Social responsibility
In deciding our approach to social responsibility we are guided to a great extent by the views of our customers, who are both numerous and who represent a diverse cross-section of society. These are expressed through our regular Ethical Policy consultations across our bank and insurance business.
We're also influenced by our traditional co-operative values such as self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.
And in a wider sense, our approach reflects our support for international laws and treaties such as the International Labour Organisation's Fundamental Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Our desire to be socially responsible can be seen in many areas of our business:
Our ethical policies: underpin our banking and investment decisions and cover areas such as human rights, the arms trade, social enterprise and social inclusion.
Our products: The Co-operative Bank offers charity credit cards for a number of national organisations, including Oxfam, Amnesty International and Christian Aid. It also makes banking products like Cashminder available to those who otherwise could be excluded from mainstream financial services. The Co-operative Insurance offers the CIS Sustainable Leaders Trust - a screened fund that avoids investment in sectors such as aerospace and defence and tobacco.
Our activities: like many large businesses, we have a programme of community investment that embraces everything from the financial education of prisoners to the provision of kits to grassroots football teams.
We also work to promote financial inclusion through The Co-operative Bank’s support for the UK credit union movement. Along with this the bank seeks to support those businesses that, in our view, make a positive contribution to society. All this and more is detailed in The Co-operative Group’s latest Sustainability Report.
Our campaigns: and we do more than just give money to good causes. We also actively campaign for change and encourage our customers to do the same through The Co-operative Bank’s Customers Who Care programme.
Like all co-operatives, we understand that our business has a purpose beyond profit, and our social goals are a key part of this. We’re always keen to hear your thoughts on our approach – so why not have your say?
