Climate First Bank
Climate First Bank is an FDIC-insured community bank offering full-service digital and branch banking plus solar lending across all 50 U.S. states, serving climate-conscious consumers, small businesses, attorneys, cannabis operators, physicians, and nonprofits through its OneEthos fintech subsidiary.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersSt. Petersburg, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Climate First Bank does
Climate First Bank is an FDIC-insured community bank headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, operating as the banking subsidiary of Climate First Bancorp. Founded by Ken LaRoe, the bank is positioned as the first U.S. community bank purpose-built to address climate change, holding Certified B Corporation, 1% for the Planet, and Global Alliance for Banking on Values memberships. It serves climate-conscious consumers, small and medium businesses, and specialized verticals including attorneys, cannabis businesses, physicians, and nonprofit organizations, with residential and commercial solar lending available across all 50 states and physical branches concentrated in Florida (St. Petersburg, Eustis, Winter Park, and an upcoming Orlando location).
The bank operates a digital-first platform supported by its fintech subsidiary OneEthos, which integrates ESG data analytics acquired from Ecountabl (2022) and the Bodhi solar customer experience platform acquired in March 2026. Technology includes iOS and Android mobile apps, an online account opening flow, a treasury management system integrated with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Plaid, and Yodlee, and surcharge-free ATM access across 70,000+ locations via Allpoint, MoneyPass, and Presto. The Bodhi platform has facilitated 30,000+ solar installations and is used by installer partners across the U.S.
Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on a diversified lending book spanning residential solar loans (7.25-7.72% rate), commercial solar loans (8.99% fixed), physician mortgages, SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, invoice factoring (advance rates up to 95%, credit limits up to $10M), and asset-based lending (credit limits up to $15M), plus deposit spread on Impact Checking, Super Duper Savings, Impact Money Market, and Business Money Market products. Noninterest income derives from attorney, nonprofit, cannabis, and physician banking fees, expanded FDIC coverage through the Demand Deposit Marketplace (up to $50M), treasury management services, and ESG-aligned deposit programs. The company reported over $11.5 million of net profit in 2025 against $1.6 billion+ in total assets and is preparing for a potential IPO in late 2026 or 2027 with Piper Sandler engaged.
Climate First Bank firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Climate First Bank
- Legal name
- Climate First Bank
- Website
- https://climatefirstbank.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Climate First Bank is an FDIC-insured community bank offering full-service digital and branch banking plus solar lending across all 50 U.S. states, serving climate-conscious consumers, small businesses, attorneys, cannabis operators, physicians, and nonprofits through its OneEthos fintech subsidiary.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Climate First Bank industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Banking
- NAICS
- Commercial Banking (522110)
- SIC
- State Commercial Banks (6022)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate Finance Funds & Green Investment Facilities (BPADACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Carbon Markets & Climate Finance (Offsets, Allowances, Carbon Funds) (FSAAALAH), Climate Finance Strategy (CapEx planning, green finance, incentives & grants) (EUABAKAG)
Keywords
Where Climate First Bank is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St. Petersburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Climate First Bank business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Interest Income from Lending: Primary revenue from interest earned on residential and commercial solar loans, mortgages, physician mortgages, commercial real estate loans, SBA loans, and other lending products. The bank specializes in solar financing across residential and commercial segments.
- Interest Income from Deposits: Earnings from interest rate spread on deposit accounts including checking, savings, money market, and CD products offered to personal and business customers.
- Banking Service Fees: Fees from business banking services including attorney banking, nonprofit banking, cannabis banking, treasury management services, wire fees, and business checking account services.
- Factoring and Asset-Based Lending: Revenue from invoice factoring program (advance rates up to 95%, credit limits up to $10M) and asset-based lending (up to $15M credit limits, advance rates up to 95% on receivables).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Impact Checking - 3.26% APY |
| Subscription | Monthly | Super Duper Savings - 4.01% APY |
| Subscription | Monthly | Impact Money Market - 3.96% APY |
| Subscription | Monthly | Business Money Market - 4.26% APY |
| Subscription | Annual | CD Rates - 2.68% to 4.18% APY |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Solar Loans - 7.25% to 10.5% interest rates |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Commercial Solar Loans - 8.99% interest rate |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Physician Mortgages - Competitive rates |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Climate First Bank product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Climate First Bank is a values-based, FDIC-insured community bank offering traditional deposit products (checking, savings, money market, CDs) and a specialized lending portfolio anchored by residential and commercial solar financing, SBA loans, factoring, asset-based lending, and niche programs for attorneys, nonprofits, cannabis businesses, and physicians. It delivers these through a digital-first platform (OneEthos fintech subsidiary with the Bodhi solar CX platform, plus iOS/Android apps) supported by Florida branch locations and a nationwide ATM network, serving both consumers and businesses with a climate-mission overlay.
Product overview
Climate First Bank operates as a full-service community bank with a mission-driven focus on environmental sustainability, offering a unified platform of personal banking, business banking, and specialized lending products. The core product portfolio includes Impact Checking, Super Duper Savings, and Impact Money Market for personal deposits, alongside NetZero Business Checking and Business Money Market for commercial customers. The bank's differentiated lending suite centers on residential and commercial solar financing through OneEthos, complemented by SBA loans, invoice factoring, asset-based lending, and specialized programs for attorneys, cannabis businesses, and nonprofits. Digital banking is delivered through mobile apps and Treasury Management platform, with third-party compatibility for QuickBooks, NetSuite, Plaid, Yodlee, and Plenty.com. The 2026 acquisition of Bodhi expanded AI-powered automation tools for solar installers within the OneEthos ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OneEthos: Fintech digital banking platform specializing in sustainable and inclusive financial services, including ESG data analytics, solar financing, and ethical banking technology.
- OneEthos
Products and services
- Impact Checking Interest-bearing personal checking account earning 3.26% APY with no monthly service fee, no minimum balance, and $50 minimum opening deposit; designed for climate-aligned retail customers.
- Super Duper Savings High-yield personal savings account earning 4.01% APY with $50 minimum opening deposit, no minimum balance, and a $5 paper statement fee.
- Impact Money Market Personal money market account earning 3.96% APY on balances of $50,000–$9,999,999 with $50,000 minimum opening deposit, dropping to 0.05% APY below that threshold.
- Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Personal CDs with APYs ranging from 2.68% (15-month Flex CD) to 4.18% (8-month promotional CD) and a $500 minimum deposit; includes a rate-increase option on the Flex CD.
- Pride Banking No-minimum, no-monthly-fee personal checking account that donates $100 to TransNetwork for each new qualifying account, supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Regeneration Checking Mission-aligned personal checking account developed with Project Regeneration; $100 donation to the nonprofit per new qualifying account, with 100% of interest donated to climate solutions.
- Residential Solar Loans Solar financing for homeowners with terms from 10.5 to 30.5 years, interest rates from 7.25% with autopay, no dealer fees, no prepayment penalties, and a starting processing fee of $1,125; also available for battery-only loans.
- Physician Mortgages Mortgage product for medical professionals (MD, DO, OMS, DPM, DDS, DMD, DVM, VMD) offering up to 100% financing for loans up to $4M, fixed rates, no mortgage insurance, no prepayment penalty, and a minimum FICO of 680.
- NetZero Business Checking Business checking account with $0 monthly service fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no transaction fees for businesses prioritizing sustainability.
- Business Money Market Business money market account earning 4.26% APY when paired with a primary Climate First Bank business checking relationship (0.60% APY otherwise), with a $50 minimum deposit.
- Attorney Banking Specialized banking for attorneys and law firms offering no-fee business banking, IOLTA/IOTA accounts compliant with Florida Bar rules, expanded FDIC insurance up to $50M through the Demand Deposit Program, and $25,000 executive lines of credit.
- Cannabis Banking Full-service digital banking for Florida cannabis businesses offering secure accounts, ACH services, Positive Pay, online banking, and ethical fee structures compliant with state regulations.
- Nonprofit Banking Full-service banking for nonprofits with transparent fees, dual authorization, board governance features, restricted-funds handling, and mission-aligned deposit deployment.
- Commercial Solar Loans Commercial solar financing offering up to 100% project financing at a fixed 8.99% rate, 1.5% loan origination fee, 25.5-year term, and no dealer fees or prepayment penalties; minimum loan size $25,000.
- Invoice Factoring Program Factoring solution that converts accounts receivable into immediate cash flow with advance rates up to 95%, credit limits up to $10 million, and competitive factoring discount fees.
- Asset-Based Lending Program Flexible funding using receivables, equipment, and inventory as collateral, with advance rates up to 95% on receivables, credit limits up to $15 million, and scalable credit lines.
- SBA Loans (7(a) and 504) SBA 7(a) working capital loans and SBA 504 fixed-asset loans with terms up to 25 years and as little as 10% equity required, delivered as an SBA Preferred Lender.
- Commercial and Sustainable Lending Suite Commercial lending suite including working capital lines of credit, owner-occupied and investor commercial real estate loans, construction loans, EV charging station installation financing, energy improvement loans, and sustainably certified building financing.
- Treasury Management Business cash management platform with ACH services, merchant services, Positive Pay fraud protection, mobile and remote deposit capture, wire transfers, sweep accounts, and lockbox services, with integrations to QuickBooks, NetSuite, Plaid, and Yodlee.
Quantifiable outcome
- 9,000+ households supported through solar loan program with 30.8% to low-to-moderate income communities
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Climate First Bank
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Climate First Bank technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability1 record
Feature3 records
Climate First Bank partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- BodhicoreOneEthos acquired Bodhi solar customer experience platform offering automation and AI tools, having facilitated over 30,000 solar installations.
- Justice Climate FundsupportingCo-presenting green banking webinar on clean energy finance collaboration alongside Montgomery County Green Bank and U.S. Green Bank 50.
- U.S. Green Bank 50supportingCo-presenting webinar on accelerating clean energy deployment through green banking partnerships.
- Montgomery County Green BankcoreLaunched $4 million clean energy financing initiative expanding on successful pilot program to lower borrowing costs and extend subsidy periods for county residents.
- EcountablcoreAcquired fintech company to enhance digital banking services with ESG capabilities, integrating Ecountabl's ESG data analytics into OneEthos platform.
- TransNetworksupportingLGBTQIA+ nonprofit partner receiving $100 donation for every new qualifying Pride Banking account opened.
- Project RegenerationcorePartnered to develop Regeneration Checking account with $100 donation per new account and interest donated to climate crisis solutions.
- The CLEO InstitutesupportingNonprofit partner in unique referral program for nonprofits doing critical climate work.
- Solar Installers (Network)coreApproved network of solar installers working with Climate First Bank to facilitate residential and commercial solar financing with 30-year, no-dealer-fee solar loans.
Scale indicators21 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Climate First Bank competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Amalgamated Bank: Larger, publicly traded values-based bank (NYSE: AMAL) with a mission-driven, ESG-focused strategy and progressive stakeholder orientation. Comparable as a values-aligned commercial bank, though it operates at greater scale across more traditional verticals.
- Live Oak Bank: Digital-first, FDIC-insured commercial bank specializing in niche verticals (SBA lending, veterinarians, pharmacists, etc.). Comparable operating model — digital infrastructure, vertical specialization, deposit-funded growth — though Live Oak is larger and publicly traded.
Direct peers
- Atmos Financial: Climate-focused digital bank that partners with financial institutions to offer fossil-fuel-free deposit products. Highly comparable as a values-aligned, climate-first banking platform competing for the same climate-conscious deposit and lending customer segment.
- Beneficial State Bank: FDIC-insured community bank with an explicit social and environmental mission, B Corporation certified, and a focus on values-aligned lending. Closest direct comparable to Climate First Bank's mission-driven community banking model with a similar Pacific Northwest footprint and deposit-led growth strategy.
- GoodLeap: Leading point-of-sale residential solar and home improvement financing platform. Direct competitor in the residential solar financing market where Climate First Bank has originated $427M+; comparable on solar loan product economics and installer channel strategy.
- Mosaic: Solar and sustainable home improvement financing platform offering loans to homeowners through installer and contractor channels. Comparable to Climate First Bank's Bodhi-integrated residential solar loan business, with similar customer profile and rate structure.
- Greenwood: Digital-first, mission-driven bank focused on Black and Latino communities. Comparable as a values-led, digitally native community bank targeting a specific demographic with mission-aligned deposit and lending products.
- Hope Credit Union: Community development financial institution (CDFI) serving underserved communities in the Deep South with mission-aligned deposit and lending products. Comparable mission-driven financial institution model, though structured as a credit union rather than a bank.
- Sunrise Banks: Certified B Corporation, CDFI-designated community bank with a mission of financial inclusion and sustainability. Comparable values-driven community bank operating with similar dual focus on mission and commercial viability.
Regional players
- Coastal Community Bank: Pacific Northwest community bank providing SBA lending, treasury management, and digital banking to small businesses. Comparable community bank business model with vertical specialization in SBA and small business lending, though operating in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Climate First Bank social profiles
Digital presenceClimate First Bank compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Climate First Bank financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Climate First Bank leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Climate First Bank subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Climate First Bank funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Climate First Bank M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Climate First Bank
What does Climate First Bank do?
Climate First Bank is a values-based, FDIC-insured community bank offering traditional deposit products (checking, savings, money market, CDs) and a specialized lending portfolio anchored by residential and commercial solar financing, SBA loans, factoring, asset-based lending, and niche programs for attorneys, nonprofits, cannabis businesses, and physicians. It delivers these through a digital-first platform (OneEthos fintech subsidiary with the Bodhi solar CX platform, plus iOS/Android apps) supported by Florida branch locations and a nationwide ATM network, serving both consumers and businesses with a climate-mission overlay.
Is Climate First Bank a public or private company?
Climate First Bank is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Climate First Bank founded?
Climate First Bank was founded in 2021. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Climate First Bank based?
Climate First Bank is headquartered in St. Petersburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Climate First Bank make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Interest Income from Lending is the primary driver. The others are interest Income from Deposits, banking Service Fees and factoring and Asset-Based Lending.
Who are Climate First Bank's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Amalgamated Bank and Live Oak Bank. Direct peers are Atmos Financial, Beneficial State Bank, GoodLeap, Mosaic, Greenwood, Hope Credit Union and Sunrise Banks. Coastal Community Bank is listed as a regional player.
Does Climate First Bank have an API?
No public API is recorded for Climate First Bank.
What industry is Climate First Bank in?
Climate First Bank's product category is Community Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADACAH, Climate Finance Funds & Green Investment Facilities, with a secondary code of FSAAALAH, Carbon Markets & Climate Finance (Offsets, Allowances, Carbon Funds). Its NAICS code is 522110 and its SIC code is 6022.