Banking as if Society Mattered: The Case of Triodos Bank

As intermediaries between borrowers and lenders, banks hold a unique position in an economic system, and in society in general.

The role of financial institutions becomes apparent when governments intervene to save banks in crisis because their failure would put the economic system, and with that society, at risk. Socially responsible and green banks operate on the assumption that this unique position provides them with a leverage for addressing social and/or environmental challenges.

While the current public discussion focuses on how to regulate financial institutions so that the negative externalities of their operation can be reduced, this case study presents an example for a socially responsible and green bank, Triodos Bank, based in the Netherlands, and explores the potential role of banks in addressing societal challenges.

The case study is based on interviews with Triodos executives and co-­‐workers throughout the organization, with customers, on participant observation, and on a review of the bank’s work and publications.

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