your bank profits from war
Big banks lend your money to weapon and fossil fuel companies—profiting from a war against people and our planet.
Move your money to a Canadian credit union. It’s easy, safe, and will keep your money invested locally.
Why ditch Your Bank?
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It's natural to think about where you spend your money and boycott companies that conflict with your values. But most of the time, much of your money will be sitting in your bank accounts. Banks profit from loaning your money to companies including weapons manufacturers. Canadian banks can loan up to $19 for every $1 that sits in your bank accounts¹.
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According to an April 2024 analysis, the Big Six Canadian banks—RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank, and National Bank—had an estimated total investment of $14.154 billion in the top 40 weapons manufacturers, including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Elbit Systems, with billions more through loans and underwriting².
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RBC is one of the main funders for the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline in British Columbia. The CGL pipeline plan crosses the indigenous territory of the Wet’suwet’en nation against their will, damaging their ecosystem and polluting their water. By funding this project, RBC unleashed police violence against unarmed Wet’suwet’en people to remove them from their land, push this project through, and devastate local ecosystems³.
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We are witnessing an alarming increase of forest fires, hurricanes, and severe storms caused by climate change. Canadian banks have pumped over $900 billion into fossil fuels from 2016 to 2023 alone. These banks are more committed to short-term profits than human survival⁴.
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We can learn from the successes of the past like how grassroots activists fought Big Tobacco⁵, or how public support ended Apartheid in South Africa⁶. Local action—in your town or workplace—matters a lot.
By moving our money to credit unions and telling the banks why we switched, we can:Increase investment in our local communities.
Align our hard-earned money with our values.
Pressure banks to divest from weapons and fossil fuels.
Create a mass movement that can influence government policy and enforce regulations on big banks.
Share this site and talk about the problem with your friends and family. The more people know, the stronger our movement will become!
There's a market for violence…
We can achieve a peaceful world by reducing the power of those who profit from war.
Join millions of Canadians who bank with credit unions
Canadian credit unions are cooperative financial institutions trusted by over 11.3 million Canadians⁷.
Support Local
Credit unions only accept members living withing their service area. When you join a credit union, you’re supporting your community. Your money will stay local, supporting Canadian jobs and businesses instead of foreign corporations. It’s the equivalent of shopping locally!
Lower Fees
Because of their non-profit status, credit unions put more money in your pocket—unlike big banks. Enjoy lower fees, better loan rates, and higher interest on savings, all while keeping your money safe (and government-insured⁸.)
Excellent Service
Canadians have ranked Credit unions #1 in customer service for 20 straight years⁹. You get the products you need (chequing, savings, loans, mortgages, and credit cards) with service that puts you first.
how to switch
Credit unions offer daily accounts, mortgages, and loans, but it can be overwhelming to switch everything at once. Start with your chequing and savings accounts—every dollar you move is a dollar that won’t fund war or climate destruction. It sends a clear message to big banks saying: ”Not with our money."
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Use this search tool to find a credit union near you. Don't worry about finding a "perfect" credit union—choose one that has the services you need.
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Booking an appointment is a great way to overcome procrastination. It allows you to ask questions and get familiar with your new credit union.
During your appointment, feel free to tell the credit union representative why you’re moving your money out of the big banks. -
There are multiple ways to transfer your money from a bank to a credit union. You can send e-transfers, write a cheque, or go to your old bank and ask them to transfer the funds. If you have questions, give your credit union a call to learn about your options.
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Make a list of all your payments and automatic deposits, then switch them to your credit union account. Here’s a checklist of common payments and direct deposits you’ll want to switch!
Give yourself four weeks to complete this transition to catch any recurring payments you might have missed. Congratulations, you now have a fully functioning credit union account!
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Closing your account and telling your bank why you left will send a powerful message and influence their future investment decisions.
Ideas to Maximize Your Impact
Email the CEO and/or branch manager. We’ve drafted this template email to get you started.
Go in person and speak to a bank manager. Here’s a video example.
Post about your switch on social media to inspire your friends to switch.
Take The pledge
Join our community of Canadians banking for peace and the planet. By taking this pledge, you will help us track progress, share victories, and improve this site!
The Pledge
I recognize that my money has power, and I don’t want to fund war or climate destruction. I want my money to support my local community. I will not support banks that profit from human suffering; I hereby pledge to move most of the money in my chequing and savings accounts to a Canadian credit union, as soon as I can within the next three months.