A major issue that has focused attention on RCBC's climate commitments has been the investments in the bank by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC). Since 2011, the IFC has made a number of loans and equity investments in RCBC. Through a complaint to the IFC raised by community groups and international NGOs (see below), it has come to light that RCBC's sponsorship of 19 coal projects has led to the IFC's exposure to coal, which is out of step with its commitments not to finance coal power. RCBC was found to have subsequently invested in 10 coal plants after the IFC's initial involvement. The IFC was deemed by its independent ombudsman to have failed to adequately enforce its environmental and social Performance Standards for financial intermediaries in the case of RCBC. This has led to a management action plan being implemented. In spite of a commitment by RCBC in 2020 not to finance new coal plants, its ongoing involvement in a number of controversial coal projects has stayed in the spotlight due to the IFC complaints process.

Reclaim Finance tracks the coal, oil and gas policies of financial institutions, including banks, in the Coal Policy Tracker and Oil and Gas Policy Tool. An evaluation of RCBC's coal policy is forthcoming (May 2023), and will be available below: