In celebration of Earth Day, Ridgewood Savings Bank shared its growing impact on the environment and local communities. Since launching its Free Green Checking account in 2022, Ridgewood has helped plant more than 5,600 trees through the nonprofit One Tree Planted — a testament to the power of purpose-driven banking.
“Free Green Checking is more than just a smart, modern banking option — it gives our customers the power to make a positive environmental impact with every new account,” said Leonard Stekol, chairman, president and CEO of Ridgewood Savings Bank. “At Ridgewood, we are committed to aligning our products with our purpose. We believe that even small actions can grow into something meaningful. The acorn in our logo reflects that spirit — each account opened today has the potential to make a lasting difference for tomorrow.”
Since launching Free Green Checking in 2022, Ridgewood’s environmental impact has grown steadily with a total of 5,632 trees now planted, and going beyond planting trees, Ridgewood’s
Free Green Checking: A Greener Way to Bank is designed with sustainability and simplicity in mind. For every new Free Green Checking account opened, Ridgewood donates to One Tree Planted, helping to plant trees in U.S. National Forests.
In 2024, strengthening the bonds of community was at the heart of everything Ridgewood did. The bank was honored to collaborate with neighbors and support many meaningful causes throughout the year, resulting in a powerful impact.
Ridgewood remains deeply rooted in its mission to serve customers and uplift communities. From planting trees to restoring local parks, the bank believes that small acts — like its acorn logo — can grow into something mighty.
Founded in 1921, Ridgewood Savings Bank is a strong, stable mutual savings bank with over $7 billion in assets and 36 branches across the New York metropolitan area. Recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Midsize Workplaces 2025 for excellence in employee experience, the bank has also been ranked a Best Regional Bank by Newsweek (2025) and Bankrate (2024), named a Best Bank by Money (2023, 2024), and received an Honorable Mention from the American Bankers Association Foundation for its efforts to protect older Americans (2023). Since its inception, Ridgewood has stayed true to its community bank roots and mission to deliver exceptional service and trusted financial guidance.
