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As the country’s leading socially progressive bank, Wainwright is considered a pioneer in what has come to be known as “green banking”. Since 1993, long before the term ‘green’ was widely used, Wainwright Bank has employed sustainable practices simply thinking of it as a part of its commitment to social responsibility. The concept is quite basic: in all aspects of doing business equally consider the impact on people, planet and profit. Or in other words, do no harm.
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Wainwright purchases recycled paper products with the highest post-consumer waste content possible. This includes monthly statements, brochures, ATM receipts, annual reports, newsletters, copy paper, envelopes – even toilet paper. Whenever available, vegetable-based inks are used instead of less environmentally friendly oil-based inks. Paper, cans and bottles are recycled at the headquarters and branch offices. |
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The lighting at the Wainwright Bank headquarters building has been retrofitted in accordance with the EPA Green Lights program. Energy Star rated computer equipment and appliances are purchased for new and replacement electronic devices. Employees are provided a subsidy to encourage the use of public transportation and none of the branches has a drive-through teller, thus helping to reduce gas consumption, pollution and traffic congestion. |
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The Wainwright Bank Green Loan™ provides discounted home equity loan financing for home improvement projects that reduce energy consumption including solar systems, windmills, new septic systems, windows, insulation and more.
The Wainwright Bank Equal Exchange CD is a 3-year certificate of deposit that provides a competitive interest rate for depositors and acts as collateral for a line of credit to Equal Exchange, a Fair Trade merchant. As the CD deposits grow so does the available credit to Equal Exchange that helps them further support third world farmers using sustainable farming methods.
The Bank also provides a ½% discount on car loans used for the purchase of hybrid vehicles.
Millions of dollars in community development loans have been provided to nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental protection and sustainability including The Trust for Public Land, Silent Spring Institute, Union of Concerned Scientists and Earthwatch Institute. Over 30 other local and national environmental nonprofits have chosen to bank with Wainwright.
Online banking and bill pay are offered to all customers for free to help reduce paper and energy consumption. Desktop Teller is a new service provided to businesses and nonprofits that allows them to scan and deposit checks electronically from their offices eliminating the need to make a trip to the bank thus reducing gas consumption and pollution.
Even promotional items are green including reusable grocery bags, florescent light bulbs, recycled paper note cubes and wildflower seeds. |
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Two Wainwright Bank branches have received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and two more are seeking certification. The Newton Centre branch is the second bank branch in the country to receive a Gold certification and the Coolidge Corner branch in Brookline received the first Silver certification in New England. Criteria include recycling at least 50% of demolition materials and filtering dust from the air during demolition; using recycled and renewable materials such as aluminum window frames, rubber and bamboo flooring, compressed cornhusk cabinetry, and rehabbing used furniture; installing low-energy HVAC systems, appliances and computers; maximizing the use of natural light including skylights and Sun Tubes; purchasing renewable energy certificates; being located near public transportation; and other considerations. |
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Working in partnership with Ceres (a coalition of investors, environmental organizations and public interest groups), Wainwright will soon be one of the first banks in the nation to publicly release a comprehensive sustainability assessment using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. More than a catalogue of past accomplishments, the document will provide a benchmark and roadmap to future sustainability initiatives. |
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Wainwright Bank has received national and international awards for its environmental initiatives including being named one of the Top 10 Green Banking Firms in the country by the Social Investment Forum and one of the Top 20 Sustainable Stocks in the world by SustainableBusiness.com. In May, 2008 the Boston Business Journal listed Wainwright as the 8th Greenest Publicly Traded Company in the Boston area and the Coolidge Corner, Brookline branch was ranked 3rd among the 47 LEED certified sites existing in Massachusetts. |
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