The Co-operative Bank is perhaps the best known UK financial institution with an overtly ethical approach.
Since 1992, the bank has committed to avoiding investment in activities such as arms trading, fossil fuel extraction, genetic engineering, animal testing and poor working conditions. The ethical policy was introduced in 1992 and incorporated into the Bank’s constitution in 2013.
The bank offers most types of financial product, including current and business accounts.
In 2013-14 the Manchester-based bank was the subject of a rescue plan to address a capital shortfall of about £1.9 billion. The bank mostly raised equity to cover the shortfall from hedge funds, while the Co-operative Group became a minority shareholder holding a 20% stake in the bank.
The bank has struggled to recover and is currently up for sale.