Transforming our shared future with public banking.
Why us? Why now?
We will be a nonprofit wholesale bank that lends to and accepts deposits from local municipalities and mission-aligned financial institutions, foundations, unions, and others.
When we open, we will leverage those funds by investing them into local initiatives that create opportunity, are consistent with community values, and grow the local economy.
What do you want in your neighborhood?
More homes? Thriving small businesses? Good jobs? Clean energy? Gathering places?
These don’t happen by accident—they happen when our values and our resources align.
How is a public bank different?
Money our cities and county collect in taxes and fees doesn’t just sit in a bank. It is deposited into big banks that use our public dollars to invest in distant projects for the purpose of maximizing profits for CEOs and billionaire oligarchs. In addition, cities and counties pay high interest rates and service fees on loans. In 2020, Oakland alone paid big banks more than $60 million in interest on its loans.
This cycle siphons billions of dollars from the East Bay economy every year, turning public funds into private profits.
A public bank flips the script.
Our loans will offer lower interest rates and fees for community-wide projects. As the loans are repaid, that money will return to the community through the form of new loans for more initiatives. No siphoning.
Over time, available funds for lending will grow exponentially to help sustain a local economy and fund projects that are consistent with our shared values and needs.
What could a public bank do for Alameda County within 10 years?
Affordable Housing
3,800+
Housing units built or preserved by unions and local hires, adding to property tax revenue.
Clean Energy
6M
Green Megawatt Hours produced, enough to power 54,000+ homes for 10 years and beyond.
Small Business
1,000+
New worker-owner businesses created, adding to sales tax revenue.
Updates
Join Us
We are a 100% volunteer-run organization, inspired to build the first public bank in California’s history.
Connect with us and we will match your skills and interests with the best opportunities.
We welcome you—your heart, your sense of urgency, and your belief in this mission and this community.
"Now more than ever, we need to localize and democratize our resources to meet the urgent challenges of climate change. A local public bank, like Public Bank East Bay can help fund investments in clean, renewable energy and ensure that our financial systems serve people, not profit."
Jessica Guadalupe Tovar, Executive Director of the Local Clean Energy Alliance