The following letter can be used as a model to explain to your mega-bank why you have broken-off your relationship with them. The sections in green, in particular, need to reflect your situation. After you have closed your account, be sure to send a letter to your mega-bank informing it why you have left. The letter can be sent to the CEO. Contact information for the CEO’s and addresses of the largest banks in the nation can be found below.

Edit to reflect your experience.

Dear (Name of your mega-bank or its CEO):

After (number) years as an account holder, I have closed my checking account / savings account / credit card with (name of bank).

Taking this step has been on my mind for some time. The economic crash of 2008, and the shameful role of the largest banks in driving that collapse, as well as ongoing predatory practices have prompted me to take action.

I wanted you to know that I am no longer going to be part of financial institutions that profit at the expense of the majority through unfair fees and especially at the expense of economically marginalized communities and individuals through predatory practices.

I am no longer going to be part of financial institutions that don’t know me and don’t care about my specific needs and questions. I am no longer going to be part of financial institutions that pay their top executives exorbitant salaries – and bonuses – while their clients face foreclosure and economic hardship that could largely have been prevented.

I am no longer going to be part of financial institutions that invest in fossil fuels or fossil fuel infrastructure while the need to be move to renewable energy becomes increasingly dire each day. I am no longer going to be part of financial institutions that are not lending to the small businesses that are the engines of jobs and innovation for our economy.

It is with a sense of pride in what our country and financial system can do, that I am now meeting my household’s banking needs with a Community Development Financial Institution. I now have a smaller community development bank /credit union that works to know me and my circumstances.

My new financial institution is dedicated to the economic uplift of struggling communities, not to extracting profit from those in need. My new bank / credit union is helping me play the constructive role I want to play in making economic well-being a reality for more Americans. I can now tell my family / friends / children about the good that my deposits are doing. I only wish that this had always been the case.

In closing, there are steps that (name of bank) could take to improve its impact on people and the planet, especially your role in financing the fossil fuel industry. I urge you to join other banks, investment firms, and corporations in:

* Adopting the principles in the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures or the Platform for Carbon Accounting Financials to measure the carbon intensity of your loans and investment portfolio;

* Creating fossil-fuel-free banking products to meet consumer demand.

Thank you for considering these important and timely steps.

Sincerely yours,

(Your Name and Contact information)