A review of research on corporate social responsibility in the banking sector

Abstract

This paper reviews the studies on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the banking sector. It seeks to identify the main issues analyzed in this regard in scientific literature, as well as the methodologies used, through an extensive review of research articles, books and book chapters published in the Scopus and Journal Citation Index (previously ISI) databases between 1998 and 2011. Results show a high interest among researchers in studying the dissemination of CSR in the banking sector using quantitative and qualitative methods; however, phenomena such as the perception of stakeholders in regards to the social and environmental performance of banks, the impact of CSR practices in the local or national development in developing countries (especially in Latin America) and the sector’s responsibility in bankarization have not been addressed in depth.