The “Suppliers' Portal“ used by the Procurement Department requires registration when candidates are requested to view Intesa Sanpaolo's Compliance Programme (Legislative Decree 231/2001), Internal Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics. If registered entities become qualified Intesa Sanpaolo Group suppliers, contract clauses of the agreement signed require them to comply with the principles in the above documents. Standard controls are also carried out on documents certifying the technical eligibility of companies (registration with the Chamber of Commerce, presentation of Chamber of Commerce records, of welfare contribution records), and their financial and capital strength, as well as the absence of detrimental events concerning suppliers and subsuppliers.

Out of the 8,777 suppliers on the “Suppliers' Portal“ recorded in Italy by the Procurement Department, 5,263 (equal to 60%) completed registration and replied to specific questions on social/environmental issues in 2016. Analysis of replies shows the following breakdown: 11% declared they publish a social and environmental report, 4% hold SA 8000 certification, 19.17% have a code of ethics or policies describing their social commitment, 13% hold environmental certification and 8% have an environmental policy. These percentages have all increased compared to 2015 and show that the Group's focus on social/environmental issues have led suppliers to be more aware of these aspects as well.

International banks using the Suppliers' Portal (VÚB Banka, Banca Intesa Beograd and Privredna Banka Zagreb) also report a good coverage of CSR issues. Suppliers of these banks completing registration and the questionnaire totalled 473 in Croatia, 639 in Serbia and 292 in Slovakia out of a total of 2,085 suppliers surveyed (equal to 67%). Analysis of replies shows the following breakdown: 16% declared they publish a social and environmental report, 1.3% hold SA 8000 certification, 25.9% have a code of ethics or policies describing their social commitment, 13.3% hold environmental certification and 16.1% have an environmental policy.

With the gradual changeover to the “New Suppliers' Portal“, all suppliers and subsuppliers will be required to complete the CSR questionnaire.

Another line of action, which helps strengthen the wider-ranging activity of supplier monitoring, is the technical assessment of performance in ICT supplies of the ICT Systems Department. This initiative, based on a survey conducted internally at this department, is in its fifth year of operation and covers a group of suppliers that in 2016 represented approximately 94% of orders by the ICT Systems Department, for a total of approximately 291 suppliers assessed. The process involved 155 colleagues replying to an electronic questionnaire on supplier assessment, based on four categories according to the type of service/product purchased (application services, infrastructure services, hardware and maintenance, software licences and maintenance). The replies to the questionnaires helped to identify any areas for improvement and to rethink supplier relationships from a strategic point of view. In parallel, in cases where findings showed a failure to meet contract service levels, specific warning letters were sent to suppliers (53 letters in 2016).

To monitor the supply chain and CSR issues more effectively, courses on “Responsibility and Systemic thinking“ and “Disseminating a risk culture and impact on the sourcing process“ were held for some Purchasing Department staff in 2016, while seminars were organised by the ABC Procurement and Cost Management consortium on CSR issues and business sustainability.