The document advocates for the establishment of a DC public bank, a publicly owned financial institution aimed at supporting local businesses, affordable housing, and sustainable development. It highlights the bank's role in partnering with local lenders to provide loans, manage government deposits, and enhance the city's financial health without competing with existing financial institutions. Community input will be encouraged through neighborhood meetings, and residents can support this initiative through advocacy and participating in events.

1. What do we mean by a DC Public Bank?
A public financial institution owned by the people
through their government rather than by private
shareholders

2. The DC Public Banking Center advocates for the creation of a DC public
bank that would make loans in partnership with local financial institutions.

3. Our Vision
A publicly owned, publicly accountable bank in
D.C. which, in partnership with local financial
institutions, delivers quality, sound financial
services that will
help create an environmentally sustainable DC;
promote local jobs, sustainable local businesses
and affordable housing in the city; and
enhance the financial health of the city's general
fund.

4. A DC Public Bank would…
 Receive DC government deposits
 Process DC government payments
 Issue loans in partnership with local lenders
 Earn interest on its investments and loans

5. Benefits of a DC Public Bank
Creates new jobs and spurs economic growth
Promotes a Sustainable DC
Enhances the financial health and security of
the city's general fund
Provides lower short-term borrowing costs for
DC government
Strengthens small businesses

6. DC Public Bank can raise government
revenues by…
Increasing local tax base by helping local
businesses to thrive and increasing local
employment
Providing short-term low-interest loans to the
government
Returning dividends to the government when
the bank has fully matured

7. When a government borrows from its own
bank, the interest returns to the public.
Public bank profits feed the economy rather
than feeding off it.

8. Would a DC Public Bank
Compete with other lenders?
NO!
 DCPB would not have local branches.
 DCPB would make loans in partnership with
local lenders.
 Like BND, DCPB would support community
banks. Today ND has a stronger system of
independent banks than neighboring states.

9. Would a DC Public Bank
Speculate in Risky Investments
Or Be Subject to Bail-Ins?
NO!
 DCPB would make loans in the local economy
and would be forbidden from speculating in
derivatives.
 DCPB would not be under the authority of the
Federal Reserve or the FDIC.

10. Who would manage the DC Bank?
 An independent Board of Directors would
oversee the bank.
 Professional bankers in good standing would
run the bank.
…Not DC politicians!

11. Will DC Residents Have Input?
Yes! DC residents would establish lending
priorities for the public bank through
neighborhood meetings to identify local needs.
Further collaborative public processes will need
to be developed.

12. How would the DC public bank
be created?
Either by an act of the City Council
Or by a city referendum/initiative implemented
by the City Council

13. You’ve convinced me!
How can I get involved in
supporting a DC Public Bank?

14. You can introduce your friends and
neighbors to public banking
 Tell them about us
 Refer them to dcpublicbanking.org
 Invite them to one of our events
 Invite them to have coffee in your home
and meet someone on the Steering
Committee
 Invite us to speak at a group meeting like
your church or citizens/civic association

15. How else can I get involved in
supporting a DC Public Bank?
 Sign our petition calling for a DC
public bank at
dcpublicbanking.org
 Learn more at
dcpublicbanking.org

16. Ruth Caplan, Co-chair
Steve Seuser, Co-chair
Mary Bolton
David Easley
Raghu Raghavan
David Schwartzman
Paris Von Lockette
DC Public Banking Center
Steering Committee

17. DC PBC Advisory Board
Gar Alperovitz, historian, political economist, author America Beyond Capitalism; founding
principal of University of Maryland-based Democracy Collaborative
Brent Blackwelder, President Emeritus, Friends of the Earth; Board Member Potomac
Riverkeeper, Foundation Earth, and Tax Justice Network USA
John Cavanagh, Executive Director, Institute for Policy Studies; Co-chair, New Economy
Working Group
Chuck Collins, Co-founder Wealth for the Common Good, New Economy Working Group
John Gloster, Senior Associate General Counsel, Howard University; Co-founder/President
Ward 8 Farmers Market Cooperative
Rodney Green, Chair Economics Dept. Howard University; Executive Director, Center for
Urban Progress
Arturo Griffiths, DC Jobs with Justice
Graylan Scott Hagler, Rev. senior minister, Plymouth Congregational United Church of
Christ
continued

18. Emily Kawano, economist; Director, Center for Popular Economics; Director,
U.S. Solidarity Economy Network
Linda Leaks, Alliance for Justice Advocacy, DC
Clark Madigan, entrepreneur; former head of regional bank, Manufacturers
Hanover of Central NY
Larry Martin, Sustainable Community Initiatives
Stacy Mitchell, Director, Initiatives on Independent Business and Community
Banking for the Institute for Local Self Reliance
Roger Newell, Chair, DC Jobs with Justice
Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network; former staff to
Council Member Phil Mendelson
Daphne Wysham, Coordinator, Genuine Progress Indicators Project,
Institute for Policy Studies
DC PBC Advisory Board (cont’d)