February 25, 2010

Flatirons Bank announced today that it has been awarded LEED® for Commercial Interiors (CI) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the first bank in Boulder County to earn the honor.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is the national benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance sustainable buildings. Flatirons Bank, Boulder County's only locally owned, locally managed community bank, earned LEED certification for the interior of its newly constructed bank located at 1095 Canyon Boulevard.

"We designed our downtown Boulder facility to be a physical representation of our bank's commitment to sustainability," said Mark Yost, chairman of the bank. "It is tangible evidence of our overall business practices that embrace high performance standards in every way - from banking services and products to facilities and day-to-day operations."

The bank's interior, designed by Eric Smith Associates, P.C. and Communication Arts, Inc., was constructed entirely with recycled, rapidly renewable or repurposed materials; hand-crafted decors made by local artisans; energy-efficient lighting; Greenguard certified furniture, fabrics and carpet and Energy Star rated appliances. Local Drystack Sandstone was used to create a unique feature wall and wind energy supplies a portion of the bank's required power. The bank has a modular wall system constructed of more the 50% recycled content.

In keeping with its energy-conscious mission, Flatirons Bank officers also drive fuel-efficient Ford Escape Hybrids, which meet strict low emissions standards and offer eco-friendly interiors.

Earning LEED-CI certification places Flatirons Bank among an elite group of properties within the United States. Currently there is only one other bank in the state of Colorado that has secured LEED-CI Gold certification.

Flatirons Bank currently has $102 million in assets and is opening a branch office at Main and 4th Avenue in Longmont in April, subject to regulatory approval. It has earned Bankrate.com's highest rating of five stars for its capital strength, and is a member of the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service® (CDARS®) network which provides FDIC insurance on deposits of up to $50 million.