The Co-operative Bank is continuing to raise awareness of the role some bank’s play in supporting the fossil fuel industry, and urging customers to vote with their wallets, with a series of out of home (OOH) advertising takeovers.
The outdoor activations amark phase two of the ‘Withdraw From This’ campaign, which launched last month with a dramatic TV advert which exposes how many banks are contributing to the climate crisis by using their customers’ money to invest in fossil fuel projects.
The advert urges people to withdraw their money from climate-crisis-funders and instead join The Co-operative Bank – a bank that hasn’t financed fossil fuel production for over 20 years.
The Co-operative Bank is driving home its message with a series of OOH takeovers at train stations and sites across the UK, including Manchester Piccadilly, London Euston, London Waterloo and Westfield Shopping Centre.
Developed by Dentsu Creative, the OOH activations feature hard-hitting images of the devastation caused by climate change, including a melting iceberg with an ATM attached and the stark message, ‘Withdraw From This’. The outdoor ads include both static and digital executions.
Research by The Co-operative Bank shows that over two-thirds of UK adults (70 per cent) are currently unaware of what their bank invests in, but that most would be willing to switch to a more ethical bank with better climate credentials. In addition, over half (57 per cent) agree that the country’s Net Zero targets should not be compromised – despite the current energy crisis and the rising cost of living.
The Co-operative Bank claims to be the only UK high street bank with a customer-led EthicalPolicy, which means that its customers’ values shape who the bank finances.
Last year, The Co-operative Bank was awarded the best ESG score (Environmental, Social and Governance) of any UK high street bank for the second consecutive year, by ESG ratings agency Sustainalytics.
To support the new campaign, The Co-operative Bank is urging consumers to visit Bank.Green, a movement that aims to put pressure on banks to divest from fossil fuels. Customers can use the site to find out more about the fossil fuel investment practices of their current bank, then sign up to pledge that they will not fund fossil fuels by moving their money away from climate crisis funders.
Deborah Darlington, brand, marketing and communications director at The Co-operative Bank, said: “We have already seen in the initial reaction to the ‘Withdraw From This’ campaign that the public has real concerns about fossil fuel investments in the UK and their impact on the environment. This debate is playing out on a national stage too, amid concerns about the government’s plans to increase the extraction of oil and gas from the North Sea and lift the ban on fracking.
“As an ethical bank, we’re proud to be at the forefront of the sustainable banking movement, showing people that they can use their own money to achieve a cleaner, greener future. Our new outdoor activations are a powerful way of getting the message across.”
