More About Public Banking
1-Why Is WILPF US Promoting Public Banking?
WILPF and our allies in peace activism, environmental activism, gun control, and work against corruption in government favor public banking. Public banking is a needed alternative to huge too-big-to-fail banks which seek profits for a few, not well-being for all.
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Economic inequality and corruption lead inevitably to conflict and violence. Economic justice and people-centered economic policy helps support peace.
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Public banking is an effective tool for ‘moving the money’ away from funding war and weapons, and towards people-centered services that keep everyone safe.
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Public banks can provide more stability against Wall Street gamblers and the devastating effects of policies and financial strategies good for Wall Street but awful for Main Street.
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Public banks can keep local savings and investment local by expanding the lending capacity of credit unions and community banks and by giving local governments and community institutions a responsible place to keep their money.
- Public banks can prioritize equitable, affordable, and safe mortgages; invest in local small businesses and new entrepreneurs; lower student debt interest rate; and reduce the billions of dollars states and cities pay to the big banks in service fees.
This toolkit is an anthology of recommended books and articles, resources for further reading, and materials you can use to get started organizing a new public bank in your city or state.
- Find out what public banks are and what makes them different from the big privately owned, transnational banks and investment firms.
- Learn how public banks can support credit unions and community banks and expand their lending capacities.
- Discover the ways public banking can offer advantages for moving the money to human needs
-from war and war-profiteering,
-out of climate-threatening extractive fossil fuel industry investment,
-away from far flung investment that steals bank reserves from
local small businesses, local home financing, and affordable
student loans.
- Find fact sheets and handouts, talking points, and articles to share.
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See where public banking initiatives have started and how you can support initiatives which are already underway or help begin the dialogue locally.
DOWNLOAD the 45-page toolkit document here.
3-Sign up for the ‘deep dive’ series of 5 virtual workshops to get up to speed and start working locally for a public bank in your state.
(Starting Friday, April 16, 8pm Eastern.)
Our partner An Economy of Our Own (AEOO) is planning a five-session webinar series of workshops that unite activists with experienced public banking experts working in their own states to grow this solution. Get the link to register by sending an email to publicbanking.wilpf@gmail.com.
4- Learn About Active Public Banking Initiatives in Your State!
You can access up-to-the-moment reports about your state from the Public Banking Institute here and here
Learn what legislation is being proposed in Massachusetts and how you can support it.
Please contact me with any questions.
Your help in Massachusetts can really make a difference!
Marybeth Gardam
Chair, Women, Money & Democracy Committee of WILPF US
