Finance
New Florida Bank to Support Sustainable Businesses, Solar Panels
- Climate First Bank plans expansion in Florida and beyond
- Bank is run by Ken LaRoe, who founded First Green Bancorp
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A new community bank in central Florida will lend to businesses committed to sustainability and consumers trying to make their homes more eco-friendly, in an effort to tap into millennials’ concern about climate change.
Climate First Bank, which plans to open its doors in St. Petersburg next year, will seek to expand to other parts of Florida and to cities such as Austin, Texas, founder Ken LaRoe said. The bank will offer interest-rate discounts for sustainable projects such as LEED-certified building construction, and dedicated loan options for home solar panels or energy-saving retrofits.