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The Big Bank Switch
By Barbara Echlin
This Lent three Christian campaign groups, Operation Noah, Just Love, and JustMoney, are launching The Big Bank Switch campaign. They are inviting Christians around the UK to align their money with their values by switching from a bank that funds planet-destroying fossil fuels to one that doesn’t.
The climate crisis isn’t just happening, it’s being funded – sometimes by those of us who are most concerned about caring for God’s creation, and all because we have a bank account with HSBC, Barclays, Santander, NatWest, Chase, Lloyds or another high street bank. 
Banks make their profits by investing in projects, owning shares in other companies, and lending money (with interest). For most banks in the UK, this involves directing a portion of their funds towards companies which are involved in fossil fuel extraction and expansion: the driving cause of climate breakdown. Between 2015 and 2021 banks have pumped over £4.4 trillion into the fossil fuel industry.
The good news is that some green banks are already paving the way. Green banking is the practice of using customer power to support a bank which does not actively contribute to climate breakdown. Plus, giving support to the social and environmental projects green banks often invest in instead.
The Big Bank Switch campaign is encouraging people to switch their bank account to a green bank on 21 April 2024. Operation Noah, Just Love and JustMoney have partnered with Switch it Green who have made it easy, quick and safe to switch to a trusted, ethical UK bank. Their aim is that many Christians taking this action on the same day will deliver a clear message to bank executives that we have no faith in fossil fuels, pressuring these banks to stop funding climate breakdown.
Why are these Christian organisations launching this campaign? They believe that God’s creation is a gift that we have a duty to care for, and that the wellbeing of creation matters to God. To quote Phoebe Edmonds, a Quaker, ‘I have a deep concern for our global and local community because of my faith, and so could no longer use a bank which didn’t also respect this, or caused intentional harm to others.’
The Big Bank Switch - Barbara Echlin - March 2024
Everything on My Plate Affects You - Diana Chambers - January 2024
Trees: Who Gives a Crap? - Diana Chambers - November 2023
Ecofeminism in Creation Care: Alternative ways of reflecting on environmental issues - Ericcson Mapfumo - October 2023
Sun and Rain: Friends or Foes? - Diana Chambers - September 2023
Is it for Our Grandchildren? - Jemima Parker - July 2023
What's Love Got to Do With It? - Jemima Parker - May 2023
How Green is God's Mission? - Jan Goodair - March 2023
The Diary of a Prodigal Parishioner: Let’s Have a Green Christmas Part 2 - Sue Young - December 2022
The Diary of a Prodigal Parishioner: Let’s Have a Green Christmas Part 1 - Sue Young - December 2022
Living in Denial - Roslyn Swaney - November 2022
Listen to the Voice of Creation - Christine Jack - September 2022
Saving the Planet and Saving Money? - Jan Goodair - September 2022
The Diary of a Prodigal Parishioner 5 - The Big Clothes Disposal - Sue Young - July 2022
The Diary of a Prodigal Parishioner 4 - The Dreaded Wardrobe Audit - Sue Young - May 2022
The Diary of a Prodigal Parishioner 3 - "Who would know Grandma?" - Sue Young - May 2022
The Diary of a Prodigal Parishioner 2 - Decluttering - Sue Young - March 2022
The Diary of a Prodigal Parishioner 1 - A Journey Towards Environmental Concern - Sue Young - March 2022
Green and Platinum Jubilee Celebrations? - Christine Jack - May 2022
What do we do with the Leftovers? - Jan Goodair - March 2022
Don't Look Up: Or Perhaps We Should - Jan Goodair - January 2022
Planning for a Greener Christmas - Jan Goodair - November 2021
Code Red for Humanity - Jan Goodair - September 2021
Good COP, bad COP - What is COP26 and why is it so important? - Jemima Parker - September 2021
Summer Sabbath Rest - Jan Goodair - July 2021
Quick Action Stations! There's a COP Coming! - Jan Goodair - July 2021
Trees of Life - Jan Goodair - May 2021
Books, Ecology and New Life - Christine Jack - May 2021
My Lent Challenge - Jemima Parker - March 2021
Zero Carbon Church: You Must Be Joking! - Jemima Parker - January 2021
Hoping for a Green Recovery - Ian Fletcher - November 2020
Food Glorious Food - Jemima Parker - September 2020
If Only We Had Known - Jemima Parker - July 2020
Where to Worship - Jemima Parker - April 2020
Let Your Love Shine for 2020 - Jemima Parker - January 2020
The 3 Rs - David Eggleston - June 2019
The C Word: Carbon - Andy Ive - May 2019
The Forgotten Climate Change Buster - David Eggleston - January 2019