International banking group Standard Chartered has announced the launch of its new Sustainable Escrow and Account Bank solution. This initiative is designed to help clients incorporate sustainability into their cash management by holding funds in accounts linked to the bank’s portfolio of sustainable loans and projects.
This new offering is part of a series of sustainability-focused Transaction Banking Cash solutions from Standard Chartered. It complements the bank’s recently introduced ESG-linked cash accounts, which reward clients for achieving significant ESG-related targets through credit balance interest rates or fee pricing. Moreover, the Sustainable Account allows clients to retain access to cash for daily liquidity while using surplus cash to support activities contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Other initiatives include Sustainable Trade Finance, which aids clients in implementing more sustainable practices, and the Sustainable Financial Institution Trade Loan, providing liquidity to support trade flows associated with sustainable development.
As an independent escrow agent or account bank under the new solution, Standard Chartered will hold deposits and ensure that the funds are aligned with its portfolio of green and sustainable loans and projects. These are referenced by Standard Chartered’s Green and Sustainable Product Framework. The solution is currently available in the UK and the UAE.
Earlier this year, Standard Chartered announced it had generated $982 million in sustainable finance income in 2024, nearing its target of $1 billion by 2025. Sandrine Jourdainne, Global Head of Deposits, Liquidity, and Escrow Solutions at Standard Chartered, stated, “Standard Chartered is committed to supporting clients in meeting both financial and sustainability goals while managing risks effectively. By offering these sustainable solutions, we’re playing our part in empowering our clients to channel their funds into projects and loans that have real-world positive impact, securely and transparently.”
