First Green Bank Plans to Open Downtown Orlando Branch Dec. 10 at 1118 S. Orange Ave.

Mount Dora, Fla. --- One of the nation’s greenest banks – and one of Florida’s safest – expects to open its doors for business in downtown Orlando Monday, Dec. 10 at 1118 S. Orange Ave. across the street from the Orlando Health campus and ORMC. First Green Bank, headquartered in Mount Dora with branch facilities in Ormond Beach and Clermont, was named one of America’s Greenest Banks by the American Banking Association and the Independent Bankers Association. A recent survey of 7,300 U.S. banks by MSN.com ranked First Green Bank one of the 359 safest banks in America and the only Central Florida bank to earn that distinction. First Green Bank is the only Central Florida Bank awarded the coveted 5-Star rating from Bauer Financial two years in a row. In addition, Carson Medlin has ranked First Green Bank #1 for asset quality. First Green Bank is one of only 20 world members in the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, which is a membership organization, made up of the world's leading sustainable banks. Members believe that we must improve the quality of life for everyone on the planet, recognizing that we are economically interdependent and responsible to current and future generations. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman of First Green Bank, said he hopes First Green Bank’s sustainable practices will inspire other businesses throughout the world. “Our mission is to do the right thing for the environment, our people, our community and our shareholders,” LaRoe said. “We’re a local bank with a global mission.” Downtown Orlando’s new First Green Bank facility had to undergo major changes before opening. “First Green Bank performed an extensive remodel of the leased space to bring it to a proposed LEED ® Silver standard,” LaRoe explained. LaRoe said he plans to host a more festive Grand Opening event after the holiday season. “Right now we want to get down to business,” LaRoe said. “We’re very excited to open an Orlando bank, and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the City Beautiful,” he said. When First Green Bank opened its iconic headquarters facility in Mount Dora in 2011, it ranked as only the second privately owned commercial building in Florida to qualify for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum certification