MAYBANK2U recently raised RM180,000 for environmental conservation through its "Love the Earth" campaign.

The fund was raised for three environmental organisations – Global Environment Centre, Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (REACH) and Treat Every Environment Special (TrEEs).

The amount was raised during the five-month campaign whereby the bank pledged RM1 for each customer requesting online instead of paper-based statements.

Maybank Community Financial Services head Lim Hong Tat presented the cheque to the organisations recently.

Also present were Maybank Virtual Banking head Abdul Razak Mohd Nordin, Global Environment Centre Forest & Biodiversity Programme coordinator Balu Perumal, REACH president Ramakrishnan Ramasamy and TrEEs director Leela Panikkar.

Lim also launched the "Love the Earth" page on Maybank2u.com which he said was another initiative by Maybank2u to promote green awareness.

The banking portal registers close to three million visitors a month.

"Internet banking services such as online banking transactions, fund transfers, bill payments and even online shopping, are cost saving options for customers as they can be done out of the office.

"Maybank2u is truly a green site in cyberspace," Lim said.

"Online bill payment via Maybank2u averages about RM340 million in value a month which translates into reducing more than one million customer visits to branches," he added.

In terms of a green measurement, this translates into a carbon footprint savings of about 836,310 trees saved, 30.4 tonnes of paper saved, and 7,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases avoided.

"These equal 23.4 million km not driven by vehicles, 301,701 trees saved and two million square feet of forest saved from deforestation," he added.

The Maybank2u website carries this green measurement.

An interactive portal has been designed to engage the public on how to participate in making the Earth a greener environment.

Visitors to the portal can view sections on green tips, quizzes, happenings and even a green calculator to explore how much time, money and natural resources can be conserved.