According to an article in GreenerBuildings, Wachovia plans to build at least 300 LEED-certified green financial centers by the year 2010. It will begin opening its new California offices in 2007, and by the end of 2008 every new Wachovia financial center opened throughout the U.S. will be built to LEED specifications.

Doesn’t sound like something a banker would do? Consider this:

“Wachovia expects to save up to $80,000 in construction costs for each of the new financial centers over a traditionally constructed branch, in addition to a reduction in operating costs of about 20 percent in the first year. “

Save money and reap the PR benefits of ‘going green’? Even in the slow-to-change world of banking, this could launch a trend.