Triodos, the ethical bank with its UK headquarters in Bristol, increased lending to sustainable business and projects by 9% during the first half of this year, it said today.
Net profits at the Dutch-owned bank increased by 31% to 9.9m euros (£7.7m) compared to the same period last year and its balance sheet strength rose by 11% to 4.8bn euros against 7% growth in the first half of 2011.
Triodos has been active in the UK market where it has positioned itself as the leading ethical bank during the financial and banking crisis. Earlier this year it relocated its UK base from Clifton to Bristol city centre where it now occupies one of the country’s most sustainable office buildings.
It said today that funds entrusted to the Triodos Group, which includes Triodos Bank, Triodos Investment Funds and Triodos Private Banking, grew by 8% to 7.3bn euros. Customer numbers were up by more than 40,000 or 11%, to 395,000.
Chief executive Peter Blom said: “These figures show a balanced growth and development of the bank despite challenging economic times
“We live in a time of uncertainty and opportunity. Despite a deepening economic crisis in some parts of th
e world, there is an unprecedented chance to both reinvent failing systems and build on a growing movement of sustainable initiatives. This pattern of positive change is gathering momentum. It has seen the impact of values-driven enterprise increase significantly, at the forefront of a new way of living, working and doing business.”
