Banreservas obtains ISO 37001 recertification on Anti-Bribery Management System

The Banco de Reservas obtained the recertification of the ISO 37001 standard, which supports the Anti-Bribery Management System, with which the institution reaffirms its leadership in the region and establishes itself as a benchmark in the implementation of good practices against this crime.

In highlighting the recognition, the CEO of Banreservas, Dr. Leonardo Aguilera, emphasized the importance of recertification, which, more than a formality, demonstrates that the financial institution has been able to maintain, monitor, review, and constantly improve its processes to prevent and combat any attempt at bribery.

He explained that the process involves the organization undergoing validation of its certification in the first two years, and in the third year, a more rigorous audit is conducted to obtain the recertification of the Bank’s Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Management System.

This recertification also means that the banking entity has not let its guard down, that it continues to believe in and defend a culture based on ethics and transparency.

“During the review process, we had to demonstrate that we learned from previous audits, that we are maintaining a living system, not one that only exists on paper, that we keep our risk analysis dynamic, in a changing and increasingly demanding environment,” he specified.

He said that in order to achieve recertification, the Bank worked to engage all participants in the institutional processes, ranging from senior management to each employee who makes decisions on a day-to-day basis.

“We know that bribery, -Aguilera emphasized- is not always obvious. Sometimes it’s an omission, a looking the other way, an excuse or a silence.”

He affirmed that having a system like the one required by ISO 37001 helps Banreservas to have the appropriate mechanisms to act, prevent, and protect the reputation and purpose of our organization.

The president of the banking entity understands that in addition to external recognition, this recertification reflects the internal commitment, as a sign of its maturity as an organization and the collective conviction that doing things right does matter.

“We celebrate the culture we have built together: a culture that promotes accountability, that provides tools to act firmly against what is wrong and that understands that integrity is the only solid foundation on which to build the future,” he said.

Aguilera thanked those who lead the compliance processes, and the collaborators who, with small daily actions, contribute to keeping the ethical culture alive and strong at Banco de Reservas.

He stated that the achievements and actions to face the challenges to which the Bank is exposed are possible thanks to the joint effort of the Board of Directors and the various areas, especially those responsible for Compliance and for managing the risks in the financial institution.

He added that at the Banco de Reservas they will continue to move forward firmly, “convinced that working with transparency is not only the right thing to do, but also what makes us sustainable, reliable and respected.”