Sustainability

Serving Our Community Responsibly

We serve as a positive force in the communities by fostering strong relationships and maximising synergies that leverage complementary resources, knowledge, and skills.

Our Sustainability Policy and internal Community Investment Guidelines set out the Group’s strategy and objectives with regard to social contribution. Through our foundations and volunteer teams, we run meaningful programmes in three key areas: education, social welfare, and the environment.

In 2026, we established a Community Investment Committee to formalise oversight of corporate social responsibility activities across the Bank Group. The Committee works across the markets where we operate to ensure strategic alignment, develop a robust ecosystem of strategic partners, and deliver quantifiable ESG impact.

For more information, please refer to the Responsible Citizen section of our latest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report.

Hong Kong

Since its establishment in 2009, The Bank of East Asia Charitable Foundation (BEA Foundation) has partnered with various non-governmental organisations to develop programmes in support of education and to help alleviate the burdens of underprivileged members of society.

The "Palliative Care for the Elderly" Programme

The BEA Foundation has collaborated with "la Caixa" Banking Foundation, and The Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau Territory (The Salvation Army) on the "Palliative Care for the Elderly" Programme since 2010. This initiative aims to enhance the wellbeing of older adults receiving end-of-life care and improve the quality of life for Hong Kong's ageing population.

With the theme of "Golden Adventures", the fifth phase of the Programme (running from 2023 to 2026) also promotes volunteer participation and holistic elderly care, while encouraging retirees and seniors to proactively manage their finances, health, interests, and goals as they navigate the second half of life. Over the past 15 years, the Programme has:

supported 3,000+ elderly individuals and family members with integrated care and counselling;
trained 10,000+ healthcare professionals on palliative care education;
engaged over 48,000 citizens in educational activities;
worked with residential care homes to increase awareness of terminally ill patients;
published guidelines and practice manuals for appropriate end-of-life care; and
provided legislative recommendations and references regarding the choice of dying-in-place.

The Programme has also participated in a years-long policy advocacy campaign, including engagement with representatives from numerous HKSAR Government bodies, that has spurred changes to legislation enabling terminally ill patients to spend their final days in residential care homes.

Promoting Financial Literacy and Inclusion

Having provided financial services in the markets we serve for more than a century, BEA has long played an important role in promoting financial literacy and inclusion so our members of these communities can make better choices.

In support of Hong Kong Money Month 2025 organised by the Investor and Financial Education Council, we hosted an engaging workshop for retirees in collaboration with The Salvation Army. In line with the event’s theme of “Guard Against Fraud, Thrive with Resilience”, BEA volunteers educated participants on ways to protect their money from fraud and scams while investing wisely in their retirement years.

We also collaborated with Heep Hong Society to promote financial literacy and social adaptation skills among children with special educational needs. Our volunteers gave tailored lessons on basic financial concepts and facilitated guided supermarket trips to help the participants practise smart budgeting and purchasing.

Learn more about our financial literacy initiatives for customers in the Responsible Business section.

Chinese Mainland

On the Chinese Mainland, our community investment initiatives are channelled through the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation – BEA Charity Fund, and the Shanghai Charity Foundation – BEA Charity Fund. For more details, please visit the BEA Charity Fund website (Simplified Chinese only).

Green Firefly Project

Rural schools often lack resources, including limited teaching facilities, a shortage of teachers, and outdated campus living amenities, compared to their counterparts in more affluent urban areas.

Launched by the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation – BEA Charity Fund in 2009, the "Firefly Project" aims to improve educational opportunities for rural children in the Chinese Mainland. Since 2015, the Fund has joined forces with ”la Caixa” Banking Foundation to expand the project’s reach and amplify its impact. As of 2025, 120 Firefly Centres have been established across 28 regions.

The project was revamped in 2023 as the “Green Firefly Project”, with a focus on advancing education, environmental protection, and emissions reduction. In close collaboration with selected schools and BEA China’s network of outlets in the Chinese Mainland, the Fund establishes and equips Green Firefly Centres with advanced display screens, digital tablets, new desks and chairs, and solar power systems.

Beyond enhancing infrastructure and learning resources, the Project also seeks to promote biodiversity education through the “Earth Nature School Project” with One Planet Foundation. Under the theme “My Wildlife Friends”, children are encouraged to explore natural world, understand more about biodiversity, and discover how living things relate to one another.

For more the latest updates, please visit BEA China’s website.

Our Voluntary Efforts Across the BEA Group

We encourage our employees to support meaningful social and environmental causes, facilitating positive changes and strengthening lasting connections between the Bank Group and the communities in which we operate. We foster a culture of employee donation and volunteering by providing our people with opportunities to support those in need.

Hong Kong

Spending time with furry friends at The Society for Abandoned Animals in Yuen Long

Chinese Mainland

“Colourful Guizhou” initiative with the Lang Lang Arts Foundation, the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation, and the One Planet Foundation to share knowledge with rural students