GLS Bank (officially GLS Gemeinschaftsbank eG) is a German ethical bank that was founded in 1974 as an anthroposophical initiative by Wilhelm Ernst Barkhoff and Gisela Reuther.

The name stands for Gemeinschaftsbank für Leihen und Schenken which translates as Community bank for loaning and giving.

[2][3] The award was granted to honor the bank's fair business practices.

[8] GLS bank is supporting a number of initiatives and projects in the fields of renewable energies, food, housing, "sustainable business", health and culture and education.

GLS bank supports for example the lobby-organisation "Center for a modern liberalism" of former Alliance 90/The Greens-politicians Marieluise Beck and Ralf Fücks.