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It is easier than ever to switch to ethical banking, pensions, savings accounts, investments and insurance. Our detailed product guides and ratings help you to choose the best and avoid the worst. Plus features covering the ethical issues and positive alternatives in the financial sector.
Issues
The banking sector hasn't been short of negative press in recent years.Widespread tax avoidance, excessive directors' pay, investments in fossil fuels and nuclear weapons, are just some issues campaigners have targeted mainstream banks for:
- What makes banks unethical?
- Banks, climate change and the environmental crisis
- Banks profiting from the arms trade
- Banking sector and the pay gap for women and ethnic minorities
- High pay in the financial sector
- Banks’ historical links to the slave trade
- Banks and human rights abuses
- Banks and tax avoidance
- Banks and animal exploitation
- Auto enrolment pensions - are they ethical?
- Banking sector and calls for transparency
Ethical Finance
There are a number of institutions that offer sound ethical alternatives, and switching has never been easier:
- An introduction to ethical banking
- An introduction to ethical savings
- What is ethical investing?
- An introduction to ethical insurance
- Choosing an ethical financial adviser
- Direct ethical investment platforms
- An introduction to green investment funds
- Saving with credit unions
- How to divest your personal finances
- Template letter for switching bank accounts
- Our guide to impact investing
- Should you stick with the Co-op Bank?
- Research report on if 'sustainable' investment funds are really fossil fuel free
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Holding global financial businesses to account
Ryan Brightwell, Director of Research at the Dutch NGO BankTrack, reports from the front line.
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How your bank could be funding global deforestation and climate disaster
UK banks are fuelling deforestation around the world. Martha Marcuson, Senior Communications Advisor at Global Witness, explores the problem and what can be done to stop financial institutions funding the destruction of climate-critical forests.Also see our guide to ethical banking.
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We caught up with Lisa Ashford, CEO of Ethex and Energise Africa, ahead of Ethical Consumer Week 2021 to hear about what they’ve got in store for the week and learn a little more about the world of ethical finance.
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The OECD and an end of the era of tax havens?
Nabila Ahmed looks at Biden's proposed new 15% global minimum tax rate and what it means for Ethical Consumer's Covid Tech Tax Campaign and Amazon Boycott.
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Big tech, tax and consumer attitudes
If Big Tech engaged with the ethical behaviour of consumers and business, it wouldn't take a deal by global leaders to ensure fair tax.Digital multinationals continue to underestimate the level of public consciousness around responsible business, but consumers still have a choice.Emma Davies explains more...
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We always check the ethics of our advertisers
Shopping guides
Ethical Bank Accounts
Finding an ethical bank account. Rating the ethical and environmental record of 31 UK current accounts, with recommended buys and who to avoid.
We also look at app-based banking, which banks own which brands,fossil fuel investments, tax avoidance, unequal pay, and how to switch accounts.
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Ethical Business Banking
Finding an ethical business bank account. Ethical and environmental ratings for30 small business accounts, with Best Buys and which to avoid.We also look at charity banking, 'challenger' banks, and accounts for community groups.
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Ethical Car Insurance
In this guide we investigate, rate and rank the environmental and social record of 22 car insurance providers, with recommended buys and who to avoid.
We look at car insurance companies’ investment and climate policies, their more shady tax arrangements and weapons connections, and find glimmers of positive change at Aviva.We also cover discrimination based on race, and insurance for electric vehicles.
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Ethical Cash ISAs
Finding an ethical cash ISA. Guide with ethical and environmental ratings for 47 cash ISAs, Best Buy recommendations and what to avoid.
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Ethical Home Insurance
Is your home insurance company funding climate change?
We rate and rank 23 home insurance providers based on their ethical and environmental records, spotlight green and eco insurance companies, with Best Buy recommendations and who to avoid.
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Ethical Investment Funds
Rankings for 20 green and ethical investment funds, with Best Buy recommendations.
How to choose an ethical investment fund, returns on ethical investments, greenwashing, transparency, and how to invest.
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Ethical Mortgages
Finding the most ethical mortgage, with ethical and environmental ratings for 40 mortgage providers, and recommended Best Buys and what to avoid.
We look at bank and building society mortgages,green mortgages, credit unions, Islamic mortgages, brokers, and alternative housing options.
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Ethical Pensions
Finding an ethical pension:a guide with ethical and environmental ratings for 23 major pension providers, with recommended buys.
We rate the major pension providers which offer some kind of ethical option for clients. We look at different types of pension, what makes a pension ethical, transparency, investments and carbon reporting, Sharia funds and ethical pension campaigns. We also shine a spotlight on Vanguard and Nest.
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Ethical Pet Insurance
In this guide we investigate rate and rank the environmental and social record of 13 pet insurance underwriters.
We also look at tax avoidance, specialist brokers and give our Best Buy recommendations.
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Ethical Savings Accounts
Finding the most ethical savings account, with ethical and environmental ratings for50 savings brands andBest Buy recommendations.
We explore non-bank options including building societies and credit unions, look at high street banks and their lending practices, along with executive pay and tax avoidance.
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Ethical Stocks and Shares ISAs
Ratings for some of the most popular investment platforms for Stocks & Shares ISAs, with who to avoid and recommended buys. We look at fossil fuel investments, transparency, market performance, the ISAs on offer, fees, and risks.
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Ethical Travel Insurance
In this guide we investigate, rate and score the ethical and environmental record of 15 travel insurance underwriters.
We also ask if your travel insurance company is funding climate change, spotlight the green and eco insurance companies and give our Best Buy recommendations.
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Fossil Fuel Free Investment Funds
In this guide we investigate, score and rank the environmental and ethical record of 15 fossil fuel-free investment funds.
We also discuss the meaning of 'fossil-free' and the importance of having positive investing criteria as well as negative screening exclusions.
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Innovative Finance ISAs
In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 6 providers.
We also look at crowdfunding, financial risks, the projects offered by the platformsand give our recommended buys.
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