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first direct has become the first direct banking operation to go 'carbon neutral' and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to zero.

first direct is achieving its goal by reducing energy use, buying green electricity and then offsetting the remaining CO2 emissions in carbon reduction projects. To go that one step further it has also introduced initiatives on its Leeds and Hamilton sites to help expand its environmental work.

Conscious of the impact 3400 people have getting to and from work, three years ago it introduced the Green Travel Plan which includes:

• a car sharing database
• shuttle bus between Leeds Train Station and Stourton
• subsidised travel cards to encourage more people to use the buses and trains.

The initiative has led to 150 fewer cars being brought to work each day and a staggering 98% increase in the number of people using public transport.

Richard Kimber, first direct's chief executive, comments, "This is great news for our people and the environment. As a business we are working hard to reduce the impact we have on the environment whilst at work. When our call centres were built, energy saving was an intrinsic part of the design from the motion sensors for lights to efficient air conditioning. The news that we have in effect reduced our carbon dioxide emissions to zero is an extra bonus to all the work we have done so far.

Looking to the future, first direct is about to undertake a feasibility study into the use of wind and solar power at its sites to ensure it continues to reduce emissions."

In a further development, the direct bank has been working with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and created an onsite woodland area. This is now enabling the next generation of first direct environmentalists - the children from the onsite Nursery, the largest workplace nursery in the country - a chance to learn about how they affect the world around them.

ENDS

Media Enquiries to Amanda Brown on 0113 2766700 or amanda.brown@firstdirect.com

Notes to editors:

first direct
first direct has been the UK's most recommended bank, and has had the most satisfied customers, for the last 13 years consecutively (which is when the research began), according to research from MORI and Research International.

HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Holdings plc serves over 110 million customers worldwide through over 9,700 offices in 77 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$1,467 billion at 30 June 2005, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as 'the world's local bank'.

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