BNY MELLON ENTERPRISE ESG 63 RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS financial services sector. With the facilitation of the Depositary Receipts team, these meetings focused on the sustainability profile of those issuers and included ESG teams from both investors and issuers. Following the event, we conducted a perception study with the participants so that we can publish actionable advice to our full client base with our learnings on what works and what is lacking in ESG investor engagement from the point of view of all participants. Treasury Services BNY Mellon Treasury Services provides global payment, trade and liquidity services, enabling our clients to move money around the world quickly, safely and reliably. Our digital strategy is a leading force in reshaping the treasury industry, with an emphasis on enabling clients to leverage the latest digital solutions and technologies available. The investment BNY Mellon has made in digital Treasury solutions has proven to be both necessary and timely. Adaptations to COVID-19 highlight the ability of digital solutions to mitigate the disruption of traditional paper-based processes, in addition to the movement already underway as customers look for safer, faster ways to make and receive payments. As such, our use of the latest digital technologies helps safeguard customers, minimize risks and build trust. We harness the growing volume, velocity and variety of data entrusted to our Treasury business with a clear data strategy to assist organizations in their goals toward improved cash management. And we maintain effective data controls to meet regulatory requirements and client expectations. Through advanced data analytics and information management, BNY Mellon is building transparency, risk mitigation and market intelligence to help power our clients’ success. SPOTLIGHT Closing the Economic Opportunity Gap Across the United States, there are over 5,000 financial institutions, but only 149 of those are minority owned or controlled. 29 These institutions play a vital role in promoting economic viability, particularly in low- and moderate-income communities. BNY Mellon has made a $3 million deposit to supplement South Carolina-based Optus Bank’s investments and support its mission of investing in underserved communities. Our investment is part of BNY Mellon’s expanded relationship with Optus Bank through our participation in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Agent Mentor-Protégé Program. This program facilitates voluntary relationships between the largest U.S. commercial banks as mentors and small and/or minority depositary institutions as protégés. The investment is directed to closing economic opportunity gaps by supporting investments in low- and moderate- income and minority communities. BNY Mellon’s new investment is part of our broader initiatives to support underrepresented communities through philanthropic engagement, workforce development activities and support of minority depositary institutions. Our relationship with Optus is seeding our enterprise-wide Community Banking approach to work with more such banks that are integral to community financial health, growth and resiliency. This growing initiative will enable us to play a more direct role in helping to reduce inequity in access to capital and close the racial wealth gap. It aligns with our vision of DEI as a Business Imperative, one of our DEI strategic pillars, and illustrates how we integrate it across our operating model. Learn more about our Treasury Services . 29 U.S. Bureau of Fiscal Service