Green retail banking products: A growing imperative
In the financial sector, banks and other financial institutions are facing growing pressure from consumers, investors, regulators and competitors to make sustainability a higher priority.
Learn more about the global sustainable banking landscape and get the latest insights into consumer awareness of and interest in sustainable payment card products in our latest Market Trends report.
It is no longer enough for businesses to show concern for the environment: Sustainability is becoming a key priority
Nearly 3/4 of the world’s largest 250 companies now have targets in place to reduce their carbon emissions1.
While 2/3 of CEOs admit compliance is a driver for pursuing sustainability commitments, 80% believe they provide a competitive advantage2.
Consumers have a desire to protect the planet – and they expect the same commitment from companies they patronize:
The amount donated to environmentally focused charities grew almost 50% globally in Q1 2022 vs Q1 20193
Financial services customers are willing to pay 30% more for products and services that are environmentally sustainable, the highest of any sector4
1 in 4 customers choose their bank based on environmental and social track recordsv
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The financial services sector has been slow to adopt sustainable practices. Nevertheless, despite emerging economic and political headwinds, consumer sentiment towards sustainability action is still strengthening, driven by:
But sustainability is not just about complying with evolving regulations and stakeholder expectations. It is fast becoming an important growth opportunity and competitive advantage for financial institutions.
Want to learn more about leading startups offering ‘green banking’ solutions? Our Start Path platform on Market Trends gives you access to full profiles and registered webinars with startups and emerging fintechs with proven sustainability expertise, including:
How can financial institutions develop and implement a successful ESG strategy?
Analyze ESG expectations of relevant stakeholders
Design ESG strategies and implementation roadmap around payments and retail banking products
Identify opportunities and assess the competitive landscape to define ESG initiatives
Implement priority sustainability strategies effectively and efficiently
Mastercard’s latest global consumer research identified three categories of best practice sustainability-focused payment card product features:
Tracking and monitoring
Carbon impact calculator
Sustainability calculator
Sustainable shopping recommendations
Donations and rewards
Cashback and discounts at sustainable businesses
Donations for sustainable activities, such as tree planting and carbon offsetting
Physical attributes
Cards made from sustainable materials
Digital-first cards
Card recycling
2 Arthur D. Little. ‘2023 CEO Insights,’ 2023.
3 Mastercard Economics Institute. ‘Aggregated and anonymized transactions made to charities within the Mastercard network,’ 2022.
4 Statista. ‘Average sustainability premium consumers would consider acceptable and be willing to pay worldwide,’ 2023.
5 Insider Intelligence. ‘Spotlight: Sustainable Banking,’ 2022.
