We are all affected by climate change and naturally, we’re all looking for methods to make up for the debt we’ve accumulated with the earth.
With new companies equally embracing this challenge every day, perhaps a change on your credit card can help. Although a plastic credit card isn’t particularly eco-friendly, there are few other secure and convenient payment options.
To help you deal with the environmental impact of your everyday purchases, we’ve put together a list of the top environmentally friendly credit cards, as well as some suggestions on how you might manage your finances in a more eco conscious way.
- Aspiration Zero Credit Card
- FutureCard Visa
- Redwood Credit Union Visa
- Sunrise Banks Visa Platinum Card
- Verity Signature Rewards Visa
- Green America Rewards Platinum Visa
- Amalgamated Bank Credit Cards
- Ducks Unlimited Credit Card
- Beneficial State Bank Climate Card
- M1 Finance Owner’s Card
Our Top Picks For Best Eco-Friendly Credit Cards
Aspiration Zero Credit Card
The Aspiration Zero credit card caters to environmentally conscious people by pledging to plant a tree for every purchase made with the card. If the cardholder rounds up their purchase to the nearest dollar, Aspiration and its partners will plant another tree. On each purchase, the normal rewards rate is 0.5 percent cash back. When cardholders reach “carbon zero” status every month, Aspiration doubles their cash back to 1% on all purchases. Beneficial State Bank, the card’s issuer, is a B-Corporation that is also fossil-free certified and has a strong reputation for sustainable practices. If you’re interested in looking into them further, Beneficial Bank also has a number of their own credit cards.
Welcome Offer
Spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening will earn you $300.
Rewards
- .5% unlimited cash back on all eligible transactions every payment period.
- An additional .5% back on eligible purchases for planting 60 or more trees through the Plant Your Change or A Swipe for a Tree program.
Annual Fee
$60
Intro APR Offer
N/A
Regular APR
11.90% to 21.70% max rate, based on your creditworthiness.
Green Certifications
- Aspirations issuing bank, Beneficial State Bank, has been certified as fossil-free by Bank.green
- Certified B Corporation
- Member of 1% For the Planet
Credit Score
- Good (670-739)
Additional Card Details
- Helps users achieve personal carbon neutrality by planting trees with every transaction, allowing them to redeem rewards for more trees at $1 per tree
- Easily track reward progress through the app
- Digital wallet option
- Aspiration promotes a more environmentally friendly mentality than the majority of institutions.
FutureCard Visa
While this review was created to identify the best eco friendly credit cards, we couldn’t leave off this secured charge card. An incredible perk we found was when shopping with preselected partner brands, the FutureCard Visa® Card* earns 6% cashback. You can earn 5% cashback for climate smart spending and 1% for everything else every time you pay. There are no fees or interest with the FutureCard Visa, but it does require a linked bank account to safeguard the account.
Welcome Offer
N/A
Rewards
- 6% cashback on preselected partner brands
- 5% cashback on the first $25,000 of purchases spent on public transport, electric charging, bikes and scooters, secondhand clothes and furniture and plant-based meat, dairy and eggs
- 1% cashback on all other purchases
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Offer
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Credit Score
- No credit check required
Green Certifications
The FutureCard Visa is a product of Futr, Inc. who is a member of the Sustainability Consortium.
Additional Card Details
- No Annual Fee
- No Credit Check
- The 5% cash back rate for climate smart spending only applies to the first $25,000 in annual purchases; beyond that, all transactions, regardless of category, earn 1% cash back.
- At the same moment a cash back transaction is made, the rewards are applied.
- FutureCard does not yet have physical cards, so in-store use is only feasible through the use of a digital wallet. For online and app-based buying, card numbers are issued.
- Easily track reward progress through the app.
Redwood Credit Union Visa
The Bay Area’s Redwood Credit Union is another outstanding example of a local credit union with green values. The Redwood Credit Union Visa® Credit Builder Credit Card*, for example, allows those with bad or no credit to develop credit without paying annual fees or paying a penalty APR.
Welcome Offer
N/A
Rewards
- 1 point per dollar on eligible purchases
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Offer
N/A
Regular APR
10.24% to 18.74% variable APR or 8.99% to 9.99% non-variable APR based on creditworthiness
Credit Score
- Poor (0-649)
Green Certifications
- Silver LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council
Additional Card Details
- No annual fee
- Only residents of Northern California and staff of partner companies are eligible
- Depending on your credit situation, the card may require a deposit.
- Offers no fraud liability
- Low APR rates that provide the ability to rebuild a higher credit score
- Offers distinct pro-green products such as solar and bike lending programs
- Redwood Credit Union collaborates provides consumers solutions to lower their banking carbon footprint
- Redwood Credit Union has been recognized as an environmental leader.
- Available as secured or unsecured depending on your qualifications and circumstances
- Cell phone protection – Reimbursement up to $250 in the event your device is stolen, or damaged.
- Offers auto rental collision damage waiver, identity theft protection, travel and emergency assistance
Sunrise Banks Visa Platinum Card
Sunrise Banks is a small, locally-based bank with a wide range of credit card offerings. You can find them in the Minnesota Region. Sunrise Banks is a community-oriented bank who provides a number of rewarding and helpful revolving credit programs. The Sunrise Banks Visa® Platinum Card*, for example, provides a 0% introductory APR for the first 20 calendar months, followed by a variable APR of 14.74% to 24.74% on purchases and debt transfers.
Rewards
N/A
Welcome Offer
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Offer
0% introductory APR for the first 20 billing cycles, followed by a 14.74% – 24.74% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies
Regular APR
14.74% to 24.74% variable
Credit Score
- Good (670-739)
Green Certifications
- Certified B Corporation
- Global Alliance for Banking on Values Member (GABV)
Additional Card Details
- No annual fee
- 0% introductory APR for the first 20 billing cycles
- Charges a balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
- Chip card security
- Offers zero fraud liability, emergency card replacement, travel and emergency assistance, and extended purchase warranties
- 24/7 U.S. based customer service
- High late fees
- 2% foreign transaction fees on each international purchase or ATM advance transaction in U.S. Dollars (3% in foreign currency)
Verity Signature Rewards Visa
One of the greatest methods to lessen your environmental footprint is to eat locally, but you can also shop locally and invest locally. Eligible Verity Credit Union members can receive reasonable rewards when using the Verity Signature Rewards Visa®* if they keep at least a portion of their transactions in the local community. Though the card’s rewards and advantages aren’t as impressive as other rewards cards on the market, they appear significant when you consider the local impact of some of Verity’s exceptional community building projects.
Rewards
- 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases
Welcome Offer
When you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days, you will earn an extra 10,000 points
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Offer
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a 10.74% – 20.74% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of 3% of the total transfer amount applies
Regular APR
10.74% – 20.74% variable
Credit Score
- Good (670-739)
Green Certifications
- Global Alliance for Banking on Values Member (GABV)
Additional Card Details
- No annual fee
- No international transaction fees
- Eligible to anyone who lives, works, or worships in Washington state, as well as anyone referred by an existing member.
- Offers auto collision damage waiver, extended warranty protection, travel accident insurance, and emergency travel support
- Credit limit starting at $5,000
Green America Rewards Platinum Visa
Green America Rewards Platinum Visa®* is a card that benefits Green America, a charitable organization. To be frank, the Green America Visa is another mediocre attempt for sustainability when it comes to credit cards as it gives subpar rewards compared to other cards, but it comes with a slew of convenience features.
Rewards
- 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases
Welcome Offer
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Offer
0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months.
Regular APR
9.99% and 19.99% variable APR based on their creditworthiness.
Credit Score
- Good (670-730)
Green Certifications
- The co-brander of this card, Green America, is a sustainability-oriented nonprofit.
Additional Card Details
- Low regular APR
- No annual fee
- Zero fraud liability, travel accident insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver benefits
- Green America receives less than a penny for every dollar you spend because their issuing bank, TCM Bank, takes their cut first
- The card is made of 55% recycled plastic
- Chip card security
- 24/7 U.S. based customer service
Amalgamated Bank Maximum Rewards World Mastercard
​​Amalgamated Bank, founded in 1923 by a labor organizer, advocates for equal access to banking regardless of socioeconomic position. provide financial services to labor unions, charities, and social entrepreneurs, as well as supporting political campaigns that share their principles around eco sustainability, pro-choice, and pro-union. The bank has vowed not to participate in or lend to fossil fuel companies since it is carbon neutral. Amalgamated Bank has partnered with First Bankcard, a division of First National Bank of Omaha, to offer multiple credit cards.
Rewards
- Earn 1.5% cash back on purchases
Welcome Offer
Spend $600 within the first 3 months after you open the account and receive $30
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Offer
0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles after the account is opened.
Regular APR
16.49% and 22.49% APR depending on your credit worthiness
Credit Score
- Very Good (670-799)
Green Certifications
- Certified B Corporation
- Global Alliance for Banking on Values Member (GABV)
Additional Card Details
- No annual fee
- Supports an eco-friendly bank that doesn’t fund fossil fuels
- $30 Signup Bonus
- Pledged not to invest in or lend to fossil fuel companies
- 100% carbon neutral bank
Ducks Unlimited Credit Card
Consider the Ducks Unlimited Credit Card* from the First National Bank of Omaha. Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest nonprofit waterfowl conservation organization, and the Ducks Unlimited Visa® is a credit card that safeguards wetlands while simultaneously earning excellent cash back returns on every purchase. It offers decent rewards and truly discloses the amount of your purchase wetlands conservation charities receive: 0.5%.
Rewards
- Earn 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases where a visa is accepted.
- Every purchase helps funding for wetlands conservation efforts.
Welcome Offer
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Offer
N/A
Regular APR
20.24% variable
Credit Score
- Good (670-739(
Green Certifications
- Ecology Conservation and Management Certification
Additional Card Details
- No annual fee
- 0.5% of every purchase goes towards wetlands conservation efforts
- Balance transfer fee of $10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- 3% foreign purchase transaction fee for transactions in U.S. dollars
Beneficial State Bank Climate Card
The Climate Card from Beneficial State Bank allows you to earn rewards for regular purchases while also donating your points to climate-related NGOs of your choice, such as Green America. Beneficial State provides credit cards to consumers with a variety of credit histories in California, Oregon, and Washington. Beneficial State Bank is a B Corporation, Community Development Financial Institution, and Fossil-Free Certified bank dedicated to assisting people, the environment, and prosperity through its services. Equal Housing Lender and FDIC member.
Rewards
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent in purchases
Welcome Offer
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Offer
N/A
Regular APR
11.90% to 21.70%, based on your credit worthiness
Credit Score
- Good (670-739)
Green Certifications
- Certified as fossil-free by Bank.green
- Certified B Corporation
- Member of 1% For the Planet
Additional Card Details
- No annual fee
- High minimum credit limit
M1 Finance Owner’s Card
The M1 Finance Owner’s Card features the most innovative and unique rewards structure we’ve ever seen and they designed it for long-term, passive investing. While they don’t have any specific eco-friendly programs, they do invest in brands with high ESG scores. The app’s entire objective is to create lazy portfolios that you design once, finance, and then let sit to mature and increase your money without your assistance. Some of the eco conscious companies you can invest in and earn cash back from include Tesla, Adobe, Etsy, and Target. This is M1’s first credit card and It’s a high-end rewards card that’s definitely attempting to entice M1 customers away from their major credit cards.
Rewards
- 1.5% on all purchases plus 2.5%, 5%, or 10% on various large retailers
Welcome Offer
Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after you activate your card.
Annual Fee
$95 (without an M1 Plus membership)
Intro APR Offer
N/A
Regular APR
15.74% to 25.74% variable
Credit Score
- God (670-739)
Green Certifications
- N/A
Additional Card Details
- No annual fee with an M1 Plus membership, which is free for the first year
- 10% cash back on purchases from 14 major companies including Tesla and Adobe
- 5% cash back on 20 more companies including Etsy.
- 2.5% cash back on 39 more companies including Target.
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- You need to be invested in the companies to qualify for the added rewards
- Difficulty tracking rewards
- Zero fraud liability, travel & emergency assistance services
What is a green credit card?
A green credit card is a common form of bank card that is designed and offered by the issuer as an environmentally beneficial consumption tool.
A green credit card is distinguished by the fact that it minimizes or eliminates the environmental costs associated with regular plastic cards, such as the cost of manufacturing, transporting, using, and recycling plastic cards.
Consumers seeking environmentally friendly consumption options may also receive financial incentives from issuers, such as decreased annual fees and additional reward points on certain purchases.
Typically, green credit cards are identified for donating a portion of each purchase to an organization that works to mitigate climate change. So, if you spend $100 and pay with a green credit card, a percentage of that goes toward fighting climate change.
What is a green credit card good for?
Depending on your shopping habits, green credit cards could provide better cash back incentives. If you tend to shop at environmentally conscious businesses, most green credit cards will offer you higher rewards.
Additionally, green credit cards may donate a percentage of every dollar you spend to environmentally sustainable causes. You could be helping the fight against climate change every time you use your card.
Green credit cards vs traditional credit cards: The differences
Green credit cards offer the same perks as traditional credit cards, for the most part. Consumers who use eco-friendly credit cards often receive points that can be redeemed for cash back or travel incentives as you would with traditional cards.
The primary distinction is that green, eco-friendly credit cards reward you for making particular types of purchases, encouraging you to lessen your carbon footprint with every purchase.
Paying off your bill on time and remaining under your credit limit with any type of credit card (green or traditional) may help you avoid paying interest on cash advances and balance transfers, as well as other fees.
What are the benefits of having a green credit card?
The advantage of having a green credit card is that you may use your card or points to help the environment, support environmentally friendly businesses, and for other specialized objectives:
- If you utilize public transportation frequently, such as buses, trains, or subways, you can earn bonus points through transit reward offers.
- You support environmentally friendly businesses that are actively protecting the environment.
- You receive bonus points by purchasing organic groceries, clothing, or ecologically beneficial products through green shopping reward offers.
- If you travel regularly outside of the country, you’ll appreciate the piece of mind that comes with knowing you can use your card without incurring currency conversion fees; typically there are no foreign transaction fees.
- Certain cards may offer a “first year fee free” incentive.
Finding the best green credit card for you
When we started our search for the top environmentally friendly credit cards, we had to deviate from our standard criteria of rating cards based on customer advantages, rewards, and welcome bonuses.
Through this new approach we discovered a number of cards from banks that have a history of divesting from the fossil fuel business to invest in greener ideas, and supporting local, community-based environmental projects.
We want you to know this list can be viewed as a starting point for your search for more sustainable credit cards, rather than a full index of the top green credit cards.
All of the cards on our list made it to the top of the stack because the issuer or bank behind them offers environmentally friendly or socially responsible financial solutions.
It was surprising to find that several cards we expected to be backed by green values, like the REI Mastercard, were really backed by banks with large investments in fossil fuel markets. Although these banks may be making limited progress toward a more sustainable future, we believe that the spotlight should be on those leading the pack of sustainable lending.
If you would like to continue your search, here are some steps we recommend to get started:
- Make a list of the kind of purchases you make on a daily basis to choose a green, ecologically friendly credit card that fits your spending patterns and lifestyle.
- Create a monthly budget that details how much you’re willing to spend on credit card purchases in total.
- Choose a credit card brand and search for the greenest, most ecologically friendly credit cards that meet your spending patterns and lifestyle.
Final Thoughts
These are just a handful of our current top picks among the best green credit cards available. The cards listed here allow you to accumulate points for each purchase that you can redeem for refunds or discounts on environmentally friendly items and services, as well as direct donations to charities. It’s never been easier than it is now, due in large part to these forward-thinking businesses and organizations, to fight climate change.
While these are our favorite, it is important that you pick the card that best fits your spending habits and environmental priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions on Green Credit Cards
What questions do they ask when getting a credit card?
Although credit card issuers may want different information, the following is a typical list of what you’ll need to provide:
- Social Security number
- Income
- Date of birth
- Contact information
- Agreement to terms and conditions
- Authorized users
What is an ethical credit card?
Customers are not exploited by an ethical credit card company. It offers competitive interest rates, reasonable costs, and clear policies. It also makes an effort to be environmentally conscious.
What is a socially responsible credit card?
Credit cards are socially responsible based on the bank that issues them. Banks that are socially responsible make contributions to social, environmental, and other vital charity causes through their operations. Ethical credit cards help these charities by donating a small portion of each transaction, often at no cost to the cardholder.
Is Mastercard eco-friendly?
Mastercard joined RE100, a group of prominent companies dedicated to achieving zero carbon emissions, to formally state our commitment to continue procuring 100 percent renewable energy throughout our global operations.
