At Atlantic Union Bank (AUB), we know that we have a responsibility to be a force for good in our communities. We recently published our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, which highlights the ways we have participated in meaningful, tangible programs and activities that make a difference in the lives of our Teammates, customers and neighbors.
This report highlights some of our initiatives to improve the world around us, like our Green Vibes program. Through actions taken as part of this program, we have greatly reduced our consumption of single-use plastics, placed improved recycling bins at our corporate offices, and implemented a shredding and recycling program that processed 148.57 tons of paper. We are excited to continue these efforts into the future so that we can do our part to keep the environment healthy.
At AUB, we know that our Teammates have individual causes that they are passionate about – which is why we encourage volunteerism by offering up to 16 hours of PTO to all full-time teammates to volunteer. Over 547 Teammates volunteered last year for 8,872 service hours, and they supported 470 distinct organizations through their efforts. Our Teammates’ efforts were supplemented by our bankwide initiatives to support our communities. We invested $3,362,787 through grants, donations and sponsorships.
Our commitment to our community includes a commitment to ensure everyone who works with us feels like they belong. We know that our culture is enriched through our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We strive to foster a culture and workplace where all Teammates feel respected, embrace differences, value diversity and care about each other. As part of that effort, we have added Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to create a space for Teammates to share their individual experiences with others in the company. We added two new ERGs last year and plan to add even more this year!
In addition, this year was the third year of our partnership with Virginia State University (VSU), a historically Black university to create a scholarship fund for their business and finance students to help support the future of banking.
These initiatives are all a part of the way that AUB demonstrates our real care and commitment for our community. We look forward to continuing this commitment in the future, and are excited to learn more about the communities that surround us.