Santander has been recognised by the corporate reputation business monitor (MERCO) as the bank with the best corporate reputation in Uruguay, also taking second place among companies in general.
 

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has led to companies not only being concerned with making profit, but also seeking to maintain the trust of customers, shareholders and employees, while satisfying the needs of society as a whole. 

Our Group executive chairman, Ana Botín, highlighted this very point at the 12th International Banking Conference, where she urged companies to look beyond just generating shareholder value: "This debate is often framed as a choice between maximising shareholder value and meeting the needs of all our stakeholders. But there is no such choice. Trust is not optional if we want to be a profitable business. Trust is what determines whether or not you have a profitable business," she stated. 

At Santander, we remain committed to carrying out our activities responsibly, contributing to the economic and social progress, taking into account our impact on the environment and fostering the trust and loyalty of our customers, people and shareholders.

Our constant efforts to achieve these objectives have seen us recognised as the bank with the best corporate reputation in Uruguay, according to MERCO. An award for Santander Uruguay's local and global performance in the responsible management of the business and its impact on society in general.

MERCO analyses and evaluates companies based on attributes like trust, responsibility, transparency, independence, rigour, ethics and the social dimension. Gustavo Trelles, head of Santander in Uruguay, said, "We are proud to have achieved this recognition and it encourages us to continue growing. At Santander, we know that in order to be the best version of ourselves, we have to work as a team; upholding our corporate culture and the purpose that identifies us through hard work and dedication."

Trust and responsibility: cornerstones of our identity

We strive to enhance trust and responsibility on a day-to-day basis: two pillars that are essential in our purpose to help people and businesses prosper. We are also one of the signatories of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking, through which we are working to ensure a sustainable future based on education, financial empowerment, green finance and strengthening diversity and inclusion in all the countries where we operate.

In the words of our country head in Uruguay, Gustavo Trelles: "It remains vital to listen to our customers, stay close to them and build a bank that is increasingly more Simple, Personal and Fair."