The end of the tax year isn’t just about using up your ISA allowance. It’s a natural reset point – a chance to check where your money is sitting and what it’s supporting.
Because whether we realise it or not, our bank accounts, savings, pensions and investments are shaping the future. They can either prop up fossil fuels, deforestation and inequality – or they can help fund renewable energy, social housing and community projects.
The good news? Making your money greener doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Here are seven simple ways to give your finances a spring clean before 5 April.
1. Switch to a bank that’s kinder to the planet
Your current account is one of the easiest places to start. The bank you use every day decides where your deposits are lent and invested.
The UK’s biggest high street banks continue to provide billions in financing to fossil fuel companies. If that doesn’t sit comfortably with you, consider switching to a provider with a clear ethical stance.
Good Egg Triodos Bank only lends to organisations delivering positive social and environmental impact. The Co-operative Bank, Nationwide and Cumberland Building Society all have stronger policies than the Big Five, while digital banks Starling and Monzo score better on climate than many traditional players.
If you run a company or charity, Unity Trust Bank focuses on organisations that create social value across the UK.
Switching is simpler than many people think, thanks to the Current Account Switch Service.
2. Move your savings to a specialist ethical provider
Savings don’t just sit there. They are lent out.
By choosing an ethical savings provider, you can help fund renewable energy, community housing, charities and social enterprises.
Good Egg firms Ecology Building Society and Triodos Bank, as well as Charity Bank, all use deposits to support positive projects. Althought interest rates are slowly coming down, you can still earn a competitive return while knowing your money is doing something useful.
If you’re looking to compare rates more widely, savings marketplace Raisin lists a range of banks, including several Sharia-compliant providers for those seeking interest-free options.
If you’ve built up cash savings this year, the end of the tax year is a good time to review where they’re held.
3. Use your ISA allowance for sustainable investments
With the 5 April deadline looming, many people are topping up their ISAs. If you’re investing anyway, why not choose funds or platforms that focus on sustainability?
Platforms such as The Big Exchange and Interactive Investor offer sustainable fund options, while wealth managers like EQ Investors provide managed ethical portfolios.
The Financial Conduct Authority has introduced new sustainable investment labels designed to make it clearer what funds are actually doing, and to clamp down on greenwashing. That should make navigating the space easier – but it still pays to dig into what’s inside a fund.
A greener ISA can be a powerful combination: tax-efficient and values-aligned.
4. Back renewable energy directly
If you want to see a tangible link between your money and real-world change, you could invest directly in UK renewable energy projects.
Platforms such as Thrive Renewables, Ethex and Triodos Crowdfunding allow individuals to invest in wind, solar and hydro schemes across the country.
These investments are higher risk and your capital is at risk, but for some people they offer a meaningful way to support the transition to cleaner energy.
5. Green your pension
Your pension is likely to be your biggest investment pot. Which means it has serious power.
Many workplace schemes now offer ethical or fossil-free fund options. Providers such as Nest and Penfold have sustainable choices, while PensionBee offers a Climate Plan.
If you haven’t checked where your pension is invested recently, the end of the tax year is a smart moment to review it – especially if you’re making contributions to use up annual allowances.
6. Work with an ethical financial adviser
If you’d rather not navigate it all alone, there’s a growing community of advisers who specialise in ethical and sustainable investing.
Path Financial, EQ Investors and Switchfoot Wealth all hold Good Egg accreditation. Ethical Futures is listed in our Good Directory, and Castlefield works with higher net worth investors.
A good adviser can help you align your long-term goals with your values, without losing sight of performance and risk.
7. Make your home greener
Finally, don’t forget your bricks and mortar.
Ecology Building Society’s C-Change mortgage rewards borrowers who improve their home’s energy efficiency with a lower rate. Naturesave allocates 10 per cent of premiums to environmental projects, while Tandem Bank offers green home improvement loans.
Charity Bank provides cashback when you buy or build an energy-efficient property through its Sustainable Buildings Loan.
Small changes, from insulation to solar panels, can reduce emissions and bills at the same time.
A powerful tax-year reset
The end of the tax year isn’t just about allowances and paperwork. It’s an opportunity to check that your money reflects what matters to you.
You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. Even one switch – a bank account, a savings pot, a pension fund – can start shifting your financial footprint in a better direction.
