In a follow-up to my
previous long read on sustainability-linked bank accounts available to users, now I am looking at sustainability and green-focused fintech platforms for the everyday consumer for those seeking a climate-conscious banking experience.
Looking at the biggest banks in the world, the likes of HSBC, Barclays, and JPMorgan Chase have financed
hundreds of billions of dollars into fossil fuels, detrimentally impacting our planet. Sustainability is more than a trend in the banking industry now – it is a key pillar of how the sector is to move forward and an indicator of what is being demanded by
modern-day users.
Looking at how sustainable finance is progressing, the following global fintechs provide insight into what people are looking for in their banking experience, and how users can find ways to be climate-conscious in their everyday lives without having to go
through the process of being onboarded onto a bank.
GreenFi
Tim Newell, founder and CEO, spoke exclusively to Finextra on GreenFi – an app that launched in the US in April, designed to be climate-friendly. Newell stated that the US has $10 trillion in bank deposits, most of which is used to finance the fossil fuel
industry. He furthered that 100 million US customers care about climate change, which is 40% of US adults.
GreenFi’s Checking and Savings Accounts promise clean money – no lending to fossil fuels – and plants trees with every purchase. Their savings account will pay users up to 3% on deposits. The app also has a feature to offset carbon emissions from driving
cars, and includes a shopping space featuring sustainable and ethical brands where users can get up to 6% cashback.
Newell stated: “The goal is to be able to provide consumers with a broad range of the financial products they need, with all climate-friendly products.”
Ekko
ekko allows users to make sustainable purchasing decision in their day-to-day lives, by tracking consumer behaviours, their carbon footprint, and
informing them of their climate impact. By nudging users to make more sustainable decisions through offering sustainable rewards in the form of planted trees and other green projects, consumers are positively influenced to shop with the environment in mind.
ekko has partnered with Market Harborough Building Society to offer the PlanetSaver Account, that will donate at least £2.70 to a charity for every £1000 users save.
In May 2024, ekko closed a
$2.5 million funding round. In March 2025, ekko collaborated with B Corp-certified
Optty to make sustainable payments easier for businesses.
Atmos Financial
Atmos Financial is B Corp and Fossil Free certified, and also part of 1% for the Planet. The company has pledged to not invest in any companies harmful to the environment such as fossil fuels and fast fashion.
Powered by Five Star Bank, the firm’s Climate Positive Savings Account keeps tracks of users’ carbon impact based on their account balance, and users can earn a competitive interest rate if they opt in to make monthly donations to non-profits partnered with
the Atmos Financial.
Treecard
Treecard is focused on reducing the use of plastics and planting trees. 80% of profits are directed at reforestation projects. Setting up an account on Treecard is free to use. Backed by? Ecosia, a browsing platform that donates to climate initiatives and
plants trees as you browse, Treecard originally started as a debit card.
While the debit card is no longer active, users can now link Treecard to existing credit and debit cards and keep planting trees. The trees are
planted in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Senegal, among others, to combat deforestation that is damaging biodiversity and livelihoods of local communities.
The Treecard app plants trees according to how many steps a customer walks instead of driving, gives out points for ethical purchases with approved ethical brands or using public transport, and provides planet-friendly rewards based on user behaviour.
Trine
Swedish fintech Trine is focused on boost consumer investment in solar energy. Users can create an account and choose a loan to invest with a minimum of £25. Users receive their investment back with interest when they fund and distribute solar products.
Trine provides a platform for investors to directly send funds to supply clean and affordable solar energy where it is needed. Users can track their investments on the app, and once the solar company repays their loan, the investor will receive their money
back with interest. The platform has invested €105,392,000 in solar energy to date.