Ekobanken

Background and goals

ekobanken was established as a bank in October 1998.
EKOBANKEN IS AN ETHICAL BANK open to all who want to encourage possibilities for people to take free initiatives. They enrich our society in the form of a wider variety of health care forms, educational methods, and artistic expression.

ekobanken considers money to be a social medium through which co-operation among people and groups is made easier. The human being is the starting point for Ekobanken´s operations.

the public good and general well being of our members is the bank’s main driving force and is the reason why Ekobanken finances initiatives within the social economy.
We are also interested in sustainable business that takes the environment and human beings into account.

ekobanken is a member bank. This means that you who choose Ekobanken know what your savings are used for and can even influence which loan projects are financed through the bank.

Structure

ekobanken is owned by it’s members. Membership in the bank is mandatory in order to open an account. Each share that costs 100 Swedish crowns is equivalent to one vote at the annual meeting. No one shareholder can vote for more than the equivalent of 10% of those shares that are represented at the annual meeting.

ekobanken´s members elect a Board of Representatives at the annual meeting that in turns appoints the Board of Directors and acts as a mediator between the Board of Directors and the members in the bank when there are questions and concerns that affect the bank’s policies and practices.

Activities

ekobanken works with private persons, organisations and companies. The bank offers a wide variety of accounts with different terms and conditions.

ekobanken is the only bank in Sweden where the customers know what the money they deposit is used for. The keyword is transparency between the money saved and the money borrowed. At least once a year the bank publish all new loan projects to its members. Accounts in Ekobanken can be targeted towards projects in the following areas. This also means that loans are granted to projects within these areas:

• farming and ecology
• health and treatment
• children and youth
• culture and education

New developments planned

• Offer new financial instruments to increase the bank's capital
• Build new services for companies and private persons
• Marketing activities towards new actors in the social economy
• Develop the technical infrastructure