A socially committed bank

As a valued partner of local businesses, the Bank plays a vital role in maintaining jobs and training opportunities in the canton. It supports companies at every stage of their development by supporting them in their development projects.

BCF’s economic activities are designed to have a lasting positive impact on its various stakeholders. BCF finances municipalities, public companies, semi-private public institutions, social organisations and non-profit organisations. Directly or indirectly, these loans are in the public interest and include a social component.

In 2024, BCF took part in the Association of Swiss Cantonal Banks’ study on sustainable development, which highlighted the difficulty for the general public to make the connection between sustainable development and cantonal banks. The study also highlighted the fact that ESG financial products are still not well known and recommended that cantonal banks communicate more concretely and illustrate their actions with clear examples.

In this sense, this report and the Bank’s publications on social media are part of an effort to improve the visibility of its actions. In 2024, BCF continued to strengthen its social media presence, particularly on Instagram and LinkedIn, using these platforms to highlight its social and environmental commitment.

Every year, BCF actively supports sports and cultural projects and events throughout the canton. By working alongside those who drive the region and make Fribourg shine, the Bank contributes to enriching the collective experience of all citizens. To this end, it sponsors numerous cultural, sporting and social projects and events.

In 2024, the Bank contributed CHF 4.2 million to the development of culture, sport and education. These partnerships are designed with a view to long-term collaboration, generally for a renewable period of three years. The partner associations receive a fixed contribution, ensuring stability and sustainable support. The Bank has entered into more than 100 partnerships that strengthen its brand image and support its commercial strategy. These partnerships also give the Bank the opportunity to maintain privileged contact with nearly a thousand clubs and companies affiliated with various umbrella organisations.

BCF does not support individual athletes, motorised and extreme sports, violent sports or activities that have a negative impact on the environment. It only supports projects and events whose proceeds are to be used in the canton of Fribourg. BCF has partnerships with the Fribourg Association Jeune Musique (AJM), BCF Elfic Fribourg and the Fribourg Ski and Snowboard Association. It also supports the following associations and events: Fribourg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Contingent des Grenadiers fribourgeois, Équilibre-Nuithonie, Fédération fribourgeoise des chorales, Fédération fribourgeoise des sports équestres, Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF), the Murten Classics Festival, Fribourg Natation, Fribourg Olympic Basket, Fri Up, Rencontres de folklore internationales, Société cantonale des musiques fribourgeoises, Team AFF-FFV, University of Fribourg and Volley Düdingen. BCF also supports the canton’s flagship club, HC Fribourg-Gottéron, which plays its home games at the BCF Arena.

In 2024, BCF supported a partnership with FRI-Son, the Football is more FIM Foundation, the Tuile Festival des Soupes, CCIF – ECONOMIC sustainability Forum, Shell Eco-Marathon – Heai-fr, her era va die Welt daheim in Freiburg, Sport Handicap, the Festival des soupes Bulle and Bio Gmüstag Kerzers.

In 2024, BCF debit card holders were able to benefit from special conditions with the following partners: Arena Cinemas Fribourg, Les Bains de la Gruyère, Urbanspa, Papiliorama, Hostellerie am Schwarzsee, Ile d’ Ogoz Association and Générations Magazine.

Founded in 1992 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Banque Cantonale de Fribourg, the BCF Foundation actively contributes to the vitality of the regional associations. With a capital of CHF 2.25 million, it supports the creation and development of cultural, artistic and scientific projects of importance to the community. Since its creation, it has invested more than one million francs in major projects that shape and enrich life of the canton of Fribourg.

In 2024, the Foundation supported La Gustav, the academy for young talents, for its spring creative arts camp. 20 young musicians composed pieces based on their musical affinity and preferences, culminating in a high-quality concert in October that blended a range of styles. The BCF Foundation also supported the exhibition of Fribourg artists: Fanny Dreyer, a children’s book illustrator, Vamille, a manga author, and Line Rime, a fanzine illustrator. The third project supported by the Foundation was the “Wasser bis zum Haus” festival, which included a drag show, an exhibition and discussions on the role of gender and inclusion.

BCF plays an active role in the “4 Pillars of the Fribourg Economy (4P)” with the Établissement cantonal d’assurance des bâtiments (ECAB), Groupe E and the Transports publics fribourgeois (TPF). Together, these institutions are committed to supporting large-scale, sustainable projects in areas as diverse as culture, health, social and sport.

BCF makes its economic publications and market analyses available to the public. It also offers a range of practical tools on its e-banking platform to help customers better manage their finances, in particular by visualising their spending and income structures. Other practical information is published in the product brochures. BCF is gradually developing and testing new services to inform interested parties about financial, social, ecological and technological issues and to promote dialogue.

BCF also pays special attention to the younger generation, offering them various ways to open their first account. It helps them learn how to manage their finances, particularly through its active participation in the FinanceMission project. This initiative, which is jointly spearheaded by several cantonal banks and two education umbrella organisations, aims to improve young people’s financial literacy. Further information can be found at: (https://financemission.ch/fr/).

The association offers a range of courses in line with school curricula, complemented by an interactive teaching tool for use at lower secondary level. The aim is to strengthen students’ basic financial skills: understanding the financial implications of investment projects, drawing up a budget, planning their income, prioritising their spending and developing their ability to save. The teaching approach also enables young people to reflect on their relationship with money and consumption by comparing it with that of their peers.

As part of their commitment within the association, the responsible organisations are guided by ethical principles. They have no influence over the content of the lessons, do not promote products and do not seek to acquire customers.

The canton of Fribourg benefits directly from BCF’s success. In 2024, the Bank assumed its full role as a contributor by paying CHF 107.9 million to the canton, municipalities and parishes. This includes compensation for the State guarantee, the interest on the endowment capital and taxes. In addition, the vast majority of BCF employees live in the canton of Fribourg and pay taxes there, thus making an additional contribution to the public finances of the municipalities concerned.

Account management (basic services such as savings, pensions, and payments), cards (individual services), custody account management, or safe-deposit boxes are services available to the entire population with a connection to the Bank’s economic area. There are no exclusion criteria. This sets BCF apart as one of the few banks that does not link account fees to customer assets and chooses not to charge any asset-based account fees. Basic services are offered to all customers, free of charge or on particularly advantageous and competitive terms for certain specific services.

To minimise negative impacts along the supply chain, BCF takes sustainability criteria into account in its purchasing processes. Wherever possible, it gives preference to suppliers located in its area of operations, thereby actively supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises. Whether purchasing products or awarding mandates, environmental, social and economic considerations related to sustainable development are always taken into account.