The lobby group's idea seems well in tune with government proposals. Finma, the banking regulator, has included sustainability in its four-year strategy for the financial market. And the state secretariat for international financial issues (SIF) called the green fintech network into life in November. It became active after the government had made sustainability a core priority.

Instead of inventing a new state fund, it would maybe do to give Postfinance a makeover in green. The Social Democrats had launched that idea in 2019, arguing that the state finance arm should be primed to provide cash for eco-friendly projects.

Another Social Democratic Attempt?

While the chances for Postfinance to be allowed into the mortgage business seem increasingly remote, the project could help it out of the troubled present.

But may Switzerland will get a green bank much faster than thought. The corona-crisis has alerted many Swiss and made them reflect on how sustainable our way of life is. Maybe the banks can rustle up the money needed to get such a fund going.