Socially responsible investment made easy

'Investing is not just for rich people. It's important to have a buffer in your savings account, but if you're only saving, current interest rates mean that you're losing purchasing power.'

So says Frank Van de Vel, Chief Investor Support Officer at KBC Asset Management. 'With that in mind, and because KBC wants to contribute to a more sustainable society, we want to give savers who are just starting to invest, the chance to choose a socially responsible investment solution right away,' he adds.

'Using an investment plan, you can start making socially responsible investments from as little as 25 euros a month.'

For pension saving, which is often a first step in investing, KBC has moved to offer only socially responsible solutions. Frank Van de Vel: 'We do this to keep the barrier to entry as low as possible for investors looking to have an impact on the transition to a more sustainable society.'

'People sometimes aren't sure how to get started. They don't have time or enough knowledge about investing and sustainability,' says Frank Van de Vel. 'But that doesn't have to be an obstacle. KBC launched its first Belgian SRI fund in 1992 and has played a pioneering role ever since. That means you don't have to be an expert in sustainability yourself. That's our role as a financial institution.'

Frank Van de Vel explains: 'Our team of sustainability analysts combine almost 30 years' experience with support from an independent board of academics who continuously challenge and improve our sustainability methodology. This ensures the quality we strive for and secures our leading role.'

KBC publishes its research results for each company and country on its website. It also uses the KBC Mobile app to keep investors informed of any changes to their funds that the bank implements as part of its ESG investment policy. 'Transparency is crucial to show that you're actually doing what you say,' says Frank Van de Vel.

'There's no such thing as risk-free investing, but you can reduce the risk by investing in a diversified manner. That's why KBC offers a wide range of socially responsible investment solutions, so that everyone can find a fund that suits them,' says Frank Van de Vel.

KBC is deliberately adopting the ESG approach for an increasing number of funds. The performance of companies and countries in terms of the environment, social aspects and good governance are central to this approach.

'For those who want to go a step further, it's possible to specifically choose individual themes, such as water issues or the energy transition,' adds Frank Van de Vel.

There's no need to hesitate from a practical point of view either. Frank Van de Vel: 'If you want to get started, you can always drop by our branches or call KBC Live.

Better still, you don't even have to leave your seat to start investing. All it takes is just a couple of taps in your KBC Mobile app.'

In closing, it should be mentioned that return doesn't have to be any lower. Companies that take sustainability into account run fewer risks and are better prepared for the future, which can only be a benefit to those companies' profits.

So there's no reason not to do it. Socially responsible investing is part of the solution to a more sustainable world. It's a win-win situation for everyone and every move in that direction helps.