‘Exceptionally challenging’: Starling puts climate target under review Fintech Starling has placed its target to reduce carbon emissions by one-third by 2030 under review after it cited “exceptionally challenging” roadblocks in its mission. The UK fintech – which published its annual report on Thursday – had targeted achieving net zero across the financial services group by 2050. On the road to this goal, the [...]
Banking on a storm: Natwest weathers first of AGM climate rows Banking Natwest faced a prickly time in its Edinburgh AGM and in this week’s column Samuel Norman looks at whether fun and games could be in store for its peers. Also on the agenda this week – Revolut heads for some Spanish sun. Natwest chair Rick Haythornthwaite suffered a thorny reception on Tuesday at the bank’s [...]
Natwest forced to pause AGM after climate protest Banking Natwest was forced to pause its annual general meeting on Tuesday following a disruption from climate protesters. The FTSE 100 giant’s chairman Rick Haythornthwaite adjourned the meeting – taking place at Natwest’s Gogarburn headquarters in Scotland – after protesters disrupted his address to shareholders. Campaigners had been calling for a protest vote against Haythornthwaite in [...]
Small businesses ditch green agenda as ‘survival’ becomes priority January 20, 2026 Small businesses are ditching green finance initiatives as “ensuring survival” becomes a bigger focus for firms amid the pressures of rising costs. The latest business growth tracker from Natwest showed prioritising of sustainability was at an all time low among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by the end of 2025. Just 30 per cent of [...]
Forget the naysayers, banks are still committed to climate action November 18, 2025 Headlines have decried the end of green finance, yet the vast majority of institutions remain committed to climate action, writes Bob Wigley.