At Unity Trust Bank, we believe that financial return, social impact and environmental value interact successfully together - and judge our success on the impact of our work.

Every depositor helps fund ethical loans that strengthen communities and help social projects grow - organisations that bank with us help towards measurable social value and community-driven impact, strengthening society and supporting a more sustainable future. This is why who you bank with truly matters.

All too often, deposit-taking financial institutions deploy those funds in ways that are at odds with their customers' values. We believe that banking can be better and can act as a force for good.

Banking with purpose

At Unity Trust Bank, we believe finance should help society. We provide responsible banking to organisations that create positive social, economic and environmental impact across the UK.

As a purpose led bank, we work to achieve two things at the same time: strong financial performance and a positive difference for people and the environment. Our mission, vision and values guide every decision we make, from how we lend and invest, to how we support our customers and communities.

We have repeatedly set the benchmark for ethical banking, including becoming the first UK bank to be accredited as a Living Wage employer and the first to achieve the Fair Tax mark.

In 2025, we became the first UK bank to back Local Climate Bonds, partnering with Abundance Investment and the Green Finance Institute to help local authorities fund climate projects co-designed with communities.

We focus on lending to organisations that help people in places that need it most. Last year, more than half of our lending (53.7%) went to areas with high deprivation. This shows our strong commitment to lending that makes a positive impact.

We’re clear about where our lending goes and the impact it delivers, publishing clear data in our annual impact report to show how our funding benefits communities and contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Through our commitment to Just Transition to Net Zero, we work to ensure the shift to a low-carbon economy advances social justice as well as environment progress.

Case Study: Bristol City Council

Bristol City Council is making energy-efficient improvements to three of its buildings thanks to the ‘Bristol Climate Action Investment’ (BCAI) initiative. BCAI is a borrowing mechanism enabling residents and businesses to invest in local climate action. It was launched last year in collaboration with ethical investment platform, Abundance.  

Abundance has co-developed the innovative Local Climate Bonds (LCBs) alongside the Green Finance Institute. They’re a way of councils raising capital for green investments.  

Projects include the installation of heat pumps, solar panels and LED lighting. They also fund actions for climate resilience like biodiversity enhancement and nature-based flood defences.  

Spread over two fundraisers, the council reached its initial target of £2 million – including funding from Unity Trust Bank.

Unity Trust Bank is the first institutional investor of LCBs, committing an initial £15 million to the wider programme. The investment in Bristol will improve the energy efficiency of three buildings providing children’s respite care and community facilities.  

Councillor Martin Fodor, then Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, said:  

People in Bristol expect us to tackle climate change. It’s one of their high priorities. BCAI is a practical way of using your savings to generate a return whilst also contributing to investments that directly benefit your neighbourhood’s health and sustainability.

The council anticipates saving 40 tonnes of carbon a year from these three projects alone.

Karl Harder is Co-founder and Director of Abundance Investment. He said:  

Unity publicly investing alongside citizen investors is a pivotal moment in the growth of municipal investments. It’s a vote of confidence in councils and our platform. This isn’t just a cost-effective borrowing source for councils. It is a way to build a community that is really engaged in their climate action plans.

Unity Trust Bank’s support will help the public sector to deliver positive social and environmental impact.

Alex Minshull is Climate Change Manager at Bristol City Council. He said:

Confidence-building is what Unity has brought to the party. We know that the bank’s funding will enable us to raise the money needed for a project. It is also reassuring that Unity does its own due diligence. The bank’s not going to invest money in something that’s not sound.

Local Climate Bonds are also known as Community Municipal Investments (CMIs).

For queries, get in touch with Matthew Conroy.