Triodos Bank is a rare piece in the financial sector. Ensures that is dedicated to ethical banking and sustainable, the objective of which is to use the money to achieve a social change, environmental and cultural positive. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, the entity is controlled by a foundation and not publicly traded. In addition in Spain, the country for which Mikel Garcia-Prieto (Vitoria, 1973) is chief executive, is present in Belgium, Uk and Germany.
Triodos argues that it does not want to get benefits “at the expense of the environmental issues most pressing on the planet” so that only finances sustainable organizations, although that limit your possibilities.
Question. What are the criteria that require fund managers of investment funds to place their clients ‘ money?
Response. What we ask is that you comply with our 28 principles, which include investing in companies with ethical criteria, that is to say, not participating in arms companies, that no child exploitation, that do not use pesticides, or genetic manipulation, and that the energy is not nuclear or fossil fuels. There is no management of the Spanish offer this.
Q. And what are they doing?
A. to Negotiate with foreign funds to register in the CNMV and be able to invest the money of our customers.
Q. how No company in the Ibex 35 meets these criteria?
A. No.
Q. is There interest from the Spanish customers in green products?
A. I Think that yes and more and more. After the climate summit held in Madrid has grown the social interest of the authorities and the financial sector. The bank is committed to transform the portfolio of credits to meet the objectives of Paris. Although it is a long-term commitment, this was unthinkable two years ago and 95% of the dealer have signed it.
Q. Triodos was created four decades ago. Have you always had this policy?
A. Yes, and this is why we have great advantage over our competitors who are now starting the adjustment of its credit portfolio to the green economy.
Q. How can they know their clients that the investments of Triodos are green?
A. we Publish on the website the name of the companies that give them credits. There are No problems with the banking secrecy of the client. It seems to us basic to be transparent… For example, the power say the source of your energy. The bank does not explain to its clients or shareholders how to get the profit or where to place their savings.
Q. Is it profitable for the bank to take this policy?
A. over the past 20 years, we have had a profitability that it goes from 3% to 5% of annual mean and that before, during and after the crisis. In 2018, the group won 38.6 million and manage more than 15,500 million. We don’t have problems with the European Central Bank, we are a stable entity.
