Finding a bank that more respects the environment and certain ethical and social criteria and whose one and only goal is not "Maximum Profit" is possible in 2008 ... provided you choose well! To help you, a free guide has just been published.
Indeed; Friends of the Earth publish version 2008-2009 of their eco-citizen guide « Environment: how to choose my bank? In partnership with the CLCV.
The association has analyzed the environmental and social impacts of the various activities of the major French banks in order to inform citizens of the use made of the money they entrust to their bank, and to push them to change their practices. The guide reveals in its rankings three distinct groups of banks: Nef and Crédit Coopératif with positive impacts, Banque Postale, Banque Populaire, Caisse d'Epargne and Crédit Mutuel-CIC with low to moderate risks, and Crédit Agricole, Société Générale and BNP Paribas, which are the most risky and for which the Friends of the Earth formulate specific recommendations.
More:
- Download the guide: Environment: how to choose my bank?
- Changing banks, ethical and social criteria: France and Belgium
- The Friends of the Earth website