If you want to have a positive impact on the planet in your everyday life, consider switching to a sustainable card. These eco-friendly credit cards and debit cards are designed for earth-conscious consumers who want to make a difference, give back, and think green when they spend. Find out which one is right for you here.

If you’re concerned about your impact on the planet, it’s natural to wonder if you could be doing more.

Maybe you’ve already ditched the plastic straws, you bring your own bags to the grocery store, and you flip the light off in every room you leave. But have you thought about your money?

Choosing the right credit cards and debit cards can be another way to help the planet and fight climate change. Here are some of the top green credit and debit cards of the year along with tips for deciding if this type of card is right for you.

Top 9 green credit cards and debit cards

Best credit card for cash back: Maximum Rewards® World Mastercard® by Amalgamated Bank

Best socially responsible credit card: Rewards Platinum Visa® from Green America

Best credit card for charitable donations: Charity Charge Card

Best secured credit card: Secured Mastercard® by Amalgamated Bank

Best credit card for travel: Visa Signature Card (Climate Card) by Beneficial State Bank

Visa Signature Climate Card by Beneficial State Bank

Best fee-free credit card (for people in Washington): Verity Signature Rewards Visa

Verity Signature Rewards Visa credit card

Best debit card for earning rewards and interest: Aspiration Spend & Save

Aspiration Spend and Save debit

Best debit card for eco-friendly spending: Future Card

FutureCard debit card

Best business credit card for nonprofits: Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card

Charity Charge Card credit card for nonprofits

Best for cash back: Maximum Rewards® World Mastercard® by Amalgamated Bank

Maximum Rewards World Mastercard by Amalgamated BankPros

  • No annual fee
  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
  • $30 bonus (30,000 points) when you spend $600 within the first three billing cycles
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles

Cons

  • Higher variable APR on purchases and balance transfers after the introductory period
  • 3% foreign transaction fee

Features

  • Travel insurance including

Amalgamated Bank supports a number of different causes from environmental sustainability to workers’ rights, and it’s union-owned to boot. Founded in 1923, it’s been rallying behind rallying people for over a century. It’s net-zero and run on renewable energy, pro-union, an ally to immigrants, and politically progressive.

But we’re here to talk about the credit card too. The Maximum Rewards® World Mastercard® is a rewards credit card that earns 1.5% rewards on all purchases. It’s got a great 12-month intro APR, a signup bonus, and good redemption flexibility — all without an annual fee.

Choose this option if you want to have your cake and eat it too (i.e. side with a bank that’s doing some good and still get a great flat-rate cash back card).

Learn more.

Best socially responsible card: Rewards Platinum Visa® from Green America

Rewards Platinum Visa from Green AmericaPros

  • No annual fee
  • Unlimited one point per dollar on all purchases
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles
  • $150,000 in Travel Accident Insurance

Cons

  • 1% foreign transaction fee

Features

  • Donates a portion of profits to charities
  • ID Navigator Powered by NortonLifeLock

Maybe you’ve heard of Green America, the nonprofit working to combat climate change, promote ethical practices and corporate governance, fight for social justice, and more. Green America’s work covers a broad range of issues, and its credit card, the Rewards Platinum Visa®, supports these efforts with every transaction. And it earns unlimited points on everything.

This affinity card has a fairly competitive APR, doesn’t charge an annual fee, and has a few nice benefits like travel insurance and a lower foreign transaction fee. But it’s not perfect, and we wish it were more clear about how donations worked and where exactly they were going.

This is a good choice if you’re interested in socially responsible causes and giving back.

Learn more.

Best card for charitable donations: Charity Charge Card

Charity Charge Card credit cardPros

  • No annual fee
  • Lower interest rate on purchases

Cons

  • Does not earn rewards
  • 2% foreign transaction fee

Features

  • Donates 1% of all purchases to the charity of your choice

The Charity Charge Card automatically gives to charity every time you use it. Can your current card do that?

When you apply for this credit card, you get to choose the nonprofit you want your spending to automatically benefit. If a nonprofit is set up to receive credit card donations, it is likely available as an option. Bonus: your donations may qualify for charitable tax deductions, which can help the fact that you otherwise won’t earn rewards or cash back sting a little less.

Since donations are calculated as a percentage of spending, you’ll have a greater impact the more regularly you use this card. If you don’t want to miss out on rewards entirely, you could use this card for some of your spending that wouldn’t qualify for the best rates otherwise.

Learn more.

Read more: Want To Help But Can’t Give Cash? 10 Alternatives To Donating Money

Best secured credit card: Secured Mastercard® by Amalgamated Bank

Maximum Rewards World Mastercard by Amalgamated BankPros

  • Potential for a credit limit increase in as little as seven months after opening
  • Set your own credit line between $300 and $5,000
  • Potential to receive security deposit back in as little as 11 months with on-time payments

Cons

  • Does not earn rewards or cash back
  • $35 annual fee
  • 3% foreign transaction fee

Features

  • Set your own limit and qualify for a credit limit increase

The Secured Mastercard® by Amalgamated Bank is a decent low-fee secured card for eco-conscious borrowers. It has a minimum limit of $300 and a maximum of $5,000, and your line is determined by your security deposit. This carries a modest annual fee (for a secured card) of $35 and fairly average interest rates, and it’s a little more flexible than the average competitor.

You may be eligible for a credit limit increase in as little as seven months after opening an account with responsible use and can get your deposit back in less than a year.

This is a good option for borrowers with little or poor credit, but you should only choose this if you couldn’t qualify for one of the others, as it doesn’t earn rewards and has higher fees.

Learn more.

Best for travel: Visa Signature Card (Climate Card) by Beneficial State Bank

Visa Signature Climate Card by Beneficial State BankPros

  • No annual fee
  • Unlimited one point per dollar on all purchases

Cons

  • 1% foreign transaction fee

Features

  • Travel insurance and protection including: Travel & emergency assistance services, travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, and roadside dispatch

Beneficial State Bank is a purpose-driven financial institution with an eco-friendly card for people who may want their spending to help out green charities and nonprofits.

The Climate Card is similar to the Rewards Platinum Visa by Green America in that it earns flat-rate rewards that can be donated to charity. But unlike the Green America card, the Climate Card has you choose what happens to your points. So if you want to donate them, you can. But if you want to instead redeem for cash or travel, that’s your prerogative too.

This is a good travel card because it has a 1% foreign transaction fee (compared to 1% or 2%) and comes with benefits like insurance and roadside dispatch. And because it lets you choose between keeping your points and donating them, it’s also one of the most flexible choices.

Learn more.

Best fee-free credit card (for people in Washington): Verity Signature Rewards Visa

Verity Signature Rewards Visa credit cardPros

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles

Cons

  • Only people in Washington state are eligible to join Verity Credit Union

Features

  • Signature Rewards Visa protection benefits including: extended warranty protection, emergency assistance travel services, accident insurance, and more

Credit cards without foreign transaction fees can be hard to come by, but this card makes it happen. The Signature Rewards Visa by Verity Credit Union charges no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, giving it a huge advantage over all the others on this list. But it has the huge disadvantage of being only available to people in the state of Washington.

Points can be redeemed for cash, travel, gift cards, or purchases and there are no restrictions for earning. There’s also an intro APR offer of 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, making this comparable to many rewards cards on the market. If you do qualify to join Verity, consider it for this — especially if you’re on the fence about eco-friendly cards.

This is a good card from an admirable credit union, but it won’t be a fit for everyone (or most).

Learn more.

Best debit card for earning: Aspiration Spend and Save

Aspiration Spend and Save debitPros

  • Up to 10% cash back on eligible Conscience Coalition purchases
  • Earns up to 3.00% interest with qualifying debit activity

Cons

  • Monthly fees for the Plus Plan ($7.99 a month paid monthly or $5.99 a month paid annually)
  • Does not earn cash back on all purchases
  • Does not build credit

Features

  • $10 minimum deposit
  • Additional green benefits like carbon offsetting and planting trees with purchases

The Aspiration Spend & Save account offers a debit card that earns rewards like a credit card and comes with a whole host of eco-friendly benefits. There are two plans to choose from.

The base Aspiration plan uses a “pay what is fair” fee structure and the Aspiration Plus plan costs $5.99 or $7.99 a month depending on if you pay monthly or annually. The Aspiration plan pays up to 1.00% interest and up to 3% – 5% cash back while the Aspiration Plus plan pays up to 3.00% interest and 10% cash back on Conscience Coalition spending.

Both have features like early direct deposit and the ability to plant trees when you spend, but only the Aspiration Plus account includes additional automatic offsets and Purchase Assurance. If you decide this account is right for you, pick the Plus Plan to maximize benefits.

Read our full Aspiration review.

Aspiration Zero Credit Card

Aspiration used to offer a credit card called the Aspiration Zero Credit Card, but they are no longer accepting new applications. Now, this bank’s only individual solution is the Spend & Save account, a rewards-earning checking account with a debit card.

Best debit card for eco-friendly spending: FutureCard Visa Debit Card

FutureCard debit cardPros

  • No monthly fees or annual fee
  • 6% cash back on eligible purchases at FuturePartners
  • 5% cash back on “climate-smart spending” purchases such as EV charging, bikes and scooters, public transit, etc.

Cons

  • Does not earn cash back on all purchases
  • Does not build credit

Features

  • See your climate impact using your FutureScore
  • Complete missions to earn FutureCoins

The FutureCard Visa Debit Card earns rewards based on your spending habits. The more eco-friendly your purchases, the more you’ll earn.

With this card, you’ll get points for “climate-smart spending.” This is defined as purchases with a lower carbon footprint, and examples include electric vehicle charging and secondhand items. There’s no cap on earnings but you won’t earn cash back on all purchases.

This card is also unique because it provides you with a summary of your impact in the form of a FutureScore. The app then gives you suggestions for living more sustainably and pays FutureCoins, which can be redeemed for cash, when you complete Missions. Look out for promotions and bonus days to earn even more cash back on your purchases.

Learn more.

Best business credit card for nonprofits: Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card

Charity Charge Card credit card for nonprofitsPros

  • No annual fee
  • Discounts and rebates on business spending

Cons

  • Does not earn rewards

Features

  • Mastercard Zero Liability protection

If you own or work for a nonprofit and are looking for a business credit card, look no further than the Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card. This business card is exclusively for nonprofits and works with over 2,000 nonprofits to meet their spending and financing needs.

This card doesn’t charge an annual fee and offers service benefits specifically geared toward not-for-profit rather than for-profit institutions. These include expert guidance from the support team and dedicated representatives.

The Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card is ideal for nonprofits with less credit to work with, especially newer and growing organizations.

Learn more.

🌳 What is an eco-friendly credit card?

Person shopping for fruit with a reusable produce bag

An eco-friendly credit card or green credit card has a positive environmental impact.

There isn’t one single type of eco-friendly credit card, as the term “green” looks a little different to everyone, but the point is that they’re better for the planet. There are also green and eco-friendly debit cards.

A card might be green if it:

  • Has a smaller carbon footprint than the average card
  • Rewards you for eco-friendly spending
  • Donates to environmental nonprofits
  • Plants trees with each transaction

These are just a few examples.

There are also cards that have a more general positive impact. For example, they might support socially responsible missions such as fair labor and equal housing. These can benefit the planet but might also benefit other causes as well. The Rewards Platinum Visa® from Green America is a good example of this.

Pros and cons of greener cards

Green credit and debit cards aren’t for everyone, but for some might be just what they’ve been looking for. Here are a few of the main pros and cons to consider with this type of product.

👍 Pros

Eco-friendly cards offer many benefits for people with environmental — or financial — goals.

Some allow you to donate to charities without using money out of your own pocket, and these donations could be tax deductible. The best ones even let you choose the charity.

Others incentivize you to be more eco-friendly in your spending habits by handing you the most rewards points for green purchases. This could help you live more sustainably.

And a few have their own unique benefits, like Aspiration’s tree-planting with transactions.

Many of these cards earn some sort of rewards for spending, with several offering flat rates on everything. And a handful also have everyday perks like purchase protection and discounts too.

👎 Cons

While greener cards offer benefits like lowering your impact and motivating yourself to make more sustainable choices, they do require you to compromise in some areas.

When it comes to rewards you actually earn, most of these cards just aren’t as competitive as others. The highest rate we’ve seen for green credit cards is 1.5% cash back, and this is the lowest base rate for many of the best rewards cards out there. And you might not have a lot of flexibility in how you redeem these rewards with an eco-friendly card.

These cards also don’t have as much going for them in the perks department. They have leaner travel benefits, if any at all, and very few free features.

Sure, the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping the planet is rewarding, but it might not help you save money and isn’t as flashy as what other cards offer.

Who are eco-friendly credit cards and debit cards best for?

If your spending habits make sense for one of these cards and you’re willing to compromise on rewards some in order to do good with your dollars, an eco-friendly card could be right for you.

You might decide to go green with your card because you don’t want to support big banks with harmful practices that hurt the planet, people, or both. For example, many major card issuers are responsible for enormous carbon footprints and lend money to fossil fuel companies.

Some are also involved in scandals, wrapped up in politics, and sneaky about where they spend money. It’s not a good look.

If you want to be part of something different, these cards are just one way to do that.

Read more: What is public banking?

Who are eco-friendly credit cards and debit cards not ideal for?

Don’t go for a green credit card or socially responsible card if your number one priority is earning the most rewards. These cards have lower payouts than others, fewer options for redemption, and often less earning flexibility.

Eco-friendly credit and debit cards are not yet on par with the rest of the options in the personal finance world. And until they have higher rewards rates and more benefits overall, they’re not likely to become mainstream any time soon.

Fortunately for those who want to help the planet but don’t want to sign up for one of these cards, there are other ways to spend more sustainably. This next section is for you.

What if you don’t want a green credit card?

If you don’t want to have to compromise on rewards — or you just don’t need a new card — but still want to make a positive impact, you can skip the card and do these things:

Click the link below for more ways to make your money green.

Read more: 12 easy ways to make your money green and protect our planet

Summary

There are many green credit and debit cards to choose from, each with its own benefits for your wallet and the environment. We’ve highlighted the best here, but even some of these leave a little to be desired when it comes to rewards earning, perks, and redemption.

But if this category catches on as consumers grow more conscious of their impact on the planet, more eco-friendly cards will be available and this space will become more competitive.

Read more:

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About the author

Total Articles: 26
Lauren Graves is a personal finance writer specializing in honest brand and product reviews. She wants to help people feel less stressed when they spend their hard-earned cash and do her part to make money make sense.