Ken LaRoe isn’t your average banker. He’s a renegade in a pinstripe suit, rewriting the rules of finance with climate justice at the center. As the founder of Climate First Bank, a full-service community bank with a climate-first mission, LaRoe is proving that money and meaning aren’t mutually exclusive.
In a recent interview, Ken opened up about his unlikely journey from traditional banking success to becoming a pioneer in values-based finance. His wake-up call? A road trip across the U.S. in a mini RV and a copy of Let My People Go Surfing by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard.
“I didn’t want to just make a bunch of people a bunch of money,” Ken reflected. “I wanted to do something that gives back.”
That epiphany led to the launch of First Green Bank, one of the earliest environmentally focused banks in the U.S., and later, Climate First Bank, which has financed solar on nearly 4,000 homes and expanded into 45 states since 2022. It’s now one of the fastest-growing green lenders in the country.
But LaRoe’s mission goes far beyond clean energy financing. He’s on a campaign to show Americans that where they bank matters—not just for their wallets, but for the planet.
“Moving your money to a values-based bank is one of the biggest decarbonization actions you can take,” he explained. “And most people don’t even realize it.”
Climate First isn’t just about building a better bottom line—it’s about building a bigger movement. LaRoe’s “10/10 Plan” aims to grow the bank to $10 billion in assets and 10x shareholder value by 2032. But more importantly, it expands the bank’s capacity to educate, influence, and support sustainable choices across the financial system.
In the face of mounting political backlash against ESG, LaRoe remains defiant—and determined.
“We’re not taking DEI or ESG out of our materials. We’re just going to keep doing the right thing.”
Why should you care? Because Ken LaRoe’s work is a reminder that meaningful climate action can come from the most unexpected places—and that banking, when done right, can be a radical act of hope.
Watch the full interview here to hear more about LaRoe’s 10/10 vision, how he’s taking on predatory fintech lenders, and why green finance is a frontline strategy in the climate crisis.
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