The Alternative Bank Schweiz (ABS) is a Swiss ethical bank. It provides retail banking and SME services for savings, investments, financial security, company financing, real estate and monetary transactions. Loans are issued principally in the area of social or ecological housing, organic agriculture and renewable energy. At the end of 2018, it served over 35,500 customers and held US$2407.0 billion in assets and funds under management.[1]
ABS’ ethical policy states that all companies involved in the production and trade of weapons and armaments and all companies that provide services for the defense industry are excluded from investment or financing. As a result, all nuclear weapon producers are excluded from investment.[2]
ABS manages all its investments in-house. The policy applies to all types of financing.[3]
ABS uses an exclusion list developed by its in-house analysts. The exclusion list is not made public.[4]
Website: https://www.abs.ch/en/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alternativebankschweiz/
[1] Global Alliance for Banking on Values, “Alternative Bank Switzerland”, GABV website (http://www.gabv.org/members/alternative-bank-schweiz-ag#key-figures), viewed 19 September 2019.
[2] ABS, “Ausschlusskriterien”, ABS website (www.abs.ch/de/ueber-die-abs/das-abs-geschaeftsmodell/ unsere-grundsaetze/gesundheitsschaedigung-und-angriffe-gegen-die-koerperliche-unversehrtheit/), viewed 14 August 2019.
[3] ABS, written response to PAX dated 12 August 2019; ABS, written response to PAX dated 7 June 2018.
[4] ABS, written response to PAX dated 12 August 2019; ABS, written response to PAX dated 7 June 2018.