First Green Bank to open Winter Park Branch in January

Mount Dora, Fla. --- First Green Bank, which the American Bankers Association ranks as one of the nation’s greenest banks, has closed on the acquisition of a property at 862 S. Orlando Ave. at Minnesota Ave. in Winter Park that will be the home of the bank’s first Winter Park branch office. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer at First Green Bank, said workers are rehabing a 6,000 square foot building that is located on a highly visible corner and formerly served as the home of an Absolute Sound Outlet. First Green Bank will spend more then $1 million to renovate the building to LEED Gold standards. The work — which will include unique improvements to make the building more energy efficient and sustainable — a First Green Bank trademark — will be completed by the end of the year for a targeted opening in January. First Green Bank’s award winning headquarters facility in U.S. 441 in Mount Dora ranks as the first commercial building in Lake County and only the second commercial building in Florida to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s coveted LEED Platinum designation for leadership in energy-efficient design. First Green Bank currently has branch facilities in Clermont, Ormond Beach and a newly opened downtown Orlando branch.