The point-based policy ranking above assesses bank policies in four ways:

 1) Restriction on direct financing for tar sands projects.

• None (0), weak exclusion (1.5), moderate exclusion (3), strong exclusion (4)

2) Restriction on financing for companies that expand tar sands.

• None (0), weak exclusion (3), strong exclusion (5)

3) The bank’s commitment to phase-out financing for tar sands.

• None (0), reduction (1.5), weak phase-out (3), strong phase-out (5)

4) The bank’s commitment to exclude companies active in tar sands above a certain threshold.

• None (0), enhanced due diligence (0.5), weak exclusion threshold (2), strong exclusion threshold (5), full exclusion (6)

A bank can obtain a total of 20 policy points for its tar sands policy. Based on this score banks are then classified as laggards (0-5 points), followers (5.5-10 points), front runners (10.5-15 points) or leaders (15.5-20 points).