Cultura Sparebank, branded as Cultura Bank, is a Norwegiansavings bank in the ethical banking movement that uses its assets on ethical investments. The bank has offices in Oslo and has total assets of NOK 657 million. Cultura's roots date back to an initiative from 1982 from a group of Norwegian anthroposophists including Sophus Clausen and economics professor Leif Holbæk-Hanssen, that sought to establish an ethical bank. In 1986, Cultura Lånesamvirke was established, and in 1997, Cultura was granted a full banking license as a savings bank. Cultura is inspired by GLS bank, the leading anthroposophical ethical bank in Germany.
Organic agriculture is one important area and includes manufacturing and distribution of natural food. Another large area is education where the bank finances primary and secondary schools as well as university level institutions. Medicine and healthcare is a third large area in the loan portfolio. Cultural activities like free theatre groups and several artists should also be mentioned. One important goal is to find new ways to finance individual initiatives seen as alternatives to mainstream business and government offerings, projects often turned down by other finance institutions. Owing to alternative ways of collateralising loans, such as using larger groups of guarantors, many good projects rejected by normal banks have materialised. The bank is also active in the public debate, offering information about alternatives to mainstream economic thought.
Microfinance
In 2003 the bank co-funded the foundation MicroInvest to provide microcredits. Since 2005 the bank has acted as the operational arm of MicroInvest, and cooperation has further deepened since 2006 when the bank and MicroInvest jointly became eligible for the guarantee facility of the European Investment Fund. From 2009 the activities of MicroInvest is merged into and continued by Cultura Bank’s own Guarantee Fund acting in its capacity as an independent trust. Cultura Bank is looking to expand further and meet the growing demand for ethical banking products. The bank will take on larger projects, not least where the financing of real estate for schools and agriculture is concerned. Cultura Bank has also, since the start up of the bank, been active in the area of small business loans in general. The idea is to assist in the process of establishing local business initiatives, especially to promote the sustainability of local communities. Cultura Bank is looking to further expand its microfinance activities, both with NCN-members and the bank’s own clients.
History
The bank can trace its roots back to 1986 when Cultura Lånesamvirke was established to promote ethical banking. Through the 1980s and 1990s the bank has merged with a number of domestic lending foundations and funds and was in 1997 made a savings bank. The bank has issued grunnfondsbevis, but is one of two savings banks in Norway who haven't listed them on Oslo Stock Exchange.
