Climate First Bank headquarters, 182 37th Ave N, on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 in St. Petersburg. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
This article was first published by the Tampa Bay Times on Oct. 31.
The bank has three branches across Central Florida and focuses on sustainability.
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By Hayden Randolph
A banking firm which aims to be a leader in climate sustainability is about to open a brand new headquarters in St. Petersburg.
Climate First Bank is opening at 182 37th Ave N. The building is over 5,700 square feet and will offer commercial space for local businesses.
The bank’s mission has a “laser focus” on sustainability and the planet, said the firm’s CEO, Ken LaRoe.
“I’m a rabid environmentalist, but I’m a rabid capitalist also,” he said. “I think the two have to go hand in hand to make the environmental side effective.”
LaRoe started his first bank in 1999. Twenty years later, he launched First Green Bank. Unconventional at the time, First Green was among the first “values-based” banking systems, which was committed to a more sustainable world. He sold the bank in 2018.
The lobby at Climate First Bank headquarters, 182 37th Ave N, on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 in St. Petersburg. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
At age 62 in 2021, he launched Climate First Bank because, he said he had unfinished business.
Since its founding, Climate First Bank has acquired almost $1.4 billion in assets and is among the fastest growing banks in the United States. It has completed over $250 million in solar deals and put solar panels on 6,638 rooftops, LaRoe said.
Last year, Climate First Bank offset the equivalent of 240 tons of carbon dioxide, according to its 2024 impact report. The bank has committed to a net-zero business model powered by the financial technology firm, OneEthos. It has the goal “to accelerate the delivery of sustainable and inclusive financial services to all segments of the population,” according to its website.
The foundation of Climate First Bank’s decarbonization efforts are its solar lending programs, LaRoe said.
“I believe we’ve got the best for the consumer solar program in the country,” LaRoe said. “It’s a 30-year fixed rate, 100% financing, so you don’t have any money out of pocket.”
Climate First Bank headquarters, 182 37th Ave N, on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 in St. Petersburg. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
The new headquarters received LEED certification upon completion. The U.S. Green Building Council offers LEED certification to buildings that provide economic and social benefits as well as presents guidelines for the health, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
“It’s walking the walk, not just talking the talk,” LaRoe said. “Whatever highly vetted certifications we can get, we want to have.”
Aarin Sharpe, vice president and branch manager, has been a banker in St. Petersburg for 35 years. She said that being a part of Climate First Bank is different from her other experiences in the banking industry.
“It’s just built on giving back,” Sharpe said. “And being part of the solution instead of just another piece of the problem.”
As a Certified B Corporation, the bank is aims to put purpose ahead of profit. For example, the company can offset its own environmental footprint by using solar power and purchasing carbon credits. It can require its software vendors to hit certain sustainability benchmarks. It can offer better loan terms or interest rates to persuade developers to incorporate LEED-friendly elements.
The entrance to Climate First Bank headquarters, 182 37th Ave N, on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 in St. Petersburg. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Climate First Bank is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. The organization seeks to change the banking system by supporting financial institutions that make an environmental, societal or economic impact. The bank is also committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Climate First currently operates three branches across Central Florida, including St. Pete, with a fourth coming soon to Orlando. But the company has opportunities to grow across the country, LaRoe said.
Climate First Bank will host a grand opening party of its new headquarters on Saturday. The event is open to the public.
LaRoe said he worried about a time when his grandchildren would ask, “Grandpa, what was your generation thinking?”
“I don’t know what my generation was thinking,” he said. “But I know what I was thinking.”