our Ethical Policy
Ethical Policy		Following extensive consultation with our customers, with regard to how their money should and should not be invested, the Bank's position is that:
a sense of purpose that profits everyone		It will not invest in or supply financial services to any regime or organisation which oppresses the human spirit, takes away the rights of individuals or manufactures any instrument of torture. It will not finance or in any way facilitate the manufacture or sale of weapons to any country which has an oppressive regime. It will actively seek and support the business of organisations which promote the concept of "Fair Trade" i.e. trade which regards the welfare and interest of local communities around the world. It will encourage business customers to take a pro-active stance on the environmental impact of their own activities, and will invest in companies and organisations that avoid repeated damage of the environment. It will actively seek out individuals, commercial enterprises and non-commercial organisations which have a complementary ethical stance. It will welcome suppliers whose activities are compatible with its Ethical Policy. It will not speculate against the pound using either its own money or that of its customers. It believes it is inappropriate for a British clearing bank to speculate against the British currency and the British economy using deposits provided by their British customers and at the expense of the British tax payer. It will try to ensure its financial services are not exploited for the purposes of money laundering, drug trafficking or tax evasion by the continued application and development of its successful internal monitoring and control procedures. It will not provide financial services to tobacco product manufacturers. It will not invest in any business involved in animal experimentation for cosmetic purposes. It will not support any person or company using exploitative factory farming methods. It will not engage in business with any farm or other organisation engaged in the production of animal fur. It will not support any organisation involved in blood sports, which involve the use of animals or birds to catch, fight or kill each other, for example fox hunting and hare coursing. In addition, there may be occasions when the Bank makes decisions on specific issues not included in this policy. We will regularly re-appraise customers' views on these and other issues and develop our ethical stance accordingly.