First Green Bank Proves Green Banking Can Be Profitable Banking
Open since 2009, First Green Bank has always put the community and the environment first. This Eustis, FL based company is a pioneer in environmentally friendly banking. Ken LaRoe, CEO of the First Green Bank, said that customers are drawn by the values by which the company operates. He explained that customers appreciate “a company that doesn’t just put profit first.”
The First Green Bank is currently very successful- and expanding. After posting profits of $543,000 for 2011, the Bank moved its headquarters to a new 12,000 square foot building that features solar power, low-water-use plumbing, a rainwater-recycling system and electric-vehicle charging stations. Since moving in, the Bank has applied for LEED Platinum status for the building. It has recently opened a branch in Ormond Beach, and plans to open another in Orlando by the end of 2012.
The First Green Bank is known for its excellent customer service and desire to help the community. The First Green Bank offers extended hours and the personal attention that customers deserve. They offer discount rates to customers working on sustainable projects and zero percent interest loans to employees who purchase cars that get 30 or more miles per gallon. Besides banking services, the First Green Bank gives back to the community in other ways. The Bank recently started a nonprofit organization called the First Green Foundation that funds sustainable research and projects in the community.
By Lucien Johnson
