Sunrise Banks and Green Cities Accord join forces for climate and community

Business Journals

11-07-2025

Successful partnerships thrive on symbiosis, when both parties benefit and grow together. The most powerful partnerships go even further, creating ripple effects that elevate the experiences and well-being of others. These kinds of alliances help foster real, lasting change in communities.
Sunrise Banks, a values-based bank based in the Twin Cities, grounds its mission in strengthening the ties that connect individuals, organizations, and the neighborhoods they serve. The bank measures its success not just by financial performance, but by the positive impact created through collaboration. It actively seeks partnerships with organizations that reflect a shared commitment to sustainability, social responsibility and local engagement.
Earlier this year, Sunrise Banks entered into a unique partnership with Green Cities Accord, a Twin Cities-based nonprofit focused on preserving urban tree canopies. The partnership reflects a shared vision for a more sustainable future—and it is proving to be transformative on multiple levels.
Benefits for Both Organizations
The mutually beneficial relationship between Green Cities Accord and Sunrise Banks goes beyond the traditional financial exchange. On one side, Sunrise Banks purchased Carbon+ Credits from Green Cities Accord to offset emissions associated with business travel. These urban tree-based carbon offsets support the bank's sustainability goals while driving local climate action.
Conversely, Green Cities Accord chose to move its financial accounts to the Net Zero Deposits program at Sunrise Banks. These deposits are used to support funding for projects that work to reduce or avoid carbon emissions. Both personal and business banking customers can opt into Net Zero Deposits with a checking, savings or CD account.
The partnership between Sunrise Banks and Green Cities Accord highlights a willingness for each organization to invest in the other's mission, creating shared value for the community.
The collaboration also contributes to the health of the urban environment in Minnesota. Storms, disease, drought and ongoing development have negatively impacted urban forests in the Twin Cities. Green Cities Accord is working to rebuild and expand the urban tree canopy, an effort Sunrise Banks actively supports.
Urban trees provide more than natural beauty. They offer shade, reduce energy consumption, absorb pollutants, improve air quality, and help cool urban heat islands. These benefits contribute significantly to livable cities and resilient communities. By supporting Green Cities Accord's tree planting and maintenance efforts, Sunrise Banks is investing in both environmental and public health.
Green Cities Accord's impact is grounded in transparency and certification. The organization is recognized by City Forest Credits, a nonprofit carbon registry endorsed by the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Accreditation (ICROA). These rigorous standards ensure that every credit represents verifiable carbon reductions. Revenue from credit sales is reinvested into future planting and tree care—directly benefiting local neighborhoods.
Net Zero Banking: Aligning Values with Financial Tools
As the partnership developed, Green Cities Accord saw an opportunity to further its sustainability mission by banking with Sunrise Banks. The nonprofit adopted the use of Net Zero Deposits, discovering that even routine financial operations can support climate action.
'Learning about Net Zero Deposits was the first time I had thought about banking as a form of climate action, and how the investments your bank makes can have a real impact,' said Micheala Neu, Director of Programs and Operations at Green Cities Accord. 'It was important for us to bank with an institution that reflects our sustainability values. Partnering with a local establishment like Sunrise Banks was a no-brainer and a win-win for us.'
The partnership illustrates how even the most familiar systems, such as banking, can be reimagined to support broader sustainability goals. For Green Cities Accord, Sunrise Banks offered both alignment and local accountability.
A Broader Commitment to Positive Impact
Green Cities Accord is just one example of how Sunrise Banks is using its platform to promote positive environmental and social change. In addition to Net Zero Deposits, the bank also offers Net Zero Financing options for projects such as energy efficient upgrades, electric vehicles and chargers, and sustainable building construction. These projects can qualify for a lower loan rate.
These tools empower businesses and nonprofits to incorporate environmental responsibility into everyday decisions without unnecessary complexity or additional cost.
Sunrise Banks believes that small shifts in perspective—like choosing a values-aligned banking partner—can lead to significant change.
The partnership with Green Cities Accord is a testament to how mission-driven collaboration can benefit organizations, individuals, and the planet alike. Together, these two organizations are demonstrating that sustainability is a shared journey that can be strengthened by a shared purpose.