CSR communication on corporate websites compared across continents

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate how the 106 largest banks in the world use their corporate websites for corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication, identifying CSR communication patterns by continent. Design/methodology/approach – An analysis of the location of CSR information on the banks’ corporate websites, a longitudinal analysis of the publication of CSR reports by the banks from 2000 to 2012, and a content analysis of the most current CSR reports in the recent period of study were undertaken. Findings – Three-quarters of the banks communicate on CSR issues on their corporate website – either located in the section “About Us” or under a separate “CSR” heading which is directly accessible on the front homepage. Company reports published on the website are the most important vehicle for CSR communication. Their publication increased from six for the publication year 2000 to a peak of 63 reports for the year 2011. The reports’ titles are most commonly linked to the concepts of “responsibility” or “sustainability” and refer to ten main stakeholders and topics. In a comparison between continents there is a difference in the use of titles: European banks prefer the title “Sustainability Report”, while Asian and American banks in particular prefer the title “CSR Report”. Research limitations/implications – The paper focuses on corporate communications, and therefore does not address perspectives on CSR communication from other disciplines. Within CSR communication, sources of CSR-related information other than the corporate websites have not been considered. Originality/value – This paper gives the first comprehensive picture of the trend in CSR communication on corporate websites in the global banking sector.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Bank Marketing
Volume34
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)501-528
Number of pages28
ISSN0265-2323
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 06.06.2016

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. De-Anonymizing Anonymous
  2. Influences of yttrium content on microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg–Ca–Y–Zr alloys
  3. A Sampling Framework for Uncertainty in Individual Environmental Decisions
  4. Directives in EIL peer feedback
  5. Simple Mouse Attribute Analysis
  6. Inquiry-based Learning Environments to Welcome the Diversity of a Chemistry Class
  7. Special Issues as Vertical Integration
  8. Where do the data live?
  9. Experimental Investigation of Efficiency and Deposit Process Temperature During Multi-Layer Friction Surfacing
  10. A field experimental study of analytical problem solving competence-Investigating effects of training and transfer
  11. Differenzen in der pädagogischen Praxis
  12. Differential responses of ecosystem components to a low-intensity fire in a Mediterranean forest
  13. Working hour arrangements and working hours
  14. Quantifying interregional flows of multiple ecosystem services – A case study for Germany
  15. Union membership and age: the inverted u-shape hypothesis under test
  16. Effect of Zn addition on hot tearing behaviour of Mg-0.5Ca-xZn alloys
  17. Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research
  18. EFFECT OF RADIAL CLEARANCE ON BALL BEARING'S DYNAMICS USING A 2-DOF MODEL
  19. Miscellaneous Articles
  20. Identification and description of intermetallic compounds in Mg-Si-Sr cast and heat-treated alloys
  21. Schelling's Naturalism
  22. Global networks & local partnerships
  23. Resolving Incompleteness on Social Media
  24. Social Modulation of Imitative Behavior
  25. Second job holding in Germany – a persistent feature?
  26. Cradle-to-cradle business model tool
  27. Adapting Growth Models for Digital Startups
  28. How self-regulation helps to master negotiation challenges
  29. The American Sublime
  30. Intrinsic Motivation in Bilingual Courses on Bionics and Molecular Biology in an Out-of-School Lab
  31. John Barth
  32. Das finale IIRC-Rahmenkonzept zum Integrated Reporting
  33. Social Entrepreneurship and Broader Theories
  34. Log in and breathe out: efficacy and cost-effectiveness of an online sleep training for teachers affected by work-related strain
  35. Environmental Noise
  36. A Longitudinal Study of Great Ape Cognition
  37. Mathematik in Bewegung
  38. Rudi Carrell
  39. Rapid upwards spread of non-native plants in mountains across continents
  40. On the Western Narrative of Empowerment Through ICT
  41. Positive Empathy and Prosocial Behavior
  42. Blueprint Romantik