Pasadena-based OneWest Bank announced Thursday that it will plant 50,000 trees in the Sierra Nevada in partnership with One Tree Planted, a reforestation-focused nonprofit group.
The initiative is the result of OWB’s Green Checking campaign to plant 30 trees on behalf of each customer that opened a qualifying checking account during the campaign period, according to bank officials.
One Tree Planted will organize the planting of the trees to help restore and recover forest habitats that have been impacted by wildfires in the region.
The collaboration is a continuation of a four-year partnership between OneWest Bank’s parent company CIT Bank, N.A., and the nonprofit, which has led to the planting of about 170,000 trees, according to Heather Ellison, senior vice president of retail banking at CIT.
“Our Green Checking campaign made it easy for our customers to invest in their financial futures, as well as the future of their communities during a time of increased need due to wildfires in California,” she said.