Investing to protect and conserve our natural resources.
We believe that we can make a positive contribution to the environment by investing in sustainable products, services, and partnerships.
Supporting renewable energy
At U.S. Bank, we’re committed to investing in businesses that support renewable energy efforts and sustainable business practices while promoting job growth. U.S. Bank commits more than $1 billion annually in renewable energy investments, and to date the USBCDC has committed more than $12 billion in solar, energy storage, wind, biomass, and fuel cell technologies.
As part of that commitment, U.S. Bank has financed $10.7 billion in solar, or more than 15% of all solar projects in the United States, over the past 10 years. U.S. Bank’s solar portfolio spans a broad customer base, which diversifies risk within our environmental finance activities.
Building with sustainability in mind.
To date, we have 26 LEED certified branches and are continuing to follow sustainable principles in the design of our new facilities with plans to maintain this focus in the future.
Eco-friendly debit cards that make a difference
With an estimated 6.3 billion payment cards shipped around the world each year, we’re turning the tide on the plastic waste problem by introducing the U.S. Bank Visa® Debit Card made with recovered ocean-bound plastic. Using upcycled litter collected in areas that are highly likely to feed into the water, these eco-friendly debit cards prevent more waste from entering our oceans.
Partnerships
Through community engagement and organizational partnerships, U.S. Bancorp works to better understand environmental issues and identify solutions.
American Indian College Fund
U.S. Bank continues our work with the American Indian College Fund to award scholarships to students pursing post-secondary degrees in fields of study that lead to careers in solar energy. The College Fund supports higher education attainment, career readiness services, hands-on training, and job placement for these scholars, thereby supporting environmental sustainability and energy sovereignty for tribal communities. Over the course of two years, U.S. Bank has provided $50,000 in scholarships.
GRID Alternatives
Since 2010, U.S. Bank has been a partner of GRID Alternatives. GRID Alternatives is the nation's largest nonprofit solar installer, with the mission to make renewable energy technology and training accessible to underserved communities.
Through our partnership, GRID Alternatives has provided hands-on solar training for 169 Indigenous trainees who put in 9,729 training hours, provide intensive professional development opportunities for tribal members through their SolarCorps Fellowship Program and strengthen partnerships with tribal colleges and job training organizations in tribal communities. These programs have served 174 tribal families through 183 projects and more than two megawatts of solar power has been installed to benefit tribal communities, resulting in $8.4 million in long-term savings over the lifetime of the systems and 56,055 tons of carbon emissions have been prevented, which is the equivalent of planting more than 1.3 million trees.
Clean Energy Trust
Starting in 2019, U.S. Bank joined forces with Clean Energy Trust to develop a U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award. This award supports entrepreneurs who are female and/or people of color and who are building innovative companies that benefit the environment, create jobs, and drive economic development.
“Supporting female and minority business owners and environmental sustainability is at the heart of our commitment to being a socially responsible company,” said Reba Dominski, Chief Social Responsibility Officer for U.S. Bank. “Through this award and our work with Clean Energy Trust, we are able to help accelerate innovative technology and support startups.”
Latest news
U.S. Bank sets goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
Taking an idea and running with it
U.S. Bank expands card rewards to put EV charging transactions on par with gas
U.S. Bank expands sustainable financing capabilities as demand surges
Partnership with GRID to bring solar power, jobs to tribal communities
Cleantech entrepreneur Ciara May wants to recycle your hair
year U.S. Bank