Hope & Joy: Banking on Clean Energy, A Conversation with Ken LaRoe

As part of our Hope & Joy Series, Ken LaRoe, founder of the first "Green Bank" in the U.S., shares his journey of building values-based banking systems that prioritize sustainability and impact.

Discover how one person’s vision can transform an industry. Ken LaRoe, founder of the first “Green Bank” in the U.S., will shares his journey of building values-based banking systems that prioritize sustainability and impact.

Ken’s remarkable career began in 1982 at a small bank in Florida. Two decades later, he rose to lead and eventually sell a bank. Around the time of the sale, he was inspired by Yvon Chouinard’s Let My People Go Surfing, which motivated him to found First Green Bank. By 2018, the bank had grown to $825 million in assets. In 2021, Ken came out of retirement to launch Climate First Bank(CFB) during the pandemic—a challenging time to take on the risks of starting a new bank.

Hear more on Ken’s motivations, challenges he’s overcome, and the innovative work of Climate First Bank. Plus, learn how you can make a difference with Third Act by greening your personal banking practices.