Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) has led the field in South Africa by publishing sectoral glide paths, formulae that define the asset/allocation mix of a target-date fund, reinforcing Nedbank's commitment to achieving net-zero by 2050 and eliminating fossil fuel exposure by 2045. These glide paths guide a phased exit from the thermal coal and oil and gas sectors, with targeted financed emissions reductions of 47% for thermal coal and 26% for oil and gas between 2022 and 2030.

Its commitments are matched by R189 billion ($11.05 billion) - which equates to 19.6% of gross loans – allocated to sustainable development finance, supporting affordable housing, inclusive urban development, education, and large-scale renewable energy projects across Africa. This led the judges to applaud Nedbank's diversified approach to sustainability and innovative tools for clients, such as the Climate Risk Tool, Financed Emissions Calculation Engine, and EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) Expert service, which democratises green building certification by training staff and clients in the EDGE framework.

2025 also saw the company secure a $200 million facility from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to scale Nedbank CIB's lending to certified green buildings. This directly contributes to South Africa's climate goals and housing needs and assures appropriate incentivisation for developers.

The judging panel praised Nedbank's diversified approach to sustainability, highlighting its record in "providing innovative solutions and tools for clients" and "measurable impacts".

Last year, Nedback won the category for Impact loan of the year.