We’ve put together essential resources to support the push for public banking in Los Angeles and beyond! Check out the strategies that are driving real change in cities across the state. Our resources include lending and investment reports, business plans, municipal documents, and organizing tools from the LA public banking movement.
Public Banking Movement Resources
Public Banking in California Webinar
With the federal landscape up in the air, there’s no better time to double down on local, community-driven change. Join us online on November 19th at 10am PST for a conversation on the transformative potential of public banks in California. We’ll cover how public banks can support local economic growth, fund affordable housing, and expand financing options for small businesses in communities of color. Hear about the steps to establish public banks statewide and how philanthropy can play a key role in bringing this vision to life.
Our speakers include Bianca Blomquist from Small Business Majority, Eric Payne of The Central Valley Urban Institute, Rebeca Rangel from Asset Funders Network, Sophia Rodriguez of the Y&H Soda Foundation, and Trinity Tran, co-founder of Public Bank LA and the California Public Banking Alliance. Don’t miss this important conversation!
REGISTER HERE
Event Recap: Partnership for the People – Public Banks & CDFIs at the OFN Conference in LA
At the recent Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) conference in Los Angeles, our “Partnership for the People: Public Banks and CDFIs” panel filled the room with bankers, CDFI professionals, and community advocates eager to learn.
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are lenders focused on bringing affordable financing to underserved communities. They support small businesses, affordable housing, and local projects that big banks often miss, helping support economic growth where it’s needed most.
Led by moderator Neha Shah (Director, Head of Community Development Lending, Charles Schwab) and featuring speakers Dave Jette (Co-Founder, Public Bank LA; Legislative Co-Director, California Public Banking Alliance), Steve Dusek (CEO, Dakota Business Lending), and Melissa Marquez (CEO, Genesee Co-op Federal Credit Union and public banking leader in New York), the panel discussed how public banks can reshape communities nationwide.
Key Takeaways:
- The CA Public Banking Act: Our pioneering legislation enables California cities to establish public banks. The panel explored how public banks, alongside CDFIs, are bridging critical funding gaps for local community initiatives.
- A Proven Partnership Model: As the nation’s first and only state-owned public bank, the Bank of North Dakota’s collaboration with Dakota Business Lending shows the strength of public banks partnering with CDFIs to empower small businesses—especially those led by underserved women and Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Check out our Public Banks and CDFI flyer and stay tuned for the event recording!
Join the Public Banking Movement! CDFIs & Local Banks Partnerships
Are you a CDFI or community lender ready to be part of the change? Public banks and CDFIs are teaming up to transform our financial system—funding affordable housing, supporting small businesses, and backing green energy projects to keep public dollars invested locally. This isn’t just a movement; it’s a step toward real economic justice.
Get Involved
Connect with public banking efforts near you, access resources, and make an impact. Join focus groups, advisory panels, and roundtables to help shape the future of public banking in your community.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Advocacy campaigns
- Focus groups & advisory panels
- Stakeholder roundtables
- Volunteer opportunities: lend your skills to lead public banking initiatives in your city or region!
Sign up at capublicbanking.com/CDFIs to stay connected and become part of the financial revolution working to put communities first!
