Align your money with your values
Rivers & Mountains GreenFaith offers free on-site and on-line workshops for individuals and organizations on how to move their finances from funding fossil fuel extraction, production and distribution… and instead direct their bank deposits, insurance premiums, and investment portfolios to fund local businesses and farms, affordable housing, and development of renewable clean energy.
To host a workshop, write to: rivers.mountains@icloud.com
#1 PERSONAL BANKING
If you bank with Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, TD Bank, U.S. Bank or other major Wall Street banks, your money is being used to fund climate destruction. There are many local options that use your deposits to fund local ventures and not for fossil fuel projects. Learn how to find such regional and local community banks and credit unions.
Mighty Deposits Guide
Your choice of bank or credit union is one of the most socially and environmentally impactful decisions you can make with your money. When money is deposited in a bank, the bank can invest it in a variety of things — small businesses, solar farms, derivatives and securities, fossil fuel extraction, mortgages for veterans, you name it. It differs drastically depending on the bank.
#2 CREDIT CARDS
If you have credit cards with Chase, Citi, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Capital One, or Credit One, your money is being used to fund an economy dependent on fossil fuel rather than transitioning to renewable sources. Learn how to find a truly "green" credit card.
“When you use a mega-bank’s card, you’re bolstering all the things the bank’s loans support, from clearcutting forests to new coal-fired power plants to predatory loans,” says Fran Teplitz of Green America. “Community banks and credit unions provide the best opportunity for cardholders to avoid supporting bad practices and to positively impact communities.”
However, even if you’ve switched your bank account to a local community bank or credit union, you may still be linked to mega-banks through credit cards. When you open a credit card account, your fees go to the issuing bank.
The good news is that you can find a credit card issued by a community development bank or credit union (see list below), which will in turn use your fees to support operations you can feel good about.
Look for these logos for credit cards issued by alternatives to the mega-banks leading the list of bank-rolling the fossil fuel industry.
FIND A RESPONSIBLE
CREDIT CARD
Where you bank matters. Your credit cards can support the real economy, including affordable housing, small business financing, and economic opportunity in urban and rural communities that are often underserved by Wall Street mega-banks.
Many credit unions issue their own credit cards, as do some community banks... these cards are fossil free because they do not involve the mega-banks.
Many other banks sponsor "co-branded" credit cards issued by TCM, First National Bank of Omaha, or Beneficial State Bank... these "issuing banks" are alternatives to the mega-banks leading the list of bank-rolling the expansion of fossil fuel extraction, production, and distribution.
Fossil-Free Banks that issue their own credit card - partial list:
First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO)
Key Bank
Fossil-Free Banks with "co-branded" credit cards - partial list:
Amalgamated Bank (FNBO)
Community Bank, N.A. (FNBO)
Note: Elan Financial is part of U.S. Bank which is a major investor in fossil fuels.
"Affinity cards" support nonprofits through your credit card purchases. Each time you use an affinity card, the "issuing bank" donates a set amount to a partner nonprofit - averaging half a penny for every dollar you charge or transfer.
Two examples: Green America credit card issued by TCM; and, Sierra Club card issued by Beneficial State Bank.
Caution: affinity cards are often issued by a mega-bank - for example, the credit card sponsored by Working Assets is issued by Bank of America - therefore, most of the fees associated with the card support that bank and its problematic practices.
"Store cards" A private label credit card is a store-branded credit card that is intended for use at a specific store... such as Lowe's, Verizon, Sam's Club, and some Amazon cards.
Some "store cards" are connected with a mega-bank, but most are issued through Synchrony and Comenity (look on the back of the credit card), neither have significant, if any, investments in fossil fuels.
#3 HOME & AUTO INSURANCE
If you insure your home and/or auto with Liberty Mutual, Travelers, All-State, GEICO, State Farm or other major insurance companies, then your money is being used to both insure and invest in the excavation, production and distribution of oil, tar sands, coal and gas. Learn how to find local, small insurance companies that do not insure nor invest in fossil fuel projects.
GET INSURANCE COMPANIES OUT OF FOSSIL FUELS
Insurance companies are backing some of the most dangerous fossil fuel projects in the world. To make matters worse, they’re pulling your coverage when climate change hits. Join us is demanding that Liberty Mutual and the nation’s top insurance companies respond to the growing climate crisis.
Insurers & Investors in Fossil Fuel
(extraction, production &/or distribution)
AllState
Chubb
Erie
Farmers (Zurich)
GEICO (Berkshire Hathaway)
The Hartford
Liberty Mutual
Nationwide
Progressive
State Farm
Travelers
USAA (Charles Schwab)
Alternatives (available New York State):
NYCM (New York Central Mutual)
Preferred Mutual
Sterling Insurance Cooperative
Utica Mutual
NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANIES INSURE &
INVEST IN FOSSIL FUELS
Insure Our Future is a campaign holding the insurance industry accountable for its role in the climate crisis. We promote a rapid shift of the insurance industry away from supporting and financing fossil fuels to accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy.
#4 RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS
Most financial institutions are complicit in the climate crisis. Wall Street banks provide hundreds of billions of dollars in loans to the fossil fuel industry. Asset managers - companies that people pay to manage and invest their money - are the world’s largest investors in fossil fuels. Learn about the funds you are investing in and the alternatives... and how to find an environmentally conscious financial advisor.
Rivers & Mountains GreenFaith, Inc. is not an investment or financial advisor, or any other kind of advisor, and
does not make any claim about the advisability of investing in any particular company or investment fund or vehicle.