The financial crisis has changed the way global banks give to charity. The days of firms simply handing out lavish checks have given way to a more targeted approach to donations.

Banks have traditionally been among Britain's biggest corporate donors but tumbling profits have pushed down their donations relative to that of other sectors. Since the crisis broke in 2007, charity budgets in the City of London have tightened and companies have been applying business rules to their donations and are finding new ways to make their cash go further.