Ethical Consumer Best Buy

Charity Bank has been awarded the Ethical Consumer Best Buy label for our savings accounts and is ranked top among banks and building societies for having the most ethical savings accounts. The Ethical Consumer Best Buy label is awarded for products and services with excellent environmental and ethical records. Their researchers rate both the product and the company behind the product against more than 20 animal welfare, environmental and human rights criteria.

Investors in the Environment (iiE)

The Investors in the Environment (iiE) certification scheme is an environmental management system designed to support organisations that want to make a positive impact on the planet. The national environmental accreditation scheme is designed to support organisations on their sustainability journey and helps businesses to reduce their environmental impact. Charity Bank has successfully met the criteria of the iiE’s Silver Level which involved meeting specific criteria related to energy efficiency, waste management, water usage and other environmental considerations.

B-Corp

B Corps are companies where the interests of employees, communities and the environment rank alongside those of shareholders. B Corps meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. In October 2019, Charity Bank was 1 of 56 UK B Corps to be recognised as Best For The World – for creating exceptional positive impact for workers, the environment, community, customers, governance, and changemakers. In 2023, Charity Bank refreshed its certification and was accredited with an increased B-Corp score of an impressive 134.4.

Good Shopping Guide Ethical Company

The Ethical Company Organisation’s researchers monitor the ethics of companies across a wide range of sectors and set a benchmark for corporate behaviour. Banks and building societies are rated on their social and environmental performance. The results are published on The Good Shopping Guide. Charity Bank has been awarded the top spot in the index of ethical banks and building societies for 15 years running.

Living Wage Employer

The Living Wage is an hourly rate of pay which is calculated against the cost of living in the UK. It is monitored independently by the Living Wage Foundation and updated annually so that employees can benefit from pay levels that reflect the true cost of living. Charity Bank became a Living Wage Employer in July 2014. Charity Bank also seeks to work with Living Wage suppliers and encourages those it works with to become accredited.

Responsible Finance Provider

Charity Bank is a member of the Responsible Finance Association, providing affordable and fair finance with a mission to do good. Responsible Finance providers aim to build hope, create opportunity and change lives. They are motivated by the aim to bring social and economic benefits to people and places, rather than putting profits for shareholders ahead of all else.

Social Enterprise UK

Social Enterprise UK awards badges to independent businesses with a clear social or environmental mission and a policy of transparency about how they operate and the impact they have. Charity Bank is the only bank to be certified as a social enterprise. Social Enterprise UK’s expectations of social enterprises are as follows:

• a clear social or environmental mission set out in its governing documents
• be an independent business and earn more than half of your income through trading
• controlled or owned in the interests of your social mission
• reinvest or give away at least half your profits or surpluses towards social purpose
• transparent about how you operate and the impact that you have

Global Alliance for Banking on Values

Charity Bank is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values which is a not-for-profit organisation and independent network of banks and banking cooperatives. We share a mission to use finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development. Founded in 2009, the GABV comprises of 63 members and 16 supporting partners operating in countries across Asia, Africa, Australia, South and North America and Europe.

Fossil Free Alliance

Charity Bank is a certified member of the Fossil Free Alliance and has been highlighted as Top Pick' for being one of the Greenest Banks in the UK. The Fossil Free Alliance is a global network of organisations, communities, and individuals committed to divesting from fossil fuels and promoting a transition to renewable energy sources. Together with other member organisations, Charity Bank is advocating for divestment from fossil fuel industries, encourage investment in renewable energy alternatives, and raising awareness about the environmental and social impacts of fossil fuel extraction and consumption.

Social Enterprise Scotland Supporter

Charity Bank is an official supporter of Social Enterprise Scotland, a representative and membership-led organisation that has united and represented social enterprises in Scotland for more than 15 years. We share in Social Enterprise Scotland’s mission to support social enterprise growth and development and join their community of over 500 social enterprises and supporters.