In 2026, BPER made further significant progress in the areas of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, achieving improved ratings from leading international agencies such as MSCI, ISS STOXX, and Sustainable Fitch. At the same time, BPER’s Corporate Standard Ethics Rating (SER) was reaffirmed.

These recognitions confirm the effectiveness of the strategic path taken by the Group, which has integrated sustainability objectives into its Business Plan.

BPER has demonstrated a solid and consistent approach to managing ESG factors through various initiatives, including the adoption of a plan to reduce energy consumption, support for the ecological transition of households and businesses—facilitated by a dedicated credit facility—and the strengthening of its role as a strategic partner within the regions it serves. These efforts are complemented by initiatives fostering social inclusion in local communities, the promotion of diversity and inclusion within the organization, and the continuous improvement of corporate governance practices.

Specifically, the improvements and affirmations in the ratings:
•    MSCI: As of October 2026, BPER Banca has been assigned an MSCI ESG Rating of “AAA,” on a scale ranging from “CCC” (laggard) to “AAA” (leader).
•    ISS STOXX: as of September 2026, BPER’s Corporate Rating has improved from C+ to B- (on a scale ranging from D- to A+). Furthermore, the bank has achieved "Prime" status and the highest possible score across all Quality Score categories.
•    Sustainable Fitch: the agency has affirmed BPER Banca S.p.A.’s Entity Rating at "2" (on a scale from 5 to 1, where 1 is the best possible score) and has increased its corresponding Entity Score from 63 to 64.
•    Standard Ethics: In October 2026, the agency Standard Ethics confirmed BPER Banca’s Corporate Standard Ethics Rating (SER) at “EEE-” (on a scale ranging from “F” to “EEE”). The agency’s short- and long-term outlook remains positive.