8 July 2010 - Triodos Bank CEO, Peter Blom, joins the Club of Rome

The Club of Rome has invited Peter Blom - CEO of Triodos Bank - as one of its members for his outstanding achievements in revitalising and renewing the banking sector. Peter Blom (1956) has been CEO of Triodos Bank since 1997.

Club of Rome Secretary General Ian Johnson said: “Peter Blom has built a successful and growing sustainable banking business over three decades. By doing so, he has proved that another approach to banking is possible, at a time when our financial future needs new thinking more than ever. His achievements in pioneering green investment, social banking, microfinance and sustainability are now recognised on the international stage. His experience will provide a valuable contribution to achieving the Club of Rome’s objectives at a critical time in world affairs.”

Triodos Bank CEO Peter Blom: “The Club of Rome’s first publication, “The limits to Growth”, is a seminal work, and was an important source of inspiration for me when I started to realise the magnitude of our environmental challenges. I am determined to contribute to the important work of the Club of Rome, with a particular focus on the role of the financial world, to help make much needed changes happen. The financial, poverty and environmental crises are converging. We have to move from an economy with a single focus on maximising profit to new economic models that maximise sustainability. As Triodos Bank we have demonstrated that these models work. Only by changing finance, we will be able to finance change.”

Click here to access the full press release

29 June 2010: CHARITY BANK AND INVESTING FOR GOOD TO FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

Charity Bank today announced the first step in an expansion of its range of services with the strategic alliance with Investing for Good, the specialist social investment advisor.

Geoff Burnand and Caroline Mason, co-founders of Investing for Good have joined Charity Bank as Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer, respectively.

Malcolm Hayday, Chief Executive of Charity Bank said: “We are delighted that Caroline and Geoff have joined us to add depth to our management team. The strategic fit with Investing for Good is very strong and our combined strengths will hasten the development of a broad range of social investment services at the most critical juncture for financial services in a generation.”

Geoff Burnand said: “Charity Bank is one of the pioneers in social banking and has a unique ethos. It has a strong track record in development finance supporting charities and social enterprises across the UK, often working in marginalised communities. It is also the best placed organisation to respond to the growing interest in social finance and we are delighted to have this opportunity.”

Charity Bank uses its depositors’ money solely to support charities and social enterprises. It finances projects and organisations that it considers to be viable, but which are not always commercially bankable, or where the organisation has been offered terms that are not appropriate to its situation.

Investing for Good is a Community Interest Company and a regulated investment advisor. Its mission is to embed social investing into mainstream capital markets and other investors including foundations, wealth managers and asset managers to drive an array of solutions to tackle such issues as education, climate change, health and poverty.

To find more on Charity Bank visit www.charitybank.org and to find out more on Investing for Good visit www.investingforgood.co.uk
 

2 June 2010: Netwerk Vlaanderen calls to halt investments in coal plants

In the past two years BNP Paribas, KBC, Dexia, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, ING and AXA have invested at least 25 billion euro in climate-threatening activities including new coal plants, oil extracted from tar sands, or the decimation of rain forests. Those are the conclusions from the report “Bankers on Hot Coals”, which Netwerk Vlaanderen is presenting today. The NGO calls on the banks to cease investing in new coal plants immediately en therefore launches the petition Bankruptcy in cooperation with Greenpeace, WWF, Friends of the Earth, BBL and KWB.

Bankers on hot coals
If we believe their advertising, all banks are green. The report Bankers on hot Coals shows a different reality. Energy companies building new coal plants or extracting oil from tar sands are being financed by big banks that are operational in Belgium. Esther Vandenbroucke, co-author of the report for Netwerk Vlaanderen states : “Banks like to boast about their green image. But as long as banks keep on investing in coal plants, there is no sustainable banking. We found more than 25 billion euro investments in climate-threatening practices like coal-based energy, oil extracted from tar sands or the decimation of rain forests.”

Polluting new coal plants = 130 million cars
Bankers on hot coals makes a remarkable conclusion. If the 70 new coal plants planned in Europe were to be built, they would emit the same amount of greenhouse gasses as 130 million cars. Banks that are operational in Belgium don’t appear to care about this at the moment. They are putting our savings into the construction of new coal plants. Deutsche Bank, for instance, gave a loan for the construction of a new coal plant that will emit 5.2 million tons of CO2 annually. This equals the annual emissions of about 1.7 million cars. AXA, KBC, Dexia, Citibank, BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank invested 5 billion euro in the German energy giant RWE Power during the past two years. In 2008, 60% of the electricity produced by RWE was derived from coal and lignite. RWE plans to build 10 new coal plants in Germany, The Netherlands, England and Bulgaria in the upcoming years. They send in the direction of a pitch-black future.

Banks bankrupt
The demand to cease investments in coal plants is being supported by four big environmental organisations: WWF Belgium, Friends of the Earth Flanders & Brussels, Greenpeace Belgium and Bond Beter Leefmilieu. “A euro for energy can only be invested once. Opting for coal also implies not investing in renewable energy. These kind of choices lock us into a form of energy production which is damaging for the climate,” states Sam Van den Plas from WWF. The workers movement KWB is also one of the initiators of the petition-action Bankruptcy.

2 juin 2010 - Des banques sur des charbons ardents

Au cours de ces deux dernières années, BNP Paribas, KBC, Dexia, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, ING et AXA ont investi ensemble pas moins de 25 milliards d’euros dans des activités nuisant au climat. C'est ce qui ressort de l'étude Banquiers sur des charbons ardents de Netwerk Vlaanderen.

L'investissement polluant attire
La production d'énergie à partir du charbon est deux fois plus polluante que celle à partir du gaz naturel. Elle est responsable de 42% des émissions mondiales de CO2. Pourtant, 70 nouvelles centrales à charbon devraient voir le jour d'ici peu en Europe. Des centrales qui n'ont aucune difficulté à trouver des financements auprès des banques actives en Belgique.

Dire stop!
Les banques investissant dans les centrales à charbon le font avec l'argent de nos épargnes. Netwerk Vlaanderen apelle les banques à cesser immédiatement ces investissements en lançant la pétition Bankroet en coopération avec Greenpeace, WWF, Friends of the Earth, BBL et KWB.

Lire l'article complet publié par Réseau FA

June 2010: Three Nordic banks win the Nordic Council Nature and Environment Prize 2010
The Nordic Council Nature and Environment Prize 2010 is awarded to three banks Merkur Andelskasse, Ekobanken and Cultura Bank for their commitment to green values and sustainable principles.
The prize is worth 350,000 Danish kroner, about 47,000 euros, and will be shared between three winners for the first time in the history of the prize.

Statement by the Adjudication Committee:
The banks have invested in sustainable projects in an exemplary way and have made this a core focus of their work. Their entire business is built on green values and they work fo a sustainable society. They, therefore, act as an example for other stakeholders in asset management.

The purpose of the Nature and Environment Prize, which was awarded for the first time in 1995, is to increase awareness of nature and environmental work in the Nordic countries.

Click here for more information.

10 June 2010: Gelebte Transparenz: 750 Gäste kommen zur Generalversammlung der GLS Bank

Die GLS Bank verbindet: Zu ihrer diesjährigen Generalversammlung am 11. und 12. Juni in Bochum erwartet die Bank 750 Gäste aus ganz Deutschland, darunter Bundestagspräsident Norbert Lammert. Auf der heutigen Pressekonferenz berichtet der Vorstand über die anhaltend kräftige Entwicklung der GLS Bank.

Die diesjährige Mitgliederversammlung der GLS Bank ist so gut besucht wie selten zuvor. Immer mehr Menschen suchen den Dialog, wollen ihre Bank aktiv mitgestalten und nehmen die Partizipationsmöglichkeiten der sozial-ökologischen Genossenschaftsbank wahr. "Gerade in diesen politisch und wirtschaftlich unsicheren Zeiten suchen die Menschen eine Bank, der sie vertrauen können. Unsere transparente Arbeitsweise, klare nachhaltige Ausrichtung und langjährige Erfahrung schafft die Voraussetzung dafür und bietet Orientierung", so Vorstandssprecher Thomas Jorberg auf der heutigen Pressekonferenz.

Die Nachfrage nach verantwortungsvollen Angeboten der nachhaltigen Universalbank ist ungebrochen hoch. Entsprechend kann der Vorstand auf der diesjährigen Generalversammlung einen erfolgreichen Jahresabschluss und sehr guten Start in 2010 präsentieren. Seit Jahresanfang entschieden sich bereits 7.000 Kunden für einen Wechsel zur GLS Bank. Insgesamt verzeichnet sie damit rund 80.000 Kunden und 17.000 Genossenschaftsmitglieder. Besonders stark nachgefragt werden neben Girokonten derzeit vor allem Tagesgeldkonten und Sparangebote. Bei einem Wachstum von 24% bis Ende Mai beläuft sich die Bilanzsumme auf nunmehr 1,67 Mrd. Euro.

Auf der diesjährigen Generalversammlung, bei der Bundestagspräsident Nobert Lammert zu Gast sein wird, widmet sich die GLS Bank in Bochum zusammen mit ihren Mitgliedern und Kunden ihrem Nachhaltigkeitsverständnis und nimmt ihre Entwicklungsperspektiven in den Blick. Vorträge zu aktuellen Themen, Projektvorstellungen und Hausführungen füllen die umfassende Transparenz der GLS Bank mit Leben.

Ihr nachhaltiges Angebot entwickelt die GLS Bank laufend weiter. So legte sie im März zusammen mit Partnern, darunter Brot für die Welt, erfolgreich den FairWorldFonds auf, der erstmals auch entwicklungspolitische Kriterien berücksichtigt. Die Nachfrage übertraf bereits kurz nach dem Start die Erwartungen. Bereits Anfang des Jahres erhielt die GLS Bank den Auftrag von der Bundesregierung, das Mikrokreditgeschäft in Deutschland flächendeckend auszubauen. Der Bund stellt für den Sicherungsfonds 100 Mio. Euro zur Verfügung.

Dass die hohen Maßstäbe der GLS Bank Vertrauen schaffen, zeigt eine aktuelle Umfrage des Magazins Börse Online, an der knapp 34.000 Verbraucher teilnahmen:
Sie wählten die GLS Bank zur "Bank des Jahres 2010". Bewertet wurde die Leistungsfähigkeit der Bank, darunter u.a. die Qualität und Transparenz der Angebote, die Kundenberatung und die Einlagensicherheit. Zur Auswahl standen 150 deutsche Banken, darunter alle großen Privat- und Genossenschaftsbanken sowie Sparkassen.

Pressekontakt: Christof Lützel, Pressesprecher/Leiter Öffentlichkeitsarbeit GLS Bank Christstr. 9, 44789 Bochum, Tel.: (0234) 57 97 178, Fax: (0234) 57 97 157, http://www.gls.de

10 June 2010 - Oikocredit presents Social Performance Report 2009
Focus on microfinance institutions with notable social mission

Oikocredit has released its first Social Performance report, detailing its commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of the poor through access to financial services. The report shows the progression and results of Oikocredit’s many years evaluating social performance.

Read the full report on our social performance website

13 May 2010 -  YEAR ON YEAR GROWTH FOR CHARITY BANK

The strength of Charity Bank’s support of the social sector has again been confirmed by record growth announced today.

Outlining its 2009 results ahead of its AGM and Open Day on the 19th May, Charity Bank revealed that loans to charities, social enterprises and community projects grew by 31% year on year, to £35.8m in 2009 - a seven fold increase since Charity Bank launched in 2002.

The bank expects that the level of drawn loans, which currently stands at £37.9m, will break through £40m for the first time ever in July.

Deposits grew by 25% in 2009 to £44.0m. With more people questioning the values of commercial banks, Charity Bank has seen more than 500 new deposit accounts opened by individuals and other charities who want to support the charity sector and encourage a more responsible and transparent use of money.

Chief Executive of Charity Bank, Malcolm Hayday said: “Over the past year the stumbling economy has begun to strike charities hard. Income has fallen; while at the same time demands for their services have increased. At this critical time, with the help of our depositors and investors, we have been able to increase our funding to charities and social enterprises.

“We have ambitious plans to increase our support to charities and other social profit organisations that address society’s needs. With inevitable public spending cuts to come, we will continue maximise our support to enterprises that are making a real difference to the communities and people they serve.”

New Philanthropy Capital called recently for charities to step up their social reporting. At its AGM, Charity Bank will release details of the first social impact study of its lending activity. Key findings include:
• 88% of borrowers found that a Charity Bank loan had made a major or significant contribution to the achievement of their mission;
• 69% secured additional sources of funding as a result of the Charity Bank loan;
• 81.3% of borrowers saw a major or significant improvement in facilities, enhancing their capacity to deliver services;
• The number of volunteers working with the bank’s borrowers rose substantially, by more than 67%;
• Charity Bank’s role as a critical friend is valued by its borrowers

Malcolm Hayday added: “I am especially pleased that private individuals are expressing their trust and confidence in a more transparent banking model that puts people at its heart. Charities too are recognising that they can make a difference not only through their day to day work but by also deciding where to place their money. At a time when commercial banks are under fire for reining back on lending, this enables us to continue to grow our lending portfolio.”

Media contact: Mark Howland / +44 01732 774040

About Charity Bank

Charity Bank is:
• The only regulated bank that is also a registered general charity
• Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA)
• A member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
• Also regulated by the Charity Commission as a registered charity
• Part of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) family

23 April 2010 - GLS Bank bietet klimafreundlichstes Sparangebot

Bei Sparangeboten der GLS Bank entstehen 67% weniger Treibhausgas- emissionen als bei konventionellen Produkten. Das belegt jetzt eine vom Bundesumweltministerium für den deutschen Markt in Auftrag gegebene Studie.

Bochum, 23.04.2010: Wie heute auf einer Pressekonferenz im Rahmen der Messe "Invest 2010" vorgestellt wurde, dokumentiert eine aktuelle Studie, dass das Tagesgeldkonto sowie die Spar- und Termineinlagen der GLS Bank im Vergleich zu konventionellen Bankprodukten mit 67% weniger Emissionen wesentlich klimafreundlicher sind.

"Unsere Kunden haben bei jeder Geldanlage die Möglichkeit, einen Verwendungswunsch anzugeben, wie z.B. den Bereich Regenerative Energien.
Diesem Wunsch folgend vergeben wir entsprechende Kredite und machen dies auch transparent", so Filialleiter Wilfried Münch heute. Die aktuelle Studie zeige aber auch, so Münch weiter, welche zentrale Rolle nachhaltigen Geldanlagen zukomme. Um die Klimaziele der Bundesregierung zu erreichen, seien in Deutschland künftig mehr als 30 Milliarden Euro Investitionen notwendig. Die Finanzwirtschaft habe dabei eine Schlüsselrolle, da sie zu einem großen teil für die Bereitstellung des Kapitals sorge.

Die Studie "Der Carbon Footprint von Kapitalanlageprodukten" wurde von adelphi erstellt, einem der führenden Institute für Politikanalyse und Strategieberatung. Die Analyse vergleicht die Treibhausgasintensität eines durchschnittlichen deutschen Anlageportfolios mit einem entsprechenden klimafreundlichen Portfolio. Untersucht wurden Spareinlagen, Anleihen, Unternehmensbeteiligungen sowie Aktien und Rentenfonds.

Über die GLS Bank
Die GLS Bank wurde 1974 als weltweit erste nachhaltige Bank gegründet. Ihr Geschäftsmodell ist an sozialen, ökologischen und ökonomischen Kriterien ausgerichtet.

Die GLS Bank bietet das breiteste nachhaltige Angebotsspektrum: von Girokonto über Finanzierungen, Beteiligungen, Wertpapieren und Investmentfonds bis hin zu Möglichkeiten des Stiftens und Schenkens.
Zu ihren Kunden gehören Kleinanleger bis hin zu Einzelkunden, die ihr Millionen-Vermögen im zweistelligen Bereich nachhaltig verwalten lassen.

Pressekontakt: Christof Lützel, Pressesprecher/Leiter Öffentlichkeitsarbeit GLS Bank Christstr. 9, 44789 Bochum, Tel.: (0234) 57 97 178, Fax: (0234) 57 97 157 http://www.gls.de

18 December 2009 - GLS Bank eröffnet Solarpark Ronneburg I

GLS Bank und Bosch Solar Energy AG eröffnen gemeinsam neue Solarkraftwerke in Thüringen und Sachsen. Einer der Solarparks befindet sich auf einem ehemaligen Uranabbaugebiet und ging heute ans Netz.

Bochum, 18.12.2009: Im ostthüringischen Ronneburg wurde heute das Solarkraftwerk Ronneburg I feierlich eröffnet. Das
4,5 Megawatt-Photovoltaik-Projekt befindet sich auf dem Betriebsgelände eines ehemaligen Uranabbaugebiets. Bis 1990 hatte die Sowjetisch-Deutsche Aktiengesellschaft Wismut hier Uranerz vor allem für die Atomwaffenproduktion der Sowjetunion gefördert.
1991 wurde das Bundesunternehmen Wismut GmbH beauftragt, die ehemals bergbaulich genutzten Anlagen und Flächen stillzulegen und zu sanieren.

Andreas Neukirch, Vorstand der GLS Bank und GLS Energie AG, zeigte sich erfreut über den offiziellen Startschuss: "Seit 35 Jahren investieren wir in herausragende ökologische Projekte. Insbesondere in der ökologischen Wiedernutzbarmachung von Gebieten verfügen wir über große Erfahrungen. Das Projekt in Ronneburg zeigt, wie eine ruiniert geglaubte Fläche mit den richtigen Maßnahmen einer ökologisch nachhaltigen Nutzung zugeführt werden kann."

Rund 50.000 amorphe und mikromorphe Dünnschicht-Solarmodule von Bosch Solar Energy erzeugen auf einer Fläche von rund 26 Hektar zirka 4.023.000 kWh Solarstrom im Jahr. Dies entspricht einer CO2-Einsparung von rund 2.700 Tonnen im Jahr. Etwa 1.200 Vier-Personen-Haushalte können jährlich mit der erzeugten Energie versorgt werden. Grundstücksbesitzer und Betreiber des Solarparks ist die GLS Bank. Die Bosch Solar Energy AG trat als Generalübernehmer für die Errichtung des Solarparks von der Planung bis hin zur schlüsselfertigen Übergabe auf und lieferte die in dem Park verbauten Dünnschicht-Solarmodule.

Gleichzeitig mit dem Solarpark Ronneburg I wurden heute zwei weitere Photovoltaikkraftwerke eingeweiht. Mit insgesamt knapp 4,5 Megawatt Leistung gehen im Erfurter Güterverkehrzentrum und im sächsischen Fraureuth gemeinsam errichtete Solarparks ans Netz. "Zusammen mit der GLS Bank haben wir in Ronneburg, Erfurt und Fraureuth innerhalb von kürzester Zeit drei Solarkraftwerke erfolgreich auf den Weg gebracht.
Dies ist für uns ein wichtiger Schritt zum Ausbau unseres Projektgeschäftes und eine hervorragende Ausgangsbasis für die Realisierung möglicher weiterer gemeinsamer Projekte im kommenden Jahr", sagte Peter Schneidewind, Vertriebsvorstand der Bosch Solar Energy AG.

Über die GLS Bank
Die GLS Bank finanziert seit ihrer Gründung 1974 ausschließlich ökologische, soziale und kulturelle Unternehmen und Projekte. In der Finanzierung regenerativer Energien verfügt die Bank über langjährige Erfahrung. Bereits 1991 platzierte die GLS Bank den ersten Windkraftfonds in Deutschland.

Die GLS Energie AG gehört als 100-prozentige Tochter zur GLS Bank und baut und betreibt ausschließlich Erneuerbare-Energie-Kraftwerke.
Mehr Informationen unter http://www.gls.de

04 December 2009 - CHARITY BANK EARNS DOUBLE INNOVATION AWARDS

The sector’s specialist bank received two major awards for its innovation last night at the Financial Innovation Awards.

Charity Bank, which was shortlisted in three categories of the awards run by the Institute of Financial Services (ifs) and now in its 12th year, won the judges’ praise for most effective partnerships strategy for its work with regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and most innovative customer experience programme for its Different Journeys initiative.

It was also nominated for most promising new product for its Charity ISA.

Of the first award the judges said: “Charity Bank’s pioneering partnership with Yorkshire Forward, the region’s development agency, creates a new model for financing community projects and charities so that much needed services can be offered to marginalised communities.”

Of the second award the judges said: “An excellent project – bringing trust and responsibility back to banking” and “a niche bank but very important in the charity field. Customer experiences are not like run-of-the-mill banks so I found it fascinating what has been achieved.”

Picking up the award at the ceremony, hosted by Sky Sports broadcaster and journalist Georgie Thompson, Charity Bank’s chief executive Malcolm Hayday said:
“We are honoured to have this recognition of our work and it’s a testimony to the passion and commitment of the team. They want to make a difference, by making a creative use of people’s savings, in order to help charities and social enterprises deliver the best service they can to our communities.”

For more information about Charity Bank’s work, visit www.charitybank.org.

Charity Bank depositors visiting Charity Bank borrower Discovery Sailing Project on one of our Different Journeys days

18 November 2009 - LIVERPOOL AND SEFTON COMMUNITIES SET TO BENEFIT FROM £5M INVESTMENT FUND

Charity Bank announces partnership with Liverpool Vision

Liverpool savers and investors are being urged to back an exciting new initiative – creating a £5m investment fund to help regenerate one of the most deprived parts of the city.

Liverpool Vision, the city’s Economic Development Company, has teamed up with Charity Bank to support social enterprises in Liverpool and Sefton, via a guaranteed savings fund for private investors, businesses and wealth funds.

Money deposited in the new Liverpool Sefton Social Investment Bond will be invested in organisations working in North Liverpool and South Sefton in ways that will help give the area a new economic future while delivering quality public services meeting community needs.

The area, which is made up of six of the most deprived wards in the country, lags behind other parts of Liverpool that are seeing economic growth. Business start-up and survival rates are well below those elsewhere in the city, and the UK average.
Liverpool Vision’s Director of investment and enterprise, Mike Taylor, says: “We know from talking to businesses in this area that one of the main barriers to starting up a business, and to business growth, is lack of available finance. It is clearly proving difficult to attract new investment, making the challenge of regeneration an even tougher task.
“The problem needs a creative solution and we’re confident we’ve found that in the new Bond, which will encourage social investment – an alternative form of philanthropy, in that people don’t have to give their money away to support good causes.”

The money raised by the Bond, from Charity Bank, will be used to offer loan finance from £50,000 to £2 million to social enterprises and other community organisations in North Liverpool and South Sefton that are creating jobs and bringing economic investment, regeneration and development to the area.

Mr Taylor, who will be at the official launch of the Bond tomorrow night [19 November] at the Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards, added: “I’m confident that businesses, charities and private individuals alike will get behind this innovative initiative to bring investment to the communities in Liverpool and Sefton that most need it.”

The Chief Executive of Charity Bank, Malcolm Hayday, said: “We’re looking forward to working with social enterprises in their mission to transform the future of communities in Liverpool and Sefton but we need the support of depositors to do that. The Bond offers savers a safe, secure and transparent way to support their local community without having to give their money away.

“It’s a great alternative for those who, in this economic climate, might be struggling to sustain their support for charity, because we can use their savings to fund these vital projects, and then they can get their money back when they want it. And unlike a donation which once spent, is gone, we can lend the money out again and again while it remains with us.”

Part of the Charities Aid Foundation family, Charity Bank, which is a charity and a regulated bank, started life in 2002 and its balance sheet is now approaching £60 million. It has committed nearly £100 million to a range of community activities including sustainable development, health and social care and education and training projects.

Individuals or organisations interested in finding out more details about the Bond or loan service can contact Charity Bank’s North West-based Regional Director, Simon Thorrington at sthorrington(at)charitybank.org. Alternatively ring 01732 774040, email enquiries(at)charitybank.org or visit www.charitybank.org.

Charity Bank is the only regulated bank that is also a registered general charity Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). A member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Also regulated by the Charity Commission as a registered charity and part of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) family.

Liverpool Vision is the city’s economic development company which integrates economic and physical development and business and enterprise support designed to accelerate the city’s growth and build a sustainable economy.

StepClever is a private sector driven partnership, working alongside Liverpool City Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council and the community and voluntary sector. StepClever aims to generate an enterprise culture in four wards in Liverpool: Everton, Anfield, Kirkdale and County and two in Sefton: Derby and Linacre, by offering business advice and support, as well as grants and other financial assistance for existing enterprises and start up companies.

21 October 2009 - NEW WELSH COMMUNITY BOND SET TO SUPPORT CHARITY SECTOR IN WALES

Launch backed by Welsh Assembly Government Finance Chief

A NEW ethical savings account was launched in Cardiff last night with the aim of supporting Welsh charities and social enterprises at a critical time.
Guest of honour at the reception to launch the Welsh Community Bond was Andrew Davies AM, the Welsh Assembly Government’s Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery.
The idea behind the Bond is to increase the available funds for lending to Welsh charities and social enterprises, at a time when they face the prospects of a slow down in their public grant funding and a decline in income from legacies and donations.

The Bond is being offered by Charity Bank, which uses its depositors’ funds solely to provide affordable loan finance and support to charitable organisations doing vital work in communities in Wales and across the UK and beyond.
Commenting at the launch, Andrew Davies AM said “Earlier this year I called on public service providers to identify smart, innovative ways of working, as well as new ways of creating wider access to capital, such as a Citizen’s Bank. The Welsh Community Bond is exactly the sort of thing I had in mind.
One of the attractions of the Bond is that it is invested in local community organisations, so people know their money is being used to make a difference. I hope the people of Wales get behind it and we can make it the success it deserves.”

Charity Bank started life back in 2002 and has grown year on year with its balance sheet now standing in excess of £60 million. Since its launch, it has invested in a range of Welsh activities including the arts, sustainable development and re-cycling, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and faith projects.
Added Malcolm Hayday, Chief Executive of Charity Bank: “We’re delighted to be able to offer Welsh savers a safe, secure and transparent way to use their money to support the country’s charitable sector.
At a time when the availability of capital from traditional banks is tight, and in birthplace of the founder of the co-operative movement, Robert Owen, it seems fitting that Charity Bank, with its ambitions to redress injustice through social investment, should be helping to meet the funding needs of Welsh community organisations.”

For further information on the Welsh Community Bond please contact Charity Bank on 01732 774040, email enquiries(at)charitybank.org or visit www.charitybank.org.

Charity Bank is:
The only regulated bank that is also a registered general charity Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). A member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Also regulated by the Charity Commission as a registered charity Part of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) family.

Welsh Media Contacts: Ian Courtney, Regional Director, Wales, Charity Bank, 35, The Balcony, Castle Arcade, CARDIFF CF10 1BX. Email; icourtney@charitybank.org Mobile: 07774 267058

Bochum 19.10.2009 - Meeting of European sustainable banks

The German GLS Bank recently invited the Banking Group of the INAISE network to a meeting in Frankfurt. Guest speaker was Jakob von Uexküll, founder of the World Future Council and sponsor of the Right Livelihood Award – also known as the Alternative Nobel Price.

GLS Bank continues to promote the network of European sustainable banks. At the end of September, the Banking Group of INAISE (International Association of Investors in the Social Economy) met at the GLS office in Frankfurt.
The topics discussed during the meeting ranged from the role and task of banks in general through the prevention of financial bubbles and a responsible approach to customer service to the necessary conditions for a sustainable financial market.

”Currently the G20 summit is looking for sustainable regulations to stabilize the markets in future. Already now sustainable banks offer progressive business models that could serve as best practice examples,” remarked Andreas Neukirch, managing director of GLS Bank. Social and ecological banks have registered an enormous rise in demand since the outbreak of the crisis. Assigning money to a social and ecological use is clearly gaining increasing importance in investment decisions. Correspondingly GLS Bank announced growth of 27.4% in 2008, a positive trend which is continuing in 2009. However, the members of the Banking Group face different levels of enthusiasm in the European countries when it comes to modifying the regulatory framework. There appears to be a widespread acceptance of both the rule “too big to fail” and “too small to save”.

Guest speaker Jakob von Uexküll warned of seeing the financial crisis as the biggest threat. On the contrary, the growing speed of climate change and the finite nature of fossil fuels would cause a massive collapse in property and financial values. Hence there should be no reliance on the self-regulation of the market but a clear political framework had to be set, according to von Uexküll, that prevented financial bubbles and oriented the market in the direction of social and ecological sustainability. Economic and financial principles had to be subordinated to social and ecological obligations, he said, never the other way around.

For the last five years, the members of World Future Council have been working for climate protection, human rights and the future of the global financial system. The 50 international experts from five continents have a background in politics, economics, science and culture.

Members of the Banking Group

• Banca Etica, Italien, http://www.bancaetica.com
• The Charity Bank Limited, Großbritanien, http://www.charitybank.org
• Cultura Bank, Norwegen, http://www.cultura.no
• Ecology Building Society, Großbritanien, http://www.ecology.co.uk
• Ekobanken, Schweden, http://www.ekobanken.se
• GLS Bank, Deutschland, http://www.gls.de
• Merkur Cooperative Bank, Dänemark, http://www.merkurbank.dk
• Triodos Bank, Niederlande, http://www.triodos.com

Press Contact: Christof Lützel, Press Spokesman/Head of Public Relations, GLS Bank, Christstr. 9, 44789 Bochum, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)234 57 97 178, Fax: +49 (0)234 57 97 157, Mobil: +49 (0)173 2 78 69 63

Treffen europäischer Nachhaltigkeitsbanken - Bochum, 19.10.2009

Die GLS Bank lädt die Banking Group des europäischen Bündnisses INAISE nach Frankfurt ein. Jakob von Uexküll, Gründer des World Future Council und Stifter des Alternativen Nobelpreises, ist zu Gast.

Die GLS Bank engagiert sich weiter für die Ver- netzung europäischer Alternativbanken. In der GLS Bank-Filiale Frankfurt traf sich Ende September die Banking Group von INAISE (International Association of Investors in the Social Economy), um über die Rolle und Aufgaben von Banken, die Vorbeugung vor Finanzblasen, eine verantwortungs- volle Kundenberatung und den Rahmenbedingungen für einen nachhaltigeren Finanzmarkt zu diskutieren.

"Der G20-Gipfel sucht derzeit nach zukunftsfähigen und stabilisierenden Regularien. Die Alternativbanken bieten bereits jetzt als best-practice- Beispiele Ansätze für eine fortschrittliche Bankarbeit", so GLS Bank Vorstand Andreas Neukirch. Die sozial-ökologischen Banken verzeichnen einen enormen Zulauf seit Ausbruch der Krise. Die Geldanleger sind wesentlich bewusster bei ihrer Entscheidung der Geldverwendung. So meldete die GLS Bank Ende 2008 ein Wachstum von 27,4, dieser Trend setzt sich ungebrochen auch 2009 fort. Die Banken sehen sich aber in den verschiedenen europäischen Ländern sehr unterschiedlichem regulatorischem Eifer ausgesetzt, der scheinbar "too big to fail" akzeptiert, aber auch "too small to safe" hinnimmt.

Gastredner Jakob von Uexküll warnte davor, die Finanzkrise als die größte Gefahr anzusehen. Vielmehr würden der beschleunigte Klimawandel und die Endlichkeit fossiler Ressourcen Uexküll zufolge einen massiven Kollaps von Eigentums- und Vermögenswerten verursachen. Daher dürfe man sich nicht auf die Selbstregulierung des Markts verlassen, sondern müsse klare
politische Rahmenbedingungen schaffen, die künftige Finanzblasen ver- hindern und den Markt auf soziale und ökologische Nachhaltigkeit ausrichten. Es sei essentiell, ökonomische und finanzwirtschaftliche Grundsätze den sozialen und ökologischen Verpflichtungen unterzuordnen und nicht umgekehrt.

Bereits seit fünf Jahren engagieren sich die Mitglieder des World Future Council für Klimaschutz, Menschenrechte oder die Zukunft des globalen Finanz- systems. Die 50 internationalen Experten und Expertinnen kommen aus fünf Kontinenten und stammen aus Politik, Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Kultur.

Mitglieder der Banking Group:

• Banca Etica, Italien, http://www.bancaetica.com
• The Charity Bank Limited, Großbritanien, http://www.charitybank.org
• Cultura Bank, Norwegen, http://www.cultura.no
• Ecology Building Society, Großbritanien, http://www.ecology.co.uk
• Ekobanken, Schweden, http://www.ekobanken.se
• GLS Bank, Deutschland, http://www.gls.de
• Merkur Cooperative Bank, Dänemark, http://www.merkurbank.dk
• Triodos Bank, Niederlande, http://www.triodos.com

Pressekontakt: Christof Lützel, Pressesprecher/Leiter Öffentlichkeitsarbeitn, GLS Bank, Christstr. 9, 44789 Bochum
Tel.: (0234) 57 97 178 Fax: (0234) 57 97 157 http://www.gls.de

Amersfoort, 13 October 2009 - Oikocredit announces results of social audit - Pushing the frontiers for a social audit of investors,
How to measure the economic performance and social progress of our economies? The debate on the macro economic indicators is animated since the latest report of the commission headed by the Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz. On a micro level, tools and indicators are now in the process of being developed and tested. Today, Oikocredit, a leading private investor in microfinance, has released the results of its social audit, the first audit of its kind. Does Oikocredit really fulfil its social mission and maintain its values?

Click here to get  the entire press release. For background information, please visit Oikocredit website .

Contact: Juliette de Voogd, Corporate Communication officer Oikocredit
P.O. Box 2136 | 3800 CC Amersfoort | Berkenweg 7 | 3818 LA Amersfoort | The Netherlands
T +31 33 422 40 50 | jdevoogd@oikocredit.org | www.oikocredit.org

25 September 2009 - The World’s Leading Sustainable Banks Announce Major New Commitment - Global Alliance for Banking on Values commit to support $2 billion lending expansion

A new network of growing, crisis-resistant, sustainable banks has announced an ambitious commitment to support the expansion of $2 billion in lending to underserved communities and green projects around the world.

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values made the announcement at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York this month. The independent network of eleven of the world’s leading sustainable banks - who serve over 7 million customers, in 20 countries, with a combined balance sheet of over $14 billion - was launched earlier this year in the Netherlands. According to its Chair, it already has concrete proposals to start making a major impact.

“We commit, over three years, to assist our members and other sustainable finance institutions to secure $250 million in additional capital,” says Peter Blom, CEO of Dutch ethical bank, Triodos, and Chair of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. “This capital will lead to $2 billion in new lending. At a time when the global financial system is struggling to lend, our members and other genuinely sustainable banks will benefit millions of borrowers - from individual entrepreneurs in Asia, Africa and South America, to pioneering new green projects in North America and Europe.”

“Sustainable banks will need to raise capital to continue to build on their considerable achievements and deliver on their huge potential,” says Mary Houghton, President of the ShoreBank Corporation. “The commitment we are announcing today demonstrates just how powerful this opportunity is. We are determined to take it.”

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values United States launch, took place at the Clinton Global Initiative’s Annual Meeting on Friday 25 September. The banks in the Alliance range from ShoreBank Corporation, the first community development and environmental bank holding company in the U.S., based in Chicago, to BRAC Bank - part of the BRAC Group, the world’s largest microfinance institution - and Triodos Bank, Europe’s leading sustainable bank and this year’s winner of the Financial Times Sustainable Bank of the Year Award.

The new partnership plans to develop new ways of working, build organizations better suited to long-term sustainable thinking, and new forms of ownership and economic cooperation. And, given the financial crisis, and its profound and lasting influence, the new Alliance believes its timing is crucial.

According to Fazle Hasan Abed, Founder and Chairperson of BRAC, “If we are to tackle the global problems we face, we are going to need international action to do it. We believe these banks have the potential to change the architecture of the financial world, and start delivering lasting solutions for unserved and underserved communities and sectors.”

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values is a group of banks using finance to build a more sustainable future for the environment and un(der)served people and sectors.

For interviews with Peter Blom, Chair of the network, and CEO of Triodos Bank, Mary Houghton, President and Director of ShoreBank Corp or Fazle Hasan Abed, Founder and Chairman of BRAC, please contact James Niven on 00 44 (0)7887 641 960 or e-mail james.niven@triodos.co.uk.

The members of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values are:

• Alternative Bank ABS, Switzerland, www.abs.ch
• Banca Popolare Etica, Italy, www.bancaetica.com
• Banex, Banco del Exito, Nicaragua, www.banex.com
• BRAC Bank and BRAC Microfinance Programme, Bangladesh, www.brac.net and www.bracbank.com
• GLS Bank, Germany, www.gls.de
• Merkur Bank, Denmark, www.merkurbank.dk
• Mibanco, Banco de la Microempresa, Peru, www.mibanco.com.pe
• New Resource Bank, United States, www.newresourcebank.com
• ShoreBank Corporation, United States, www.shorebankcorp.com
• Triodos Bank, The Netherlands, www.triodos.com
• XacBank, Mongolia, www.xacbank.com

To qualify for membership, each institution has to meet three criteria:

• They are independent and licensed banks with a focus on retail customers;
• with a minimum balance sheet of $100 million
• and, most significantly, they should be committed to responsible financing and the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit.

Français

Paris, Brussels and Washington DC: 21 September, 2009

On the occasion of the G20 summit in Pittsburgh on 24 and 25 September, The International Association of Investors in the Social Economy (INAISE), and the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA), joined by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and the Global Coalition for Responsible Credit (GCRC), demand that the G-20 governments consult with the institutions of social finance and community reinvestment to reform the financial system. They propose 12 measures to ensure that the countries members of G-20 commit immediately to the creation of a new financial system, effective, socially useful and inclusive.
Do we need a Shadow G20 in order to be heard?

The 12 proposals are based on the tested methods and practices of financial institutions members of the four Federations, and founded in research from NCRC and others. Some have already been implemented by G-20 nations. If carried out by all G-20 countries, our proposals would put in place an “international duty to exercise responsibility”. Financial services providers and all related firms would be required to follow clear principles of responsibility and to have transparent mechanisms in place to enable citizen oversight, in order to ensure that these principles guide behavior in practice. Remuneration policies within the financial sector would be reshaped in the light of this goal. This affirmative obligation would include the obligation for financial firms properly to consider financial inclusion and the social and environmental impacts of their actions – and their inactions - on all neighborhoods and households, including those on rural, low income and minority communities and territories when designing and offering financial products and services, consistent with safety and soundness. Our proposals would create stronger regulators to enforce uniform regulations in each G-20 country.

Information on INAISE, FEBEA, NCRC and GCRC is provided at the end of this release.

12 proposals for real reform of the world financial system
Proposal 1: Regulators in each G-20 country should now require that banks and bank holding companies and their holdings demonstrate that their speculative financial activities are legally and financially fully separated from commercial banking activities and that they are fully supported by adequate, dedicated capital reserves. G-20 fiscal authorities should tax revenues from speculative financial activities at rates higher than those levied on commercial bank activities.

Proposition 2: Excess executive remuneration has promoted irresponsible behavior along the entire chain of financial services production and delivery, leading to risk-taking, misrepresentation and fraud that continues to damage local and national economies.
Furthermore, over-remuneration in the financial services sector distorts employment markets, weakening long-term growth by luring many of the brightest young people away from research and production. G-20 governments should cap aggregate financial services compensation at levels comparable to that practiced in a basket of other industries.

Proposal 3: The lack of standardization, documentation and comparability among financial products weakens regulatory enforcement while it increases bank regulatory cost. It hinders truthful pricing of risk and enables fraud. Regulators must insist that all retail and marketstraded financial products be standardized and documented by their producers, to ensure full traceability of the chain of production. Agencies which rate and label financial products and
institutions and their subcontractors should be licensed and their fees covered by taxes on financial services.

Proposal 4: Purely speculative financial transactions produce no sustainable value for communities, regions and countries, yet generate massive risks for them. G-20 countries should implement an international tax on speculative financial transactions. Proceeds should be used to finance oversight of systemic risk and to support economic development in less developed countries.

Proposal 5: All bank and other retail financial service executives, experts, agents, products and services should comply with a rule of “do no harm” to their clients’ interests. And as is currently required under the European Union’s Marketing and Financial Institutions Decree of 2004 (MiFID), distributors of retail financial services products should be required to identify all retail and small business clients according their level of financial literacy, and be held to
enforceable fiduciary responsibilities, specific to each level.

Proposal 6 : Retail financial products are not covered by rules of traceability and quality that are standard for most products (food, pharmaceutical products, etc,.). G-20 Regulators should be required to ensure that all financial institutions adhere to an affirmative obligation to guarantee the traceability of fiduciary engagement and document the risk of all financial products they handle as producers, (re)sellers or buyers. Regulators should enforce penalties
for violation of these standards with an obligation to make the client whole.

Proposal 7: Financial exclusion and discrimination in the access to credit weakens the economies of G-20 countries, and leads to disinvestment. As is currently the case with the US Community Reinvestment Act (credit & investment) and the French Code of Financial Institutions (bank accounts), G-20 regulators should be required to hold all financial institutions to an affirmative obligation to serve the financial services needs of all communities and territories, consistent with safety and soundness.

Proposal 8: Statistical oversight of all financial institutions is necessary to ensure that each equally respects its service obligations directly as well as through subsidiaries and holdings. To this end G-20 regulators should require financial institutions to publish annual data on their production, as is already the case in the United States under the Home Mortgage Data Act. This data should cover all territories served in any fashion by a financial institution, and enable the disclosure of discrimination in the quality, price and availability of products and services.

Proposal 9: G-20 governments should require public representatives to sit on the board of financial institutions in which there is a public investment, guarantee, deposit or a loan.

Proposal 10: All G-20 Regulators should be required to take into account the statements, complaints and requests of individuals, community groups, local elected officials and consumer organizations. Regulators should reply with fully documented responses in a timely fashion.

Proposal 11: Access to affordable, appropriate financial services including credit are a fundamental condition of economic citizenship in modern society. It is a right which imposes a duty to service on all financial institutions. In addition, G-20 regulators should develop that right by encouraging the development of credit unions, bank and non-bank social finance and community development organizations, micro-credit organizations and cooperatives. This
should include favorable tax treatment.

Proposal 12: Capital markets have weakened competition by creating international banking conglomerates. Their size alone presents a systemic risk to the international economy. This trend hinders the creation of a diverse, resilient financial system. It should be countered by regulation, by taxation and by affirmative policy. G-20 regulators should test any proposed new regulation of finance by whether it increases the variety of financial service providers
while ensuring safety and soundness. Current “one size fits all” capital standards and accounting rules in IFRS and Basel II are inappropriate and should be adapted to meet the safety and soundness needs of diverse institutions. Finally, banks that generate high systemic risks should apply higher solvency ratios in order to meet the higher risk incurred by governments responsible for their supervision.

Communiqué de presse

Paris, Bruxelles et Washington DC, le 21 septembre 2009

A la veille du sommet du G20 de Pittsburgh (24-25 septembre 2009), l’Association Internationale des Investisseurs dans l’Economie Sociale (INAISE), la Fédération Européenne des Banques Ethiques et Alternatives (FEBEA), avec la National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) alliée à la Global Coalition for Responsible Credit (GCRC) s’unissent pour demander aux gouvernements du G20 d’associer les acteurs de l’économie solidaire aux réformes du système financier. Elles présentent 12 mesures pour que les pays du G20 s’engagent immédiatement dans la création d’un nouveau système financier efficace, socialement utile et solidaire.
Faut-il un G20 bis pour être entendu ?

A l’heure où les grandes institutions financières subissent de plein fouet une crise qu’elles ont contribué à créer, les financeurs solidaires affichent une croissance positive due à la confiance qu’ils inspirent. A elles seules, les banques réglementées du réseau INAISE présentent un total de bilan de plus de 10 milliards d’euros en 2009, et connaissent une croissance annuelle de 30% depuis le début de la crise. A l’écart des soubresauts financiers, leurs activités de crédit et d’investissement sont restées rentables. Ces résultats confirment la pertinence de notre modèle de gestion prudente, tournée vers le long terme. Ils confortent nos choix historiques d’investissement dans des marchés innovants (énergies renouvelables, éco-industrie, éco-habitat, agriculture durable, commerce équitable) et donnent raison à notre conception d’une finance utile au service du développement des territoires, des populations défavorisées, de la culture et de la création d’entreprises.
Au total, l’économie solidaire crée environ 10% de l’emploi au Etats-Unis et en Europe.
« Cela nous impose un devoir de vigilance sur les règles qui assurent la sécurité et la crédibilité des banques et des autres institutions financières » souligne Marcel Hipszman, Président du réseau INAISE. Nos 12 propositions s’appuient sur des méthodes et des pratiques mises en place par les membres de nos fédérations ; certaines de ces propositions ont déjà été adoptées par des Etats membres du G20. Elles visent à instaurer dans tous les pays membres une obligation d’assurer toute prestation financière selon les principes d’une finance responsable. Elles visent également à mettre en place un système de contrôle réellement effectif sur toute la chaîne des prestations financières en y associant également les usagers. Elles rappellent la nécessité de limiter et d’encadrer les rémunérations. Nos propositions visent enfin à s’assurer que chaque institution financière serve tous les publics sur tous les territoires et prenne en compte les impacts sociaux et environnementaux. Elles ont pour pivot la mise en place d’une régulation renforcée et commune aux pays du G-20.


12 propositions pour une vraie réforme du système financier mondial

Proposition 1: Les instances de régulation de chaque membre du G20 doivent exiger des banques et de leurs holdings de démontrer que leurs activités financières spéculatives sont légalement et financièrement séparées de leurs activités bancaires commerciales, et qu’elles sont entièrement alimentées par des ressources financières dédiées. Les autorités fiscales des membres du G20 devraient taxer les revenus des activités financières spéculatives à des taux supérieurs à ceux des activités bancaires commerciales.

Proposition 2 : La sur-rémunération pratiquée au sein du secteur financier est à l’origine de prises de risques inconsidérés, préjudiciables à l’économie et pouvant entraîner des actes délictueux. Elle est également la source d’une distorsion du marché de l’emploi nuisible à la croissance puisqu’elle détourne les jeunes diplômés des filières de recherche et de production. Nous proposons de plafonner les rémunérations du secteur à un niveau comparable aux rémunérations des autres secteurs de l’économie.

Proposition 3 : Le manque de standardisation, d’information et de comparabilité entre les produits financiers complexifie la réglementation et entraîne l’augmentation du coût de régulation des banques. Il empêche une tarification juste du risque et favorise la fraude. En conséquence, les autorités de régulation doivent s’assurer que les produits proposés en agence, et sur les marchés, soient standardisés et documentés. Par ailleurs, les agences qui notent et labellisent les institutions et les produits financiers doivent être agréées et leur rémunération assurée par le biais d’une taxe sur les services financiers.

Proposition 4 : Les transactions financières purement spéculatives ne produisent pas de valeur pour l’économie réelle, et génèrent au contraire des risques majeurs. Nous approuvons la mise en place d’une taxe internationale sur les transactions financières spéculatives. Les recettes ainsi générées serviront au financement de la supervision du risque systémique, et au soutien du développement économique des pays du Sud.

Proposition 5 : Tous les professionnels, dirigeants, experts, agents du secteur bancaire doivent se conformer à une obligation de « ne pas nuire » aux intérêts de leurs clients. Comme prévu par la Directive de l’Union Européenne (MiFID – 2004), les prestataires de services financiers doivent être tenus de s’assurer du niveau de connaissance financière de tous les clients, particuliers et PME, et de respecter des règles de responsabilité en fonction de ce niveau de connaissance. En ce sens un effort de démocratisation des connaissances en la matière doit être conduit.

Proposition 6 : Les produits financiers échappent encore aux règles de traçabilité aujourd’hui en vigueur sur la plupart des produits (alimentaire, chimie…) . Leur traçabilité doit être garantie par l’obligation faite aux institutions financières de documenter le risque encouru pour tous les produits financiers qu’ils produisent, gèrent ou commercialisent. Les instances de régulation doivent sanctionner la violation des règles en la matière et prévoir le dédommagement du client en cas d’infraction.

Proposition 7 : L’exclusion financière et la discrimination dans l’accès au crédit constituent un frein à l’activité économique, Les établissements financiers devraient être soumis à une obligation de service universel sur tout le territoire. Les instances de régulation, auront pour tache de vérifier que les établissements se conforment à cette obligation tout en garantissant la solidité et la sécurité de leur institution.

Proposition 8 : La supervision statistique de la performance des institutions financières est nécessaire pour assurer qu’elles respectent leurs obligations de services, aussi bien directement qu’au travers de leurs filiales ou holdings. A cet effet les institutions financières doivent publier des données annuelles standardisées sur leur production. Ces données doivent couvrir tous les territoires de façon à repérer les signes de discrimination dans la qualité, le prix et la disponibilité du produit/service.

Proposition 9 : Les gouvernements du G20 doivent exiger d’être représentés au conseil d’établissements financiers recevant un financement public (investissement en capital, garantie, prêt).

Proposition 10 : Les instances de régulation doivent traiter les déclarations, les plaintes et les requêtes des particuliers, des organisations de consommateurs et des élus locaux et y apporter une réponse circonstanciée.

Proposition 11 : Le droit à l’accès aux services financiers est une condition fondamentale de citoyenneté économique dans une société moderne. La mise en oeuvre de ce droit passe aussi par le développement de la finance sociale bancaire et non-bancaire : financeurs solidaires, coopératives d’épargne et de crédit, institutions de micro finance. Les obstacles à leur activité doivent être levés et un traitement fiscal favorable leur être accordé.

Proposition 12 : Les marchés de capitaux en favorisant la concentration ont encouragé la création de conglomérats bancaires internationaux et affaibli ou éliminé la concurrence des banques de dimension locale, au détriment des clients. Leur taille représente un risque systémique. Cette tendance entrave la création d’un système financier souple et diversifié. Elle doit être contrée par la régulation, la fiscalité et par des politiques volontaristes. Les régulateurs du G20 doivent en outre vérifier que la régulation favorise la diversité des prestataires de services financiers tout en garantissant leur solidité. Aujourd’hui l’imposition de normes comptables et de ratios prudentiels identiques (IFRS, Bâle II) ne tient pas suffisamment compte de la diversité des institutions. Ces normes doivent être adaptées à la diversité des acteurs financiers, sans faire obstacle au développement de leurs activités. Enfin les banques qui génèrent les risques systémiques élevés doivent répondre à des ratios de solvabilité qui correspondent au risque supporté en dernier ressort par les Etats responsables de leur supervision.

 

Contact presse : Marie de Fouchier +33 (0)6 08 46 37 20

Qui sommes nous ?

INAISE
Créée en 1989, l’Association Internationale des Investisseurs dans l’Economie Sociale(INAISE), est un réseau mondial de financeurs solidaires basé à Bruxelles regroupant plusieurs centaines de banques, organismes de microfinance, fonds de garantie et sociétés d’investissement en Europe, Amérique du Nord, Amérique du sud, Afrique, Asie du sud est et Australie. Les membres du réseau INAISE ont un savoir-faire particulier dans le financement des entreprises –notamment coopératives- et des associations dans les domaines des énergies renouvelables, du commerce équitable, de la culture, de la santé et des services sociaux. Les banques du réseau INAISE connaissent une croissance régulière. A fin 2008, leur total de bilan atteignait 10 milliards euros avec une croissance de 61% sur la période 2007-2008.
http://www.inaise.org

FEBEA
Créée en 2001, la Fédération Européenne des Banques Ethiques et Alternatives – FEBEA est une association basée à Bruxelles qui regroupe des institutions financières européennes issues de l’économie sociale et solidaire. La FEBEA compte 25 membres basés dans 11 pays de l’Union Européenne, et dans deux pays de l’AELE. Banques écologiques, banques coopératives, coopératives d’épargne et de crédit, sociétés financières, de capital risque, fondations, les établissements membres de la FEBEA sont divers par leur forme mais tous partagent le même souci de transparence et d’utilité sociale et environnementale. Ils totalisent ensemble près de 21 milliards d’euros de total de bilan et environ 528 000 clients et sociétaires. La FEBEA est un lieu d’échanges et de dialogue, de partage d’expériences et de bonnes pratiques. Ces échanges ont produit notamment la création d’outils innovants comme le fonds de garantie « Garantie Solidaire » et la société d’investissement européenne appelée SEFEA.
http://www.febea.org

NCRC
Fondée en 1990, la National Community Reinvestment Coalition – NCRC - est basée à Washington DC. Elle regroupe plus de 600 associations et organisations locales, fonds et entreprises sociales qui promeuvent l’accès universel aux services bancaires élémentaires (crédit, épargne) pour construire et entretenir le logement social, créer de l’emploi et développer la citoyenneté. NCRC dirige un fonds qui aide les ménages à risque. Son institut de formation offre une assistance technique et juridique aux associations membres. NCRC mène les partenariats locaux d’innovation dans la distribution de services financiers et sociaux.
http://www.ncrc.org

GCRC
La Global Coalition for Responsible Credit (GCRC) fédère des organisations locales installées dans 79 pays, dont le Brésil, le Mexique, la Colombie, l’Inde, le Banqladesh, l’Afrique du Sud, le Japon, l’Allemagne et le Royaume-Uni. Son but est de promouvoir des systèmes financiers équitables avec les produits, services et mode de rémunération respectueux des meilleurs standards et des bonnes pratiques. La GCRC a été créée en 2004 par le NCRC et ses partenaires internationaux grâce aux financements de la Fondation Ford, dans le cadre de l’Initiative internationale pour une banque équitable/GBFI.
 

28 August 2009 - Triodos Bank half-year figures 2009

• 13% growth in first half-year
• Operating profit up by 50%
• Capital raising this Autumn

During the first six months of 2009, Triodos Bank’s balance sheet total rose by more than 13% to €2.7 billion, at 30 June 2009. Growth during the same period last year was 8%. Read more.

Triodos Bank crece un 13% en el primer semestre de 2009

En España, el banco ha crecido un 23% durante el mismo periodo

El beneficio neto de Triodos Bank en el primer semestre de 2009 ha llegado a 5,7 millones de euros, frente a los 3,7 millones de euros en el mismo periodo de 2008. El resultado antes de impuestos a 30 de junio de 2009 ha aumentado un 50% con respecto al 30 de junio de 2008. A pesar de la crisis crediticia internacional, la cartera de préstamos de Triodos Bank ha aumentado un 12% en ese mismo periodo. El crecimiento en España en el primer semestre del año ha sido de un 23%. La cartera de préstamos ha aumentado un 16%, los fondos confiados al banco un 42% y el número de clientes ha crecido un 30%. Mas

21 July 2009 - Charity Bank announces positive mid year results


Charity Bank’s balance sheet has grown by 25 per cent this year and is now just shy of £60 million – 10 times bigger than when it launched in 2002.
The loans book now stands at over £31m with £11.65m loan finance already agreed this year.

Read more - Accédez au communiqué - Lea más

Banktrack members unveil banks' secrets - 26 June 2009

Six european organizations launch a revealing website: www.banksecrets.eu

Read more - Accédez au communiqué - Lea más

SETEM revela los secretos de los bancos

SETEM y otras cinco ONG europeas de la red internacional BankTrack denuncian en www.lossecretosdelosbancos.org las inversiones de trece bancos y entidades financieras, que apoyan proyectos que destruyen el medio ambiente, violan los derechos humanos y fabrican armas prohibidas.

Au grand jour, les secrets bancaires !

Crise ou pas crise, les banques continuent de financer des entreprises blacklistées qui soutiennent des dictateurs, provoquent des dégâts environnementaux irréparables ou produisent des armes totalement aveugles, telles que les bombes à sous-munitions.

Quelles banques ? Quels investissements ? C'est ce que vous découvrirez sur www.banksecrets.eu, une plate-forme créée dans la foulée des secrets bancaires mis au jour par Netwerk Vlaanderen en 2007.

5 June 2009 - Triodos Bank has won the Financial Times Sustainable Bank of the Year Award at the International Sustainable Banking Conference in London.

Triodos Bank has been awarded this prestigious prize for its leadership and innovation in integrating sustainability in all its activities. The awards are run by the Financial Times and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group.

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La Banque Triodos élue "Banque durable de l’année"

Bruxelles, le 5 juin 2009 – La Banque Triodos a été élue "Banque durable de l’année" à l’occasion de l’International Sustainable Banking Conference à Londres. Le prix a été décerné en raison du leadership dont la Banque Triodos fait preuve dans l’intégration de la durabilité dans toutes ses activités. Les FT Sustainable Banking Awards sont remis par un jury international réuni à l’initiative du Financial Times et de IFC, membre de la Banque Mondiale.

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Triodos Bank gana el Premio Banco Sostenible del Año

(Madrid, 5 de junio de 2009)-. Triodos Bank ha sido reconocido como el banco más sostenible del mundo durante la Conferencia Internacional de Banca Sostenible en Londres. El Premio Banco Sostenible del Año, que conceden Financial Times y la Corporación Financiera Internacional (IFC), reconoce a los bancos e instituciones financieras referentes e innovadores en la integración de aspectos sociales, medioambientales y de gobierno corporativo en su gestión. Triodos Bank ha superado a otros grandes bancos con presencia internacional que optaban a la misma categoría.

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10 June 2009 - Die GLS Bank legt weiter kräftig zu

Die GLS Bank trifft den Nerv der Zeit: Ihre sicheren, transparenten Bankangebote mit sozial-ökologischer Ausrichtung werden so stark nachgefragt wie nie. Allein in den letzten zwölf Monaten wuchs das Bilanzvolumen der Bank um über 35%. Zur diesjährigen Generalversammlung am 12. und 13. Juni in Bochum werden 600 Gäste aus ganz Deutschland erwartet.

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26 May 2009 - Year on year growth for the sector's bank

Charity Bank, the lender that supports charities and social enterprises, has announced an increase in both sides of its balance sheet.

Outlining its 2008 results at its AGM last week, Charity Bank revealed that loans to charities and community projects grew by 39% year on year, to £27.3m in 2008, and by 40% in the year to April 2009 - a six fold increase since December 2002.

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13 May 2009 - Financial Exclusion to be put on the map in Northern Ireland

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland joins forces with Charity Bank to lobby NI Assembly

Two third sector organisations aim to put the issue of financial exclusion on the political agenda of the Northern Ireland Assembly, by publishing the results of the first ever mapping exercise in the region.

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8 April 2009 - Financial exclusion: should it be tackled by the financial sector? Focused on the access to a basic bank account, the consultation was organised to collect arguments regarding the need to provide each European citizen or resident with a general access to banking services, and, if so, how it should be done. A coalition of 29 institutions, 5 researchers and 2 people professionally involved in this field co-signed a common response elaborated by Réseau Financement Alternatif (BE) Read more - Accédez au communiqué - Lea más

4 March 2009 - Eleven of the world's leading sustainable banks have created a new alliance to build a positive alternative to a global financial system in crisis.

The banks, which have assets of over $10 billion and serve over seven million customers in 20 countries, came together for the first time at a special meeting in the Netherlands from 2 - 4 March.

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values was launched at an event which included speeches from Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of The Netherlands, a former banker and former member of the United Nations Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors, and Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. The banks in the Alliance range from BRAC Bank - part of the BRAC Group, the world's largest microfinance institution - to ShoreBank, a community bank based in Chicago, and Triodos Bank, Europe's leading sustainable bank.

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Bochum 12 March 2009 - Gründung der “Global Alliance for Banking on Values“

Weltweit führende Alternativbanken schließen sich zu einem Bündnis zusammen und geben Hoffnung für eine positive Zukunft der Finanzmärkte.

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INAISE BANK WORKING GROUP  - December 2008 - European alternative banks suggests measures to re-establish financial sector

Press release of Merkur bank (Danish and English) - Ekobanken (Swedish) - Freie Gemainschaftsbank, Switzerland (German)

1er novembre 2008 : Les banques solidaires et la crise - La banque Triodos (Belgique) et la société financière Nef (France) sur France Culture, émission Terre à Terre. Cliquez ici pour accéder à l'émission.

La banque Merkur, membre d'Inaise au Danemark, fait l'objet d'un court reportage sur France 5. Cliquez ici pour accéder au reportage.

25 / 11 / 2008
Quels sont les effets de la crise financière sur Oikocredit ? Lire l'interview de Monsieur Tor G. Gull en entier.
¿Cómo afecta la crisis financiera a Oikocredit? Lea la entrevista completa con Tor G. Gull.
How is Oikocredit affected by the financial crisis? Read the full interview here.

22 October 2008 - Charity Bank offers assistance to charities caught up in Iceland's banking crisis

In the wake of the credit issues facing charities after the well-publicised problems with Iceland’s banks Charity Bank has contacted charity leaders this week to try and step into the breach.

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2 October 2008 - Our response to the financial crisis


2 October 2008 - Triodos Bank's CEO, Peter Blom, explains how the sustainable bank remains buoyant despite the international banking crisis.
"Triodos Bank is a fully independent bank and a pioneer of sustainable and transparent banking. Our mission is to make money work for positive social, environmental and cultural change. Triodos Bank is a solid bank, both in terms of our ethical approach to finance and also by widely recognised objective criteria. The strength of a bank can be determined by three key indicators: solvency, liquidity and the quality of assets. When all three are applied to Triodos Bank, they show there's no doubt that we are a healthy bank, able to serve our customers properly and well prepared for growth.

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Résultats semestriels 2008 de la Banque Triodos (Click here to access the press release in Dutch)

• La crise du crédit n’affecte pas la Banque Triodos
• 8 % de croissance au premier semestre 2008
• La Banque Triodos prend une participation dans une banque durable au Danemark

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Revue de presse du Sommet Mondial de la Finance Sociale et Solidaire, Québec 06/2008

Articles de presse :

• Les Affaires 14 juin 2008 : Riccardo Petrella dénonce la marchandisation des ressources et la financiarisation de l'économie.
• Canoé 7 juin 2008 : 160 institutions financières sociales de 42 pays s’associent
• Le Soleil, 5 juin 2008 : Le système financier actuel est insoutenable
• La Presse Affaires 5 juin 2008 : Entrevue avec Giovanni Acquati et Clément Guimond - Sommet Inaise
• Radio canada, Nouvelles 4 juin 2008 : Montréal et Québec sont les hôtes jusqu'à vendredi du premier Sommet mondial de la finance sociale et solidaire. ()
• Le Devoir, Economie, 3 juin 2008 : La finance sociale mondiale se réunit à Québec
• Communiqué de presse de Cecosol, 29 mai : Premier Sommet mondial de la finance sociale et solidaire