How RBI Turned €2 Billion into Climate Action

From wind farms to smart meters, RBI’s Green Bonds aren’t just numbers –they’re stories of impact. With over 1 million tons of CO₂ avoided according to the 2024 Allocation and Impact Report and record-breaking investor interest in the end of 2025 issued benchmark Green Bond show that sustainable finance is more than a trend – it’s a movement. 

Markus Ecker, Head of the Sustainable Finance Department, and Katsiaryna Souvandjiev, Topic Lead for Sustainable Funding and Finance Development, share milestones and impact since 2018. 
 

Key Milestones from RBI’s Green Bond Journey  

• €2 billion allocated to green projects as per year end 2024 
• 1 million tons of CO₂ avoided – equivalent to removing 250,000 cars from the road for a year 
• 92% of avoided emissions from renewable energy projects 
• RBI’s largest order book ever for a senior deal and record oversubscription for the €500 Mn benchmark Green Bond issued in November 2025  

(*A snapshot of the most significant achievements from our sustainable finance journey.) 

Markus Ecker: It’s the diversity of projects – from wind farms to energy efficient buildings – that makes the impact real. A standout moment was the recent RBI Head Office benchmark green bond issuance: it achieved the highest oversubscription rate for an Austrian senior preferred transaction since 2019 and set a record for RBI’s largest order book for a senior deal. 

Markus Ecker: Renewable energy is central to RBI’s strategy, so its dominance in the €2 billion eligible green loan portfolio’s avoided emissions isn’t surprising. In 2025, nearly all newly allocated projects were linked to renewables, highlighting the sector’s importance and strong collaboration between Sustainable Finance and Project Finance teams. 

Katsiaryna Souvandjiev: It’s equivalent to removing 250,000 gasoline powered cars from the road for a year, powering 140,000 households, or fully charging 86 billion smartphones. These numbers make the impact tangible and remind us why this work matters.

Katsiaryna Souvandjiev: Since launching its first Green Bond in 2018, RBI has grown a €5 billion sustainable bond portfolio across multiple currencies and countries. As the first Austrian bank to sign the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, RBI embeds ESG into its strategy and aligns with global standards like ICMA and LMA principles. Our commitment is backed by measurable impact and transparency.

Katsiaryna Souvandjiev: Retail investors are key partners in RBI’s sustainability efforts. By funding dedicated green and sustainable retail products – such as green mortgages, affordable housing social loans, and SME social loans offered within the RBI Group – their investments directly support RBI Group’s sustainable loan and bond portfolios. This helps scale sustainable financing across Central and Eastern Europe and accelerates the transition to low-carbon economies in the region.

Markus Ecker: Building on the updated Sustainability Bond Framework, RBI will expand eligible green loan categories and further strengthen advisory services to help clients transition. The goal: deeper emissions reductions and accelerated decarbonization across Central and Eastern Europe.