Listeners of The Resilience Report are clearly looking for a podcast in finance, because every time we have a guest on, the reaction is always so positive. And one angle we have yet to dive into but that impacts each and every one of us is that of banking.

But, with greenwashing really being a concern in this space, I wanted to find an organization that truly walks the walk. 

Which is where I came across one of the fastest growing banks in the US who also happens to deeply believe in banking life tomorrow depends on it: Climate First Bank. This digital community bank is on a mission to combat the climate crisis by making sustainable alternatives accessible to everyone.

Joining us on the show to share more is Lauren Dubé, who holds possibly one of the coolest titles: VP and Director of All Good Things at Climate First Bank. Lauren leads the bank’s ESG initiatives and is responsible for managing client and community relationships and seeking out beneficial partnerships. Dubé has spent the majority of her career in values-based banking. She was invited to join Climate First Bank’s inaugural team by founder and CEO Ken LaRoe, initially as vice president and executive project manager. Dubé previously spent five years at Beneficial State Bank, a B Corp, values-based bank in California. Before that, she worked at LaRoe’s first values-based bank, First GREEN Bank. In 2021, Dubé was named one of Green Builder’s Next Generation Influencers for working to bring sustainability to the forefront of public consciousness.

In this episode, the Laurens dive deep into the exciting world of community banks and their impact on sustainability especially compared to traditional banking. They discuss how Climate First Bank is leading the charge in supporting local businesses, nonprofits, and sustainability projects, and how their unique approach is changing the game with innovative solar lending technology. They also chat about the challenges and strategies in navigating ESG in today’s political climate, the significance of B Corp certification including some great tips to get started if you or your business are interested in getting certified, a really cool app that can help users put their money where their values are, and so much more.

So, whether you’re a finance enthusiast or a sustainability advocate, stay tuned as we explore how your money can work for both your wallet and the planet!

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