
FinTech News
GreenFi Launches After Spinning Off From Aspiration
Coinciding with Earth Day today, GreenFi has officially launched.
About GreenFi:
In 2024, Mission Financial Partners acquired the consumer banking portion of Aspiration (with the carbon credit segment now known as Catona Climate). Today, that FinTech platform rebranded to GreenFi. Despite the name change, the platform continues to provide climate-friendly banking and investing options.
Alongside the launch, it was announced that GreenFi recently raised $17 million. This seed round was led by GreenFi’s founder and CEO Tim Newell.
The launch of GreenFi also comes as Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg was arrested last month and accused of defrauding investors.
As for GreenFi, it continues to offer several of the same features as its predecessor. This includes the ability for customers to earn up to 3% APY on savings, up to 6% cashback on purchases from more than 100 climate-friendly brands, fee-free ATM access, and more. It also offers a Plant Your Change option, enabling customers to round up their transactions in order to support tree planting efforts.
According to an FAQ, the transition from Aspiration to GreenFi will be seamless for existing customers as accounts will automatically transfer. However, looking ahead, the company plans to introduce enhanced financial products, including higher-yield savings accounts, credit cards, and “green loans.”
What They’re Saying:
Announcing the new brand name and launch, Newell said, “We’re proud to launch GreenFi, a brand that demonstrates you can prioritize both your financial well-being and the planet. GreenFi offers our customers an easy way to align their financial goals with their values, knowing their money is supporting a healthier environment.”
Newell went on to say, “All of us have the power to make a real difference right now, despite what we see happening in the world, by simply choosing where to bank. Every dollar spent, invested, or saved with GreenFi is a choice that helps build a sustainable future.”
My Thoughts:
WOW! I apparently missed a lot of Aspiration drama. While it was becoming clear that the core company was losing interest in the neobank operations, I didn’t realize they had spun off. It certainly seems as though it was for the best given the recent headlines regarding its former parent company. On that note, while I’m guessing the move to GreenFi has been in the works for a while, I’m sure there was extra motivation to get this rebrand launch ASAP (lining it up with Earth Day was an A+ move as well).
Now that GreenFi is back on my radar, I am interested to see what they have to offer going forward. After all, while I wasn’t impressed with the Aspiration Credit Card the first time around, I have some hope that Newell can find a better solution under this new brand. With that, I wish GreenFi luck.