ABN AMRO announced in February 2017 that it will end its financing for Energy Transfer Equity (ETE) if the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is constructed without the consent of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, or if further violence is used. The Dutch Fair Finance Guide, Greenpeace Netherlands and BankTrack welcome the decision of ABN AMRO, and call on other banks, including ING in the Netherlands, to follow this example and end all outstanding finance to the pipeline and the companies behind it if no agreement is reached with the Sioux Tribe about the pipeline. Read more.

In February ABN AMRO, ING, BayernLB and Nordea all announced they would step away from financing either the project or its backers. ABN AMRO committed to end its financing for Energy Transfer Equity (ETE) if the pipeline proceeds without consent from the Standing Rock Sioux or with further violence. Nordea excluded three companies behind the Dakota Access Pipeline from investment. BayernLB stated it will withdraw from financing DAPL at the earliest opportunity, and not provide further finance. In March, ING became the first bank to sell its portion of a project loan supporting the pipeline. This was followed by DNB and by BNP Paribas selling on their shares of the loan. The buyers are unknown.

In February, Santander announced its decision not to renew or provide further funding to APRIL, an Indonesian pulp and paper company responsible for large scale deforestation and social conflcits, following months of campaigning inlcuding a Greenpeace petition. Less than two weeks later, ABN AMRO followed suit, telling Greenpeace it will not provide APRIL with new loans until the company stops clearing rainforests and proves that it operates sustainably. ABN AMRO resumed lending to APRIl as of May 2016.