Alternative Bank Switzerland: Where Savings Meet Sustainability

Alternative Bank Switzerland is a unique banking experience that combines traditional savings with a commitment to sustainability. Their approach is built on the idea that money can be a powerful tool for positive change.

They offer a range of savings accounts that are designed to help you grow your money while also supporting projects and initiatives that benefit the environment and society. For example, their "Sustainable Future" account earns a higher interest rate than their standard account, and a portion of the interest is invested in renewable energy projects.

As a customer, you can choose how you want to use your money to make a positive impact. You can select from a variety of projects and initiatives that align with your values, such as supporting reforestation efforts or investing in sustainable agriculture.

By choosing Alternative Bank Switzerland, you're not only growing your savings, but also contributing to a more sustainable future.

Broaden your view: Sustainable Finance

We're Alternative Bank Switzerland (ABS), a bank with a unique approach to finance. We're organized as an Aktiengesellschaft, a type of company under Swiss law, which allows us to offer a modest dividend to our shareholders.

Our history dates back to 1990, when we were established in Olten, Switzerland. We've since grown to become a leading player in the field of ethical banking, with a strong focus on sustainability and responsible finance.

We're proud to be a founding member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a network of 11 ethical banks from around the world. Our goal is to promote solidar economic cooperation, long-term action, and responsible income.

We offer a range of products and services, including a bank account that supports microfinancing through our partnership with Oikocredit. This account allows our customers to support organizations that provide small loans to women and small businesses in developing and emerging countries.

Take a look at this: Principles for Responsible Investment

We're proud of our organisational structure, which is designed to be flat and inclusive. This means that employees have a say in the decision-making process.

Our organisation chart shows that Executive management is a committee with no chairperson, allowing for a more collaborative approach. We're working on forward-looking, agile organisation models that provide opportunities for employees to develop their talents.

We're committed to employee participation, which is reflected in the fact that employees have a seat on the Board of Directors through the staff association. This ensures that everyone's voice is heard.

Our bank is organised as an Aktiengesellschaft according to Swiss law, which has its advantages. For example, it makes it easier for us to find new shareholders and award a modest dividend.

We're proud to be an independent bank, and our organisational structure is designed to support our values of sustainability and ethical banking.

In March 2009, eleven ethical banks formed a global alliance to strengthen alternatives to the crisis-shaken conventional financial model.

The alliance, known as the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, was launched in the Netherlands and ABS was a founding member.

As of 2009, the alliance comprised about 12,000 million Swiss francs in assets and seven million customers in 20 countries.

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values aims to promote solidar economic cooperation, long-term action, and responsible income.

ABS offers a bank account in partnership with Oikocredit to support microfinancing, known as the Oikocredit-Förderkonto.

This account helps finance organizations in over 70 developing and emerging countries, which in turn provide small loans to women and small businesses.

ABS jointly promotes sustainable development and guarantees the balances on the Oikocredit-Förderkonto to the same extent as for a savings account.

Consider reading: Bank Account in Swiss

At Alternative Bank Switzerland, you can expect a wide range of services, just like a full-service bank in Switzerland.

ABS offers everyday accounts for payments, investment advice, mortgages, and company loans, making it a one-stop-shop for all your banking needs.

You can trust that your money is secure, as ABS is regulated by Swiss law and supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

As a member of esisuisse, ABS provides deposit insurance up to CHF 100,000 per customer, giving you peace of mind.

Medium-term notes deposited in your own name are also considered deposits, so you can rest assured that your investments are protected.

ABS prioritizes transparency, disclosing all loans awarded to customers so you know exactly where your money is going.

The bank also conducts external ethics audits to critically examine its actions and ensure everything is above board.

This commitment to transparency is a refreshing change from what you might be used to at other banks.

Related reading: Swiss National Bank

Alternative Bank Switzerland has made 7 investments, showcasing their interest in various projects.

Their latest investment was in zevvy as part of their Unattributed round on November 30, 2023, making it a notable recent move.

Alternative Bank Switzerland (ABS) has a clear definition of what comprehensive sustainability means to them. They believe that sustainability is not just about minimizing negative impacts, but also about encouraging positive social development and environmental regeneration.

For ABS, comprehensive sustainability is about being crisis-resilient and focused on the real economy. They aim to drive long-term goals rather than prioritizing short-term success.

ABS measures its comprehensive sustainability through five key metrics. These metrics are:

ABS has been a pioneer in reporting the climate impact of its activities, making it the first Swiss bank to do so since 2021. They're taking steps to achieve net zero carbon dioxide targets by 2030 in both their investment and financing activities.

Alternative Bank Switzerland has partnered with Triodos Bank to finance sustainable businesses over the next three years.

They're focusing on sectors like renewable energy, sustainable real estate, organic farming, and healthcare.

Triodos Bank and Alternative Bank Switzerland are working together to make a positive impact on the environment through their joint financing efforts.

Worth a look: Sustainable and Impact Investing

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In comparison to other financial institutions, Alternative Bank Switzerland has a unique focus on sustainability.

Shangrao Investment Holding Group, for example, offers services in urban construction, financial investments, and tourism, but doesn't specifically focus on sustainability like Alternative Bank Switzerland.

Baird, on the other hand, specializes in wealth management and capital markets, but doesn't have a similar partnership with Triodos Bank.

Expand your knowledge: Alternative Banking

Triodos Bank and Alternative Bank Switzerland have partnered to finance sustainable businesses over the next three years. They'll focus on sustainable energy, sustainable real estate, organic farming, and the healthcare and education sectors.

This partnership aims to support companies that prioritize environmental and social responsibility. By working together, the banks can pool their resources and expertise to make a greater impact.

Here's an interesting read: Sustainable Banking

The banks will use their combined knowledge to identify and support sustainable businesses that meet their shared criteria. This collaborative approach can help bridge the gap between financial and environmental goals.

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Citi India Products, Shangrao Investment Holding Group, and Baird are all established companies in the financial services sector.

Citi India Products was founded in 1902, making it one of the oldest companies on this list. It's based in Chennai, India.

Shangrao Investment Holding Group, on the other hand, was founded in 2015, more than a century after Citi India Products. It's based in Shangrao, China.

Baird, founded in 1919, has a rich history in the financial services sector, with a focus on wealth management, capital markets, and asset management services.

For your interest: List of Banks That Have Merged to Form the State Bank of India

Haitong Futures, founded in 2005, operates in the brokerage industry and focuses on financial derivatives, offering futures brokerage and margin trading services.

Citi India Products and Shangrao Investment Holding Group are both based in different countries, with Citi India Products in India and Shangrao Investment Holding Group in China.

Baird and Haitong Futures, however, are both based in China, with Baird having a presence in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in addition to its China operations.

For your interest: Citi Bank India Internet Banking

The Weissgeldstrategie, or "white money strategy", was a key component of the Alternative Bank Schweiz's (ABS) approach. It required customers from Switzerland and abroad to declare that the money they brought to the bank was tax-paid.

This means that customers had to explicitly state that their funds were already subject to taxation. All customers, regardless of their nationality, had to comply with this requirement.

For five years, the ABS went a step further by voluntarily reporting interest income from non-Swiss assets to the tax authorities of the customers' home countries. This was a proactive measure to ensure compliance with tax regulations.

Customers were required to give their consent for this reporting, but if they refused, they were not allowed to open an account with the ABS. This was a clear indication of the bank's commitment to transparency and cooperation with tax authorities.

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