Triodos Bank’s lending to charities, social enterprises, housing associations and healthcare organisations grew by 23 per cent in 2010.

Its overall loan book saw a 26 per cent increase to £312m. Commitments to lend also grew by 11 per cent to a total of £180m.

Dr Bevis Watts, head of business bank at Triodos, said: “These are exciting results because they demonstrate there is an alternative to socially useless banking and because our increased lending is enabling real social, cultural and environmental change.

"2011 will be a year where several important social and environmental initiatives need finance and we will be supporting those when unsustainable banks continue not to lend.”