What does your bank do with the money in your current account and your savings accounts? If few customers would be able to answer precisely, many believe that this is a key question and think that the role of the bank is important, if we believe the second observatory Crédit coopératif -Viavoice on the meaning of money, conducted online on a sample of 1,030 people in early October.
“Do you think the way your bank uses your money can help move towards a more united society?” “,” To move towards a more environmentally friendly society? “,” To develop or strengthen the growth of France? “ Respondents answered yes to 40.4%, 40.9% and 50.4% respectively. With higher rates among 16-34 year olds.
However, are they ready to choose their bank according to their convictions? Almost 42% say that, “In the very near future”, their commitments could have an impact on their choice of establishment. Here too, the youngest are more likely to answer “yes” (47.3% of 16-24 year olds, 52% of 25-34, against 28.4% of 65 and over).
“Very surprised” with the results
“We are living in a sociologically interesting period where convictions are starting to converge with decisions, there is a reconciliation between the consumer and the citizen, we no longer want to compartmentalize things”, comments Arnaud Zegierman, Associate Director of Viavoice.
Of course, more respondents say they are ready to match their actions to their convictions in matters of mass consumption, modes of transport or vacations than in banking. But the sociologist says to himself all the same ” very surprised “ results : “We expected figures to be half as high. It is too often said that this awareness is limited to CSP +, but the survey shows that it is widely shared in society. “
Be careful not to conclude that bank customers have mastered the subject. “There is an awareness of the impact of banks and therefore of our money compared to a few years ago, but it remains very complicated to navigate, especially in the face of the speeches of institutions very quick to qualify their sustainable or green offers ”, believes Lucie Pinson, director of the NGO Reclaim Finance, Goldman Prize for the Environment 2020, in particular for its action against the financing of coal by the banks.
Especially since the overall understanding of the banking system is lacking. “We realize, when we bring citizens together for our panels, that they are very aware of the complexity of the subject”, Zegierman notes.
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