ASN is a bank like any other regular bank, but with a twist. They distinguish themselves by how they invest their funds. They will only fund and invest in environmentally and socially sustainable projects. They have a focus on three target areas: biodiversity conservation, human rights and climate change.
Why sustainable?
Like other banks, they invest money in government bonds and put it out in residential mortgages. The difference is mainly in what they do not do, such as the financing of oil, gas, and certain industries. They finance projects to create more sustainable energy or ones that focus on making buildings more energy-efficient. When taking out a mortgage you can apply for an interest discount if you prove that you invest in sustainable energy like solar panels or façade insulation.
No Poverty: They lend money that customers entrust to them only in countries that observe The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). They invest in enterprises that take responsibility for the proper treatment of workers and eliminate child labour from their entire chain.
Climate Action: They finance sustainable energy and energy conservation and set limits on any CO2 emissions that they may indirectly cause throughout their loans and investments. To maximise their contribution to the reduction in CO2 emissions, they are the first financial institution in the world to set itself the ambitious long-term goal: All of ASN Bank’s loans and investments are to be net climate positive by 2030.
Partnership for the Goals: ASN Bank’s loans and investments are to have a net positive impact on biodiversity by 2030. To achieve this goal, they intend to establish a forum in the financial sector in order to protect biodiversity.
