Commercial Bank becomes world’s first bank to secure UNFPA CRJB Champion Status

Reflecting its dedicated focus on championing an inclusive and equitable corporate culture, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has become the first bank in the world to be accorded Champion Status by the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business (CRJB).

This global recognition marks a significant milestone in the integration of employee well-being, gender equality and women’s health into mainstream banking practice while highlighting the Bank’s leadership in driving sustainable business growth.

UNFPA, the United Nations agency dedicated to improving reproductive health and rights, advancing gender equality, works with governments, development partners and private sector organisations across the world to drive meaningful social change. Through its Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business, UNFPA encourages businesses to adopt policies and practices that support reproductive health, gender equality and inclusive workplaces, helping to create healthier and more equitable societies.

Commenting on this global first achieved by the Bank, Mr Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank said: “This recognition is both an honour and a responsibility. Becoming the first bank in the world to achieve UNFPA CRJB Champion Status reflects our deep commitment to building a workplace that genuinely empowers our people at every stage of life. We believe that employee well-being, gender equality and women’s health are not peripheral concerns, but central to sustainable business. By aligning with globally recognised UNFPA standards, we are not only elevating our internal practices but also setting a benchmark for the banking industry to follow. This is about creating lasting impact for our employees, our customers and the communities we serve.”

Commercial Bank’s selection for Champion Status recognises a powerful balance of industry-leading employee wellbeing and high-impact CSR initiatives. Internally, the Bank nurtures the employee by prioritising physical and mental care alongside personal enrichment. This comprehensive approach features annual health check-ups at hospitals, specialised eye and dental camps, and free professional counseling via the Damrivi Foundation, alongside mental health workshops.

Going beyond standard health and wellness initiatives, the Bank places a strong emphasis on progressive workplace benefits, particularly for working mothers. These enhanced maternity benefits include a monthly daycare allowance of Rs. 25,000 for up to one year, daily flexi-hours, adoptive maternity leave, and options for extended unpaid leave. Demonstrating the direct impact of these measures, the Bank achieved an over 90% return-to-work rate among female employees, post-maternity leave, effectively strengthening talent retention and institutional continuity.

Externally, the Bank has transformed community health through specialised medical camps for women micro entrepreneurs, large-scale breast cancer awareness programmes across multiple regions and workplaces, and specialised sessions for women customers, while also supporting national health priorities through partnerships and campaigns. Complementing these efforts, the Bank has made significant contributions to strengthening healthcare infrastructure island-wide, including the donation of life-saving medical equipment to hospitals, support for maternal and critical care facilities, and sustaining emergency response initiatives through its ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ partnership with the 1990 Suwa Seriya program.

As a UNFPA CRJB Champion, Commercial Bank said it will adopt globally recognised standards and performance metrics developed by UNFPA to further strengthen maternal health initiatives, family-friendly workplace practices, reproductive health awareness and menopause wellness.

The Bank will also expand employee awareness programmes, and systematically monitor and report progress through its sustainability reporting framework.

The initiative will be embedded within the Bank’s broader sustainability and employee engagement strategies, ensuring that workplace policies continue to evolve in line with international benchmarks while delivering meaningful impact for employees, the Bank said.

By achieving this status, Commercial Bank establishes a global benchmark for the banking sector in advancing workplace inclusion and reproductive justice, demonstrating how financial institutions can integrate social responsibility into core business strategy.

This recognition further affirms the Bank’s role as a pioneer in responsible banking and corporate sustainability, contributing to the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a focused emphasis on gender equality, employee well-being and women’s health.

Customers of Commercial Bank also stand to benefit from this commitment, as it reflects the values of an institution that prioritises ethical leadership, inclusivity and long-term sustainability. The initiative complements the Bank’s ‘Anagi’ Women’s Banking proposition by extending its focus beyond financial empowerment to encompass broader dimensions of health, inclusion and well-being.

This latest achievement strengthens Commercial Bank’s standing as a global leader in sustainable and inclusive banking, while encouraging greater participation by the private sector in advancing women’s health and workplace equity.

The first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalisation exceeding US$ 1 Bn., and the highest ranked bank in the country to be listed among Top 1000 Banks of the World, Commercial Bank has the highest capital base among all Sri Lankan banks, and is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka. Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, the Bank is recognised as the most respected and most-awarded bank in Sri Lanka, is a leader in digital innovation and is the country’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank.

Commercial Bank operates more than 270 strategically-located branches and an extensive network of automated machines island-wide, and has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks, with 21 branches in Bangladesh, a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives, a microfinance company in Myanmar, and a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The Bank’s fully-owned subsidiaries, CBC Finance PLC. and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Limited, also deliver a range of financial services via their own branch networks.

Photo caption:

(Above) Mr Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank, and Mr Phuntsho Wangyel, UNFPA Interim Representative in Sri Lanka and Interim Country Director Maldives, exchange the agreement and (Below) some of the women's wellbeing initiatives of the Bank.