JP Morgan Chase: the #1 financer of fossil-fuel extraction

I have been a long-time customer of JP Morgan Chase: personal banking, business banking, mortgage, stockholder, the works.  I was astonished, several years ago, to find that they actually listened to me, when I pointed out a bug in their on-line banking platform. (Ironically, it was the “We’re Listening” link: the icon used backslashes in its path, and was only visible on Internet Explorer.)

But I’ve finally woken up to realize that Chase is the single biggest financer of fossil-fuel extraction in the world.  For a company that believes in investing for the long term, I can’t decide if that’s hypocrisy, greed, or just plain stupidity.

In any case, I just wrote (a plain old paper letter) to each member of the board of directors, requesting that they change course, or that I would be forced to stop doing all business with them.  (See attached PDF below).  Now one guy, one stockholder, is not a big deal.  But I already hear rumblings that they are taking notice.  (I emailed a complaint late last year, and I was called by a representative who wanted to assure me that “they heard my concern”.  They didn’t say they were doing anything about, of course.)

So — where do you bank?  If it’s Chase, or one of the other ‘dirty’ banks — this is a really good time to (literally) put your money where your mouth is.  And hey, if you have a mortgage with them, it’s also a really good time to refinance with a local, responsible bank that is a CDFI.  (Rates are low, at least in early 2020.)  Most credit unions, for example, qualify.

Think about it.

P.S. There are many climate-related events scheduled for April 21-23 2020, including (I hear) a ‘teach-in’ outside Chase branches.  You may see me there!  Check out stopthemoneypipeline.com.

P.P.S.  My letter to Chase.

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