Sustainability-Focused Bank Chooses St. Pete for Global Headquarters

St. Pete EDC President & CEO J.P. DuBuque (l) and Mayor Rick Kriseman welcome Climate First Bank President & CEO, Chairman of the Board and Founder Ken LaRoe and Executive VP Valarie Nussbaum-Harris at the bank’s grand opening.

Climate First Bank, a planned start-up financial institution has chosen St. Petersburg for its global headquarters. Climate First Bank will be a full-service bank with traditional banking products, enhanced by technology and with a special emphasis on non-governmental organizations and businesses committed to sustainability.

With their focus on sustainability, Climate First plans on being far more than just another community bank, and with $75 million worth of loans in the pipeline already, they plan to be the largest values-based financial institution in America.

“The St. Pete community is already moving toward green initiatives, and I want to propel that movement with the opening of Climate First Bank (I/O) as a new and conscious way of banking. I truly believe that businesses do well by doing good for their employees, environment and community,” said CEO Ken LaRoe.

For more, visit “On eve of opening, Climate First Bank executives reflect on their journey.”