Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) – you have most likely heard of it, but what is it? And what does it mean for the future of commercial lending? ESG has become an umbrella term that can encompass a large number of related terms and issues, all of which represent risks to businesses, economies, society, the planet, and efforts to address those risks. Consumer demand for ethically and sustainably sourced products has led to corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments that reach across industries and supply chains. This, in turn, has led more and more businesses to consider ESG a new benchmark in evaluating and deciding on a financial institution. Awareness and agreement have increased dramatically over the past decade – in social, business, and financial worlds alike – about the importance and risks of ESG issues to the long-term well-being and sustainability of human society, economic growth, and the planet itself. In the past few years, we have seen: