HalkBank - Achievement in Finance

Company: HALKBANK, İstanbul, Turkey
Entry Submitted By: Business Awards Consulting
Company Description: As one of the strongest and most reliable institutions in the banking sector, Halkbank serves its customers through its branches, offices, private transaction offices, and foreign representative offices throughout the country. Halkbank offers comprehensive financial products and services in order to make the dreams of Turkish investors’ come true.
Nomination Category: Achievement Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Achievement in Finance

Nomination Title: Halkbank Supports Women Entrepreneurship

While the rate of women entrepreneurship is 30% in the world, it is only 11% in Turkey. A similar situation exists in women's employment, the number of female employees decreased by 520.000 from November20 to March21, decreasing from 28% to 26%. In Turkey, only 1/3 of women join the labor force and only 3/10 women in the labor force continue working. In addition, 6% of working-women leave their jobs every year due to their domestic care responsibilities. Especially with the effect of covid-19 pandemic, gender inequality has increased in Turkey and women's entrepreneurship has been adversely affected.

Halkbank, Turkey's 3rd largest bank, is a public bank operating with the vision of"We are people first, and then the bank". Being aware of the importance of women's economic freedom and the added value they provide to the economy, Halkbank has undertaken the mission of being the"Bank of the Producing Women".

In order to increase the rate of women entrepreneurship by encouraging women's participation in economic life and thereby contributing to the country's economy and social welfare, Halkbank carries out many activities specific to women entrepreneurs, both in the economic and educational fields, and continues to work for gender equality.

Halkbankbroke new ground in the banking sectorand established the"Women Entrepreneurs Department Directorate",the first banking unit structured exclusively for women. Consisting of 6 experienced, enthusiastic and spirited women, this department is thefirst and only banking unitin Turkey to develop special and exclusive products and services for women entrepreneurs.

Halkbank carries out its actions to empower women in 3 main focuses:

A) Financial Supports for the Economic Empowerment of Women
B) Training and Motivation Activities Continuing to Inform Women in Society and Encouraging Them for Production and Entrepreneurship
C) Activities that Support the Participation and Permanence of Women in Business life in Their Own Employees and Ecosystem

A) Financial Supports for Women
Halkbank implemented positive discrimination towards women in its financial cash supports and advantageous campaigns, and implemented cash support loans and support packages specifically for women.

These loans, which are offered in different amounts and witheasy terms of payment, regardless of sector discrimination, are offered at low interest rates and with payment deferral options.

B) Activities to Raise Women's Awareness and Encourage Women Entrepreneurs
Halkbank organized"Producing Women Meetings"in 7 geographical regions of Turkey. It is aimed to inspire and encourage women by sharing the stories of successful women at the meetings, which were open to all women and published on the Halkbank website.

C) Benefits Offered to Halkbank Female Employees
Halkbank positively dicriminates women employees in order to set industry standards, creating a role model.

-Since March 8, International Women's Day, more than 38.000 women entrepreneurs have benefited from the loan package and the loan volume has exceeded 3.6 billion TL.
-In 2020, Halkbank provided 180,500 tradesmen and artisans women with 8 billion TL of cost-effective cash loan support, some of which was zero interest.
-By launching the Producing Women's Academy, the online training platform that women entrepreneurs can benefit from in the most efficient and effective way has been put into service. An inclusive training program has been designed under 8 headings, from the process of starting a business to digitalization and e-commerce, with more than 60 videos prepared by expert trainers.
-With the Women's Cooperatives Support Package, which was designed exclusively for women's cooperatives forthe first time in the Turkish banking sector, the problems of access to finance were resolved.
- In addition to cash supports, many different advantages such as advantages in financial products, low commissions, overdraft accounts and credit card facilities for payments were offered to women.
- 47% of Halkbank employees are women. With this ratio, Halkbank has reached a female employee ratio that is above the average of Turkey, Europe and the World. (Turkey 28.3%, EU 39%, World 39%)
-Halkbank positively discriminates women entrepreneurs, women SMEs, artisans and women's cooperatives in the supply agreements made by the bank, in the purchase of goods and services
-Halkbank participated "No to Violence Against Women" projectcreating awareness with TV commercials.

Apx-1: Presentation: Halkbank Women's Support Details
In this file, you can find detailed explanations of Halkbank's activities to support women.

Apx2: Video: Halkbank Women Entrepreneur Support Commercial Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL-QFFolDhg
Commercial film featuring women entrepreneurs reamark on Halkbank's products

Apx3: Video: Halkbank Producing Women Meeting
A summary from the "Producing Women Meetings" series organized by Halkbank in 7 regions of Turkey to raise awareness of women and encourage women entrepreneurs

Apx4: Video: No to Violence Against Women Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86eampMU0dM

Halkbank which also carries out awareness raising activities on violence against women, took part in the carried out with 3 public banks and supported the awareness of women on this issue through television advertisements.

Speaking at the Producing Women Meeting, Mr. Osman ARSLAN, Halkbank General Manager, said, "Our women deserve a life worthy of human dignity, free from violence and equal in a safer world today and every day. We are against all forms of violence against women.

An example of consciousness-raising films broadcast on national TVs in order to raise awareness in society about preventing violence against women

Apx5: Doc.: Women's Labor Force and Women's Entrepreneurship in Turkey
Information note on women's participation in business life and the current state of women's entrepreneurship in Turkey

Apx6: Website: Halkbank Producing Women Website Link
https://www.halkbank.com.tr/tr/ureten-kadinlar.html

Apx7:WEbsite-Halkbank Website in English