Sustainable banking: adoção de práticas bancárias sustentáveis no contexto do cooperativismo de crédito brasileiro

The socio-environmental criteria used by financial institutions can encourage more responsible business practices and encourage the transition to a low-carbon and more sustainable economy. From this context, this study seeks to analyze how the cooperative credit system in Brazil has dealt with the need to adopt banking practices (sustainable banking). In this way, the general objective is to analyze the position of the Brazilian cooperative credit system in relation to the adoption of sustainable banking practices. This objective is intensified in two other specific objectives: to analyze the sustainable banking practices of the federations of the four largest cooperative systems of Brazilian credit; and perform the same analysis in a cooperative credit center. For this, the methodology proposed by Kumar and Prakash was used for the construction of a theoretical-empirical article on the banking practices adopted by these financial institutions. The study included a review of the literature on the subject and a qualitative research to evaluate the sustainable banking practices implemented by the confederations. In addition, a conclusive technical report was prepared on these practices in a cooperative credit center with the objective of providing proposals for that center in order to enhance its performance in intended practices. The results show a favorable situation for Brazilian credit unions. However, it is important to maximize the potential of incorporated practices, as the study identified a great opportunity for growth in products and services, which can strengthen the sector as a reference in banking practices. This would contribute to position the sector as a segment that adopts such practices in a comprehensive way. In this way, the study contributes in a practical way to the sector in the awakening of sustainable banking practices and in the academic environment by adapting and correcting the framework and expanding the discussion of the subject in the sector.