Have you already left a fossil fuel bank? Make sure your move matters!
- Write (email or web form is fine) to your old bank (template below) to tell them you left because of their fossil fuel investments and that you will be encouraging others to do the same. You should be able to find a customer care or complaints email address or web form on their website.
- Post an image of your letter or email to social media (making sure none of your private info is visible. Share a link to this website on your post so they can find the info they need to switch too! Use the hashtag #fireyourfossilbank so it helps to drive the movement.
- Review all your investments. See the pension/super section on the page for your country on this site.
- Join or sign any campaigns listed on your country’s page as well as the Global Call on banks to stop financing fossil fuels.
Keep raising awareness regularly:
- Post a photo of yourself holding a sign such as “I fired my fossil bank to save the future” with #fireyourfossilbank or use one of the images below.
- Share any of the posts, videos or images on the One Quick Change social media pages (see icons below) - both to your page and any relevant posts or groups.
- Discuss in person with your friends, family, colleagues or anyone who will listen!
- Mention the movement and this website at any climate action events you attend.
Dear (name of old bank/ CEO),
I left (bank name) in (year) after banking with you for (x) years. I made the decision to leave because you finance the fossil fuel industry, which the UN says is driving the planet towards “severe, widespread and irreversible impacts, ”. I was forced to switch my banking to (new bank)—who do not fund fossil fuels.
I trusted you with my money. But by continuing—despite the warnings of the IMF, World Bank, Bank of England and others—to invest in companies who aren’t just endangering the future of life on earth, but whose resources are also set to become “stranded assets” within a matter of years, you demonstrated to me that you lack the foresight to be trusted with my funds.
I urge you to reconsider your position and commit to withdrawing support from fossil fuels of all kinds as soon as possible—as you must, to comply with the Paris Agreement. I look forward to a response detailing exactly when you’ll end support (financial and advisory) for coal, oil, gas, and other dirty fuels like tar sands.
Although I’m just one customer out of millions, the fossil fuel divestment movement that I’m part of is growing all the time—and until you listen to its demands and act with moral and financial responsibility, you’ll continue to lose customers.
I will continue to encourage my friends and family to move their money to a bank that doesn’t fund fossil fuels.
Yours sincerely,
(Name)
(old account number if you still have it)
Based on a template from https://ethical.net/climate-crisis/fossil-fuel-divestment-101-a-complete-guide-to-divesting-your-money-uk/
I left (bank name) in (year) after banking with you for (x) years. I made the decision to leave because you finance the fossil fuel industry, which the UN says is driving the planet towards “severe, widespread and irreversible impacts, ”. I was forced to switch my banking to (new bank)—who do not fund fossil fuels.
I trusted you with my money. But by continuing—despite the warnings of the IMF, World Bank, Bank of England and others—to invest in companies who aren’t just endangering the future of life on earth, but whose resources are also set to become “stranded assets” within a matter of years, you demonstrated to me that you lack the foresight to be trusted with my funds.
I urge you to reconsider your position and commit to withdrawing support from fossil fuels of all kinds as soon as possible—as you must, to comply with the Paris Agreement. I look forward to a response detailing exactly when you’ll end support (financial and advisory) for coal, oil, gas, and other dirty fuels like tar sands.
Although I’m just one customer out of millions, the fossil fuel divestment movement that I’m part of is growing all the time—and until you listen to its demands and act with moral and financial responsibility, you’ll continue to lose customers.
I will continue to encourage my friends and family to move their money to a bank that doesn’t fund fossil fuels.
Yours sincerely,
(Name)
(old account number if you still have it)
Based on a template from https://ethical.net/climate-crisis/fossil-fuel-divestment-101-a-complete-guide-to-divesting-your-money-uk/
