• The Co-operative Bank
• Ecology Building Society
• Triodos Bank
• Norwich and Peterborough Building Society

The Co-operative Bank – 15 years of making a difference

The Co-operative Bank were the first bank in the world to introduce a customer-led Ethical Policy in 1992; and are still the only UK high street bank with a customer-led Ethical Policy. When it comes to making a positive difference, they’re leading the way.

All of their products are designed with the co-operative principles in mind - fair charges, simple to understand and designed around the customer. And what’s more, they’re all ethical - so you don’t need to worry about where your money is being invested.

Charity Credit Cards
Raise money for you favourite charity with one of the Co-operative Bank’s charity cards. For example, Oxfam receive £15 for every account opened, £2.50 if the card is used within six months and 25p for every £100 spent on the card.

Sustainable Leaders Trust
The CIS Sustainable Leaders Trust has outperformed the UK equity market over the last three years. For the three-year period ending 29/09/06, the fund delivered a total return of 75.2%, compared with the UK FTSE All-share which delivered 65.6%. Source: Standard and Poor's Micropal.

Green mortgages
The Co-operative Bank funds several Climate Care projects across the world on behalf of its mortgage customers. These donations (over £250,000 in 2005) make a significant reduction in carbon dioxide and so help offset the emissions of our mortgage customers’ homes by an average of a fifth.

Smile
The Co-operative Bank also owns Smile, the internet bank which offers a current account paying 3.04% AER, plus a 12-month fee free £500 overdraft. The Guardian and Observer Consumer Finance Awards 2005 said that they gave the best overall customer service for the third year running.

Ecology Building Society – a building society with a difference

Not all financial institutions are the same – the Ecology are a building society with a difference. When you place your savings with them you help to fund mortgages that lead to a more sustainable future.

The Ecology has been providing ethical savings acounts and green mortgages since 1981. Their success stems from a simple friendly approach, customer focus and strongly held convictions.

Savings
By opening a savings account with the Ecology you are entering into a partnership with them to help build a more sustainable future. Not only will you receive a good return on your savings - you are also creating a fund to advance on even more environmentally friendlyproperties and projects.

The Ecology BS offers a range of straightforward accounts including instant access, notice and tax-free Cash ISA options. Accounts are operated by first class Freepost from their Head Office in Yorkshire.

Mortgages
The Ecology BS lend throughout the UK and specialise in lending on properties and projects that offer an ecological payback. Mortgages are available for properties requiring substantial renovation or conversion; energy efficient new builds constructed from sustainable materials; and for the addition of energy saving devices and renewable energy systems to existing properties. The Ecology also provide mortgages for small woodlands, organic smallholdings, houseboat moorings and eco-businesses.

Triodos Bank – a bank worth owning

Triodos Bank’s savings and investments offer a simple but powerful opportunity to use your money to help change the world. Triodos will connect your savings with some of the UK’s most progressive businesses and charities, while giving you a healthy return and a secure home for your money.

Savings
Triodos Bank personal savings accounts are designed to suit all needs and pockets - from ISAs to long-term savings, and standard savings accounts to accounts that target your money to particular sectors. You can operate your account by post and arrange to access your account information by telephone.

Investments
Genuinely ethical share and bond issues remain something of a rarity. Triodos Bank is at the forefront of these initiatives, bringing ethical businesses and organisations to UK investors.

Triodos Bank have sponsored a number of innovative issues, from the UK’s first bond issue with a major UK charity to the UK’s highest profile ethical share issue with Fairtrade pioneers, Cafédirect. As a result millions of pounds have been raised, directly supporting progressive enterprises that make lasting positive change a reality.

Norwich and Peterborough Building Society – the future’s green…

N&P subscribes to the view that doing nothing is not an option and that we need to make an effort to reduce emissions which cause climate change. The Society has examined every aspect of their business and are making changes to reduce their carbon footprint as well as encouraging its staff and members to do the same.

N&P first signed up for the Government's energy management scheme in 1992, introduced its first 'Green' mortgage as far back as 1998, and, on 1st January 2007, became one of the first building societies to go 'carbon neutral'.

Carbon Neutral mortgage
Through its association with environmental group The CarbonNeutral® Company, for every home, which is purchased or re-mortgaged to N&P using a 'Carbon Neutral' mortgage, the Society plants 40 trees - eight trees per year for five years, making the home carbon neutral for five years.

Brown Mortgage
As greenfield plots become more scarce, it makes sense to look at other options. A Brown mortgage is a mortgage for people who want to convert or restore an existing property. Even if you have a mortgage on another property N&P may still be able to help you finance your project.

Paper-less Banking
In the last few years, N&P has introduced measures that reduce the levels of paper used by the Society and its customers including electronic application forms and online marketing literature.