A Model for Building Progressive Alternative Financial Institutions Across the Nation

Program-Related Investment Opportunity with Public Bank East Bay

Public Bank East Bay (PBEB) is ready to become the country’s first public bank in over a century.

This is your opportunity to help launch a permanent, community-governed financial institution that uses public money in the public interest and demonstrates how this can work nationwide.

We are seeking partners to help cities and counties in the East Bay capitalize PBEB.

We have a fully developed business plan, a slate of qualified and visionary potential directors, official endorsements from 70+ local nonprofits, unions, grassroots organizations, and political groups and 25+ elected officials representing every jurisdiction that we expect to serve.

Under the terms of the California Public Banking Act, all PRI and similar capitalization investments in local public banks will have to be made to a government entity and earmarked for capitalization funds for PBEB.

Why This Is a Strategic PRI

For foundations that make Program Related Investments, PBEB offers:

  • Mission alignment with multiple issue areas: housing, climate, racial justice, small business, and local economic development

  • A scalable, permanent solution to address funding gaps in perpetuity

  • Social and economic returns in the community and an ability to reinvest  

  • Eligibility for the 5% payout rule required for private foundations   

As a public bank, no other kind of institution can offer PRIs a 10x value multiplier and no expectation of a need for more donated capital in the future.

A Nationally Relevant Investment

Public Bank East Bay will be the first community-led public bank created in the U.S. in over 100 years, other cities and states are watching. PBEB will be:

  • A proof of concept for democratically governed public finance

  • A model that other regions seeking local resilience can replicate with confidence

  • A strategic investment in the future of values-aligned banking.

Let’s Talk

Be part of launching the next public bank and reshaping the financial landscape in the East Bay and beyond.

Email us at connect@publicbankeastbay.org

We look forward to hearing from you.