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Guest columnist Scott Sommer is president and chief executive officer of Cornerstone Advisors, Inc., a Scottsdale, AZ-based provider of management, strategy and technology consulting services to national and international financial institutions. Scott’s background includes more than 15 years of experience in the professional services and technology industries. Before founding Cornerstone, Scott was president and CEO of Maidstone Consulting Group, a consulting company providing executive management, merger and acquisition, and business development strategy services to technology and professional service companies.
A version of this article appeared previously in “Gonzo Banker,” Cornerstone Advisors’ e-newsletter.
Green Banking
By Scott Sommer
Folks, I’m here today to talk about “Green Banking,” a phrase I would like to add to the banking lexicon here and now. “What?!” you say. “Banks have developed a religious devotion to MONEY since the first merchants started charging interest centuries ago.” True. But the “green” I’m talking about is a daily topic in practically every newspaper across the country – the environment and a dangerous rise in the emission of greenhouse gases. 
“We’re bankers,” you’re probably saying to yourself. “What does our industry have to do with any sort of green revolution?” Plenty, I say. And it will start with your customers and come full circle to your organization. No matter one’s political leanings, protection of the environment and a reduction of greenhouse gases is an idea your commercial and retail customers can support. And I believe a majority of bank customers, when faced with a choice between a commodity product offered by a Green Bank and one offered by Nickel and Dime Bank & Trust across the street, will go green.
The next time your bank gets ready for its strategic planning season, consider injecting some new ideas into that discussion. I don’t believe Green Banking is for every institution out there, but just to get the juices flowing, here are some ideas that might be worth discussing – especially if we can make some green or cut some expense.
Retail
Here are some consumer lending ideas that might prime the pump (pun intended):
- How about a 25 or 50 bp discount on car loans for alternative fuel vehicles? A number of credit unions and a few banks are offering this deal.
- This same discount concept could be applied to financing for vehicles that get, say, 35 mpg highway or better.
- Favorable mortgage loans for borrowers that buy/build energy efficient homes.
- Cornerstone client Rabobank, a Netherlands-based bank with a substantial presence in California, has introduced the Climate credit card in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. The total CO2 footprint of all credit card purchases is offset by Rabobank through the purchase of an equivalent amount of CO2 credits for renewable energy projects in developing countries. Think bank customers don’t care that much about going green? Tell that to the 1.1 million cardholders Rabobank garnered after the card was introduced.
- Favorable home equity loan/line products for your customers undertaking a green renovation, like more efficient air conditioning units, double-pane window and door replacements, low-flow faucets and low-flush toilets – the options are numerous.
- Chittenden, the largest bank in Vermont, offers a socially responsible banking program allowing customers to forego higher interest rates in their deposit accounts so the bank can lend to community development and “green” projects. Now that’s a way for community banks to separate themselves from the nationals.
Delivery Channels
- Promote Internet banking and bill pay as a way your customers can have a positive impact on the environment. Today’s Internet banking offerings are rich in functionality that can prevent an unneeded trip in the car to the local branch. Similarly, for every bill paid online, there is one less bill that a mail carrier must pick up from your house in the mail truck, bring to a mail processing facility (which has a huge carbon footprint), which then gets transported to the recipient either by vehicle or plane (both of which emit greenhouse gases).
- A similar green message could be used to promote e-statements – save fuel and trees at the same time.
- Remote check deposit from home is another way to prevent that car-powered trip to the branch.
Commercial
- There are countless opportunities for commercial banks to lend to green-friendly companies and start-ups: organic farms, recycling businesses, ecotourism, clean energy production companies (solar, biofuels, wind, hydro), ethanol producers, etc., etc., etc.
Wealth Management
- Offer your wealth management customers investment choices including socially responsible investing (“SRI”) options. There are lots out there to choose from.
Your Institution
As branches continue to proliferate like spoof videos of Britney Spears’ MTV appearance on YouTube, your facilities manager should take a good hard look at the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) green building rating program, which reviews such areas as energy consumption, water use, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase and BofA are all pursuing New York skyscrapers that have at least a Gold rating (there are four ratings – Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum). However, Banner Bank of Walla Walla, WA, with its 11-story building in Boise, ID, has the only Platinum-rated bank building in the country. While there is no doubt that construction of a LEED-rated building costs more at the outset, countless studies have shown that the extra costs are recouped in fairly short order, offering substantial long term savings and a way for banks to take a green lead in all those buildings they’re putting up.
The basic point is this: As an industry that has the potential to have a tremendous impact on a greener future, banks have a duty to do what they can in promoting environmentally and socially responsible financial activities. There are enough creative ideas in this area to get a marketing executive drooling in anticipation about creating some valuable “spin” around bank products and services that have a beneficial impact on society. Maybe then the next time you pick up a major daily newspaper, you’ll see an article complimenting the banking industry rather than bashing it.
Disclaimer
FHLBank Pittsburgh has printed this article for informational purposes only. The opinions, views and comments expressed in the article are not necessarily those of FHLBank. FHLBank makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of any assumptions or any other data presented in the article.
The information presented in the article is not investment or business advice, nor is it an offer to extend credit or buy any security or financial product. Readers must not rely on any of this information when making any investment, business or credit decision.
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