Milestones

A History of Sustainability Achievements

Facilities continuously adapt to new challenges and capture emerging opportunities to deliver on the bank’s commitment to operate in ways that are better for both people and the planet. Discover what First National has accomplished to advance our goals.

2019: Baseline Greenhouse Gas Inventory

FNBO established its first greenhouse gas inventory and incorporated an environmental initiative into its long-standing corporate social responsibility efforts.

2020: Waste Audit

FNBO conducted its first waste audit across five locations — the Tower, Main Bank, Tech Center, Business Park, and Plaza — to streamline its waste management system and improve diversion from the landfill. Over 10 days, 720 pounds of waste were hand-sorted into 10 categories and weighed to determine composition.

2020: First Sustainability Master Plan 

FNBO developed its first Sustainability Master Plan through an internal planning process that encompassed goal-setting, strategy ideation, and prioritization.

2020: Decommission Fuel Cell at Tech Center

First National decommissioned the natural gas fuel cell at the Tech Center. This change led to a reduction of 500 metric tons of carbon dioxide from natural gas annually, making it one of the single largest emissions reductions in FNBO’s sustainability history.

2021: Community Solar in Illinois Market

FNBO entered into a community solar agreement for our Illinois branches. Thanks to this agreement, 70% of our electricity usage in this state will come from solar energy.

2022: LED Upgrades 

All interior and exterior lighting was converted to LED across Texas, Illinois, Kansas, and Colorado branches. 

2022: Waste Overhaul at Tower

FNBO implemented a new waste diversion plan that features mixed recycling, compost, Hefty ReNew, paper shredding, and landfill disposal options on each floor. Landfill waste bins were removed from individual workstations and replaced with centralized waste stations with dedicated receptacles for each stream and clear sorting instructions.  

2023: Real Estate Rationalization

FNBO has prioritized downsizing occupied building space as a strategy to reduce utility demand and operational expenses. In 2023, FNBO eliminated 171,000 square feet of real estate from its footprint.

2023: Tower Transformation Complete

In November 2023, the Tower underwent a significant redesign to transform the building into a modern flexible workspace. Significant investments were made to update mechanical equipment and building systems to improve energy efficiency. 

2024: OPPD REC Program Enrollment at Tower

FNBO began purchasing 100% renewable electricity for our corporate headquarters through enrollment in Omaha Public Power District’s renewable energy certificates (REC) program.

2024: Waste Audit at Tower

In June 2024, a waste audit conducted at the Tower revealed that the building achieved an 88% diversion across compost, mixed recycling, soft plastics recycling, and shredded paper recycling streams.   

2025: Business Park OPPD REC Program Enrollment 

FNBO began purchasing 100% renewable electricity for Business Park through enrollment in Omaha Public Power District’s REC program.

2025: Omaha LED Lighting Upgrade Complete

Throughout the year, all remaining non-LED interior lighting was replaced across FNBO’s Omaha-area branches.

2025: Business Park Waste Program Planning

Facilities staff toured Business Park to identify waste infrastructure and educational opportunities to support FNBO’s net-zero waste goal for corporate buildings. The new waste program will include updated bin locations, additional waste streams, and a staff communication campaign. 

2026: Tech Center OPPD REC Enrollment

Beginning January 1, 2026, all of FNBO’s corporate buildings were enrolled in the OPPD REC program and receive 100% renewable electricity.

What to expect in 2026

FNBO enters 2026 with incredible momentum behind its sustainability initiatives. Facilities’ work is already underway with the following planned improvements:

• Onboard former Country Club Bank facilities to the sustainability program
• Waste diversion program rollout at Business Park and select Omaha branches
• Waste audits at the Tech Center, Tower, and Business Park
• Complete interior LED lighting upgrades in Nebraska and Wyoming
• Complete distributive pumping system installation for Business Park and Tower HVAC systems