Bank of the West is changing how people think about their money and sustainability, so it was gratifying to be the first and only U.S. bank recognized by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards.
Bank of the West was selected as a finalist in two categories: General Excellence and Corporate Social Responsibility. The bank’s What on Earth campaign also earned an Honorable Mention in the Advertising category. This campaign highlights the bank’s dedication to financing environmentally and socially sustainable projects and industries.
Policies explain what Bank of the West
does and does not finance
The acknowledgment from Fast Company puts Bank of the West alongside purpose-driven consumer brands like Allbirds and Etsy, and disruptive nonprofits like Climate Neutral. It also puts the bank alongside Doconomy, a company Bank of the West has teamed up with, and Protect Our Winters, an outdoors organization fighting climate change.
The annual World Changing Ideas Awards honor enterprises, policies, projects, and concepts that are actively engaged in driving positive change in the arenas of climate action, social justice, or economic equality. Past honorees include Microsoft, Google, The North Face, and more top global brands.
This recognition is a wonderful testament to the fact that we are a fundamentally different type of bank,” said Nandita Bakhshi, Bank of the West President & CEO. I’m humbled that our organization is recognized alongside disruptive nonprofits and companies that are driving positive change around the world.”
Being the first and only U.S. bank honored by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards underscores Bank of the West’s unique differentiation amid a landscape of domestic banks that often lack diversity, responsible policies, and a global perspectives and impact. Bank of the West has taken the strongest environmental stance of any major U.S. bank. It is one of just 2% of banks worldwide that are led by women of color. And through its parent company BNP Paribas, Bank of the West leverages a global presence allowing it to deploy resources and knowledge from more than 70 countries around the world.
Fast Company’s recognition continues a strong year of third-party validation for the bank’s forward-thinking approach to banking. In January, Bank of the West received a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s list of best places to work” for LGBTQ equality and was included among Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity.
