Financing the ecological transition without risking your savings: what you need to know before choosing a green savings account

The price of serenity. With a rate of between 0.5% and 1.8% gross, the green savings accounts bring in less than the A savings account, but the objective lies elsewhere. The sums deposited by savers are used by banks to grant loans intended to finance green activities. They are offered in particular by Banque Populaire, Caisse d’Epargne, Crédit Agricole, Crédit Coopératif, the online savings platform Goodvest or the ethical bank La Nef. The latter launched its Nef × Enercoop booklet in partnership with the renewable energy supplier Enercoop at the beginning of November, in addition to its historical booklet, “which finances projects with social, ecological or cultural added value,” explains Léo Miranda, innovation and marketing director of La Nef. It seemed important to us to propose another one exclusively focused on renewable energies, more concrete for savers. »

Unlike other green booklets on the market, Nef × Enercoop is a sharing product. The saver must pay part of the interest (from 25 to 100%) to the Énergie solidaire association, fighting against fuel poverty. “We are thinking about other themes, particularly around the organic sector,” notes Léo Miranda. The yield on this bank's two savings accounts is in the low range of the market, at 0.5% up to 15,000 euros (0.1% beyond).

“When you are a young woman who talks about ecology in finance, you are an exotic animal”

Some establishments are more generous, such as Goodvest, whose booklet, for new customers before December 15, is remunerated 4.2% for six months up to a limit of 200,000 euros, then 1.8%. “The deposits contribute to the financing of loans promoting the energy efficiency of real estate,” describes Matthieu Silva Santos, director of operations at Goodvest. These mainly consist of loans to individuals to finance properties with a good DPE or renovation work. »

Don’t forget the sustainable and solidarity development booklet

The large networks are not left out, since Crédit Agricole alone announces 20 billion euros in its Engagé sociétaire booklet, the outstanding amount of which locally finances agricultural and agri-food transitions, the transition to a low-carbon economy and social inclusion. Each regional fund defines not only its remuneration (between 0.9% and 1.7%), but also the projects financed. “This booklet is aimed at customers wishing to give meaning to their savings and do so as close to home as possible,” notes Frédéric Noet, director of markets, customers and new professions at the Fédération nationale du Crédit agricole. The local dimension is essential. »

For its part, the BPCE group offers not only passbooks, but also green term accounts operating on the same model, at both Banque Populaire, Caisse d’Epargne and Crédit Coopératif. The latter notably offers the Rev3 booklet paying 1.2% up to 15,000 euros (0.6% beyond). “The deposits in the Rev3 savings account and term account are entirely dedicated to financing projects linked to the ecological transition in Hauts-de-France,” explains Virginie Dulchain, development director. Furthermore, 20% of loans granted by Crédit Coopératif are green. The deposits of our customers, in all our accounts and savings accounts, therefore contribute to the protection of the environment. »

Machine-translated from French