Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 460,503 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,240 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,097 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,240 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,097 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,210 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 460,503 cutting edge ideas.

Flourishing In Crisis

Green Banks Thrive as Wall Street Collapses

— November 1, 2008 — Eco
According to a recent study by Javelin Strategy and Research, bank customers want green banking. 43% of customers polled said they would rather do business with a bank that seems more “green.” But many big banks are trying to paint themselves green simply by promoting an online billing system.

It is true that monthly paper statements have a big impact on the environment. If every household in the US were able to switch to paperless billing, this would save an estimated 16.5 million trees per year or about 46,000 acres (averaging 360 trees per acre). Trees protect watersheds, support wildlife habitats, and build soil fertility while sequestering carbon (deforestation is now the second leading cause of global warming).

But there’s a problem here.

While we can all agree that preventing deforestation by encouraging paperless billing is great for the environment, the implication that by doing so, a bank is obviated from its environmental responsibility and can now call itself “green” strains credibility. What does it matter if you save a few thousand trees in North America while funding dirty coal operations or deforestation in the Congo (you can go to Greendig.net to find out which banks they are)?

Fortunately, there are some Real Green Banks who, despite the economic downturn, are posting healthy profits and offering their customers amazing interest rates. Take ShoreBank for example.

ShoreBank has operated for over 30 years based upon the principles of green banking (long before paperless bills even existed!) and they offer an investment model that hopefully many banks will follow – TPL, or “triple bottom line.” The guiding philosophy of TBL is that, in addition to bringing financial profits to the company, they must ensure both the community and the environment also profit. To that end, they partnered with Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus to help create the Grameen Bank which has lifted literally millions out of poverty through micro-lending.

Their foundation in “good old fashioned banking,” as founder and CEO Ron Grzywinski calls it, has allowed them to escape the trap of quarterly earning reports and over-leveraged debts that got so many other banks in trouble. And they now offer one of the highest yield online savings accounts in the US.  You get 3.5% (up to $250,000 insured by FDIC) and the nice feeling of knowing that all your money is going to help build the green economy.

To me that’s the direction real “green banking” needs to take.
Trend Themes
1. Green Banking - Opportunity for banks to prioritize environmental responsibility and offer customers sustainable financial solutions.
2. Triple Bottom Line - Adopting a philosophy where financial profits, community, and environment all benefit, creating a holistic approach to banking.
3. Micro-lending - Providing small loans to those in need, like the Grameen Bank, to alleviate poverty and empower individuals.
Industry Implications
1. Banking - Banks can capitalize on the demand for green banking by implementing sustainable practices and offering environmentally-friendly financial products.
2. Financial Services - Financial service providers can incorporate triple bottom line principles to attract customers seeking socially and environmentally responsible investments.
3. Nonprofit - Nonprofit organizations can focus on micro-lending initiatives to uplift disadvantaged communities and foster economic growth.
3.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness