Shinhan Financial Group, the nation’s largest financial holding firm by assets, has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the second consecutive year, officials said on Thursday.

Shinhan was recognized for its long-standing efforts in creating shared value, or CSV, to become the first South Korean financial firm to be included on the list two years in a row.

The DJSI is a global indicator tracking the financial performance of companies in all industries that outperform in terms of sustainability.

“The latest milestone is the result of Shinhan’s continued CSR activities and transparent performance reports,” Shinhan Financial chairman Han Dong-woo said in an emailed statement.

“We will continue to work toward realizing our corporate values of compassionate finance that calls for pursuing sustainable development, while at the same time offering top services to our customers and society,” Han added.

This year, the DJSI assessed a total of 1,813 companies around the world. Only 319 companies, about 12.6 percent of the evaluated firms, were chosen for the year 2014-15.

In the banking sector, 25 companies were selected including Westpac, Standard Chartered PLC, Citigroup Inc. and BNP Paribas.

“The Dow Jones index serves as one of the most important indices for investors and financial organizations. We expect this will have a positive effect on Shinhan’s brand and stock value,” a Shinhan spokesman said.

By Suk Gee-hyun (monicasuk@heraldcorp.com)