoing outstanding initiatives toward creating environments that facilitate work-life balance and both parents supporting each other, and toward creating opportunities to support child-raising. (Award newly established in 2022.) Kagoshima Bank was selected as the first recipient of the award.
2019 ～ 2022	Higo bank	Health and Productivity Management Organization (White 500)	This system recognizes enterprises that consider health management for their officers and employees from a business perspective, strategically engage in health management, and implement outstanding initiatives. On January 4, 2019, Higo Bank issued a Health Management Declaration.
2020	Kyushu Financial Group	Recognized with 3-star rating in the fourth Nikkei Smart Work Management Survey	We were recognized with 3 stars in the 4th Nikkei Smart Work Management Survey, which selects leading companies that are taking on the challenge of revolutionizing productivity through work style reforms. This survey has been conducted by Nikkei Inc. since 2017 and is rated on a 5-star scale.
2019 2017	Higo bank Kagoshima bank	Certified by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as business operators creating environment favorable to raising children	These banks have been certified by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare as enterprises that have formulated general business operator action plans and achieved goals set out in those plans, meriting recognition as creating an environment favorable to raising children pursuant to the Act on the Advancement of Measures to Support Raising Next-Generation Children.
2019	Higo bank	Deal of the Year prize in the seventh M&A Center Inc. Bank of the Year awards	Awarded the Deal of the Year for contributing to the continuation and development of an enterprise struggling with succession issues in a case where it addressed business succession issues at a leading regional company.
2019	Higo bank	Ranked 5th in the Nikkei Dual 2019 Grand Prix for companies creating environments favorable to working parents and child-raising	Ranked 5th in Nikkei Dual's 2019 Grand Prix for companies creating environments favorable to working parents and child-raising.
2018	Higo bank	Awarded by the Cabinet Office Headquarters for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan (Hiroshi Kajiyama, Minister in charge of Regional Revitalization)	The Cabinet Office Headquarters for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan considers regional revitalization initiatives undertaken by financial institutions throughout Japan and awards distinction prizes to recognize examples of successful partnership with local public bodies, etc. and pioneering initiatives. Higo Bank is the first financial institution in Kumamoto Prefecture awarded the prize.
2018	Higo bank	Wins "Kumamoto Prefecture gender equality promotion awards" - 'Contribution to social environment' category	This award is bestowed upon business operators making proactive efforts to promote gender equality.
2018	Higo bank	Recognized by Kumamoto City for excellence in supporting child-raising and awarded Outstanding Company prize	Through this prize system, Kumamoto City recognizes companies for excellence in supporting child-raising and creating parent-friendly workplaces that enable households raising children to combine work and child-raising with peace of mind.

Governance field