Locally owned bank to move headquarters

St. Petersburg-based Climate First Bank will take over a former BB&T branch that it bought for $3 million.

By Business Observer Staff
| 11:57 a.m. November 30, 2021
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Courtesy. A rendering of Climate First Bank's new branch in Winter Park, scheduled to open in January. The bank has also announced plans to move its St. Pete headquarters.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

ST. PETERSBURG — Climate First Bank, a locally-owned community bank that prioritizes loans for renewable energy projects, has acquired a former BB&T branch for $3 million and plans to move its headquarters there.

At 182 37th Ave. N., the 5,781-square-foot property is in St. Petersburg’s North East Park neighborhood, about a 20-minute drive from the Climate First Bank’s current headquarters at 5301 Central Ave. The bank, according to a statement, plans to undertake “significant climate-friendly renovations” in anticipation of making the move in April 2022.

The bank plans to lease a portion of the building to Winter Park-based Phil Kean Design Group.

Climate First Bank recently announced plans to open a branch in Winter Park in January. At 1150 S. Orlando Ave., the office will be LEED Gold certified and operate in accordance with “net zero” energy consumption guidelines, according to a news release.