The TriplePundit Flash: The 3 Stories You Need to Know, 2/26

by Executive Editor, Leon Kaye
Feb 26, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Welcome to the TriplePundit flash, for which every Monday we will give you a quick rundown of the stories the editors at 3p think you need to know.

Americans Trust Banks Less Than Ever: This CEO Offers a Fix

It’s been a decade since the fiscal crash of 2008, but it’s clear many Americans are still skittish about trusting their cash with the big banks. In waltzes Aspiration, which 3p’s Senior Editor Mary Mazzoni showcased last week. All of Aspiration's financial products are FDIC-insured and fall under the company's “Pay What Is Fair” fee structure - meaning customers can set their own fees or even pay nothing if they choose. "Trust is a two-way street," CEO and founder Andrei Cherny told 3p. "We’re asking people to trust us with their core financial life, and we need to be able to trust them to do the same."

The company also has a mobile tool that allows customers to track the impact of purchases made with their Aspiration debit cards. With a few clicks on the AIM tool, customers can view their daily sustainability score.

Why the Number of Climate Change “Believers” Is Growing

While we’re on the topic of sustainability, 3p’s newest writer, Sarah Peyok, offers her point of view why more Americans – according to a recent survey – are becoming far more concerned about climate change. Peyok points out that alarm over climate change is less a function of politics and more about geography and demographics.

The Green New Deal Could Rise Again

The growing awareness and concern over climate change risks, especially among younger Americans, is now festering in the halls of a polarized Congress. We know what will happen with this iteration of the “Green New Deal,” promoted by new leaders such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But as our veteran cleantech reporter Tina Casey points out, even if this bill dies in the Senate – and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made it clear that this legislation will not pass – the conversation will not go away – and the business community would be wise to back up the basic tenets of this plan. 

Sustainably Yours,

Leon Kaye
Executive Editor
TriplePundit
lkaye@3BLmedia.com