The FEBEA Charter, accepted by all its members, offers 25 positive and concrete criteria, gathered around 5 pillars, to define the characteristics and core values of an ethical bank. This constitutes the common reference point for all our members.
MONEY AT THE SERVICE OF THE COMMON GOOD
Ethical finance works for the common good by reallocating its forms of credits and the funds it collects to cultural, social and environmental projects. It promotes social inclusion, sustainable development, the economy and social entrepreneurship
THE MONEY OF THE CITIZENS
Ethical finance money is transparent. It comes from the real economy and goes back into the real economy. Ethical finance collects its funds from citizens and refuses money from activities that it does not support, such as the arms industry, polluting industries or industries that damage civil society, money from illegal activities, criminal groups or the mafia.
FOR A SOCIETAL BENEFIT
Ethical finance credit activities always seek to achieve a social, environmental and economic added value, all at the same time. To this end, ethical finance supports in particular social economy activities as well as social entrepreneurship, and the most vulnerable parts of the population, particularly by promoting social inclusion and employment.
ETHICAL MONEY MANAGEMENT
The operation of ethical finance is characterised by transparency and the desire to finance the real economy. Ethical banks refuse speculation in short-term financial transactions or investments in countries or operations that do not share their vision of society. They undertake to transform the bulk of the funds entrusted to them into credit to finance real economy projects.
ETHICAL BANK MANAGEMENT
An ethical bank does not aim solely at profit, even though a fair profit is necessary to ensure the viability and economic sustainability of the bank; thus, ethical bank profits are mainly reinvested in the promotion of the bank’s social objectives and capital remuneration may be limited. Transparency, collaborative management, strong territorial integration, ethical management of salaries and autonomy are the basic principles of ethical finance.