Social, Environmental, Ethical and Trust (SEET) Issues in Banking: An Overview

Interest in Social, Environmental, Ethical and Trust (SEET) in banking has experienced a rapid growth over the last decade. This paper provides the first overview of SEET issues in banking. The overview introduces international initiatives such as: the United Nations Environmental Programme Finance Initiative; the Equator Principles; and the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment, which highlighted the importance of SEET issues to the financial services industry. Finally, we provide a structured review of the small, but important literature on SEET issues in banking. Our overview is timely given the increasing importance of trust and environmental phenomena to the financial services industry. Consequently, the material presented in this overview is of relevance to academics, policy makers and practitioners alike.