Almost three-quarters of Britons want banks to improve their ethical polices, according to a new national online consumer survey, conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of non-profit research organisation EIRIS.

It found that 73% of the British public think that banks should have ethical lending policies in place to prevent them from investing in, or lending to, companies involved in controversial areas such as arms manufacturing, or companies with poor records on the environment and human rights.

The survey explores current consumer attitudes to green and ethical finance. The survey launched as EIRIS figures show that the amount of money invested ethically in the UK has risen 289% over the last decade.

EIRIS says the survey identifies “clear evidence”” of the need for change in all investment and lending practices. 66% of the survey respondents think that banks and other financial institutions have not learnt the lessons needed to prevent a future financial crisis but instead have reverted to ‘business as usual’.