The Co-operative Bank

Environmental issues have been a part of The Co-operative Bank's customer-led Ethical Policy for the last 15 years. It has made a commitment to not invest in businesses whose core activity contributes to global climate change through the extraction or production of fossil fuels. The bank has also been actively addressing the climate change impact of its operations and encouraging others to do their bit too.

Whilst it turns many businesses away because they conflict with its Ethical Policy, it equally seeks to support a whole range of organisations in the third sector - offering specialist banking and finance services to charities and voluntary organisations. Their charities team provide banking facilities and flexible loan finance to a range of organisations from smaller local charities to high profile international charities. Each customer requirement is assessed individually, using their expert knowledge of the sector.

A good history

The bank has a proud history as part of The Co-operative Movement, which was founded in 1844 with a clear commitment to social responsibility. This commitment found modern interpretation in the bank's unique customer-led Ethical Policy, which was launched in 1992.

More broadly, the bank recognises the need to develop its business and deliver value to its partners in a socially and ecologically responsible manner.

So what does this mean in practice? Well, in 2006, the Bank turned away eight business customers at an estimated cost of £0.6m because of their climate change impacts. The Bank has significantly reduced its own greenhouse emissions by sourcing virtually all its electricity (99%) from renewable sources. And it's even started creating its own electricity - having installed the UK's largest solar panel and micro-wind applications on two of CFS' Manchester head office buildings. The Bank has also offset 100% of its remaining operational and business travel emissions, with an extra 10% to cover legacy issues.

And all this activity has not gone unnoticed. The Co-operative Bank is proud to be recognised as a leader in tackling climate change and, this year, its parent company, The Co-operative Group, received the Queen's Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.

• Find out more about The Co-operative Bank's think card and Cool Earth
• Find out more about The Co-operative Bank

The Co-operative Bank is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (No. 121885), subscribes to the Banking Code, is a member of the Financial Ombudsman Service and is licensed by the Office of Fair Trading (No. 006110). Credit facilities are subject to status and only available to those aged 18 or over and resident in the UK. The Co-operative Bank p.l.c., P.O. Box 101, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester M60 4EP. Registered in England and Wales No. 990937.