Build national narrative for public banking through press releases and online campaigns (with active assistance of many groups including The Agenda Project) while focusing on grassroots organizing to establish public banks in key states (Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont and Hawaii), counties in California, Illinois and Pennsylvania and in the District of Columbia.

The objectives of the national Public Banking Coalition include:

1. Position public banking as a compelling and legitimate alternative to the private banking monopoly;
2. Fund and publish studies that accelerate the creation of public banks;
3. Frame the media narrative so more people understand the possibility and benefits of public banking; and,
4. Work through established organizations to organize and educate local and state groups who advocate for and establish a public bank in their respective area.

The Public Banking Coalition is soliciting funding for the following projects:

• Measuring the counter-cyclical impact of the Bank of North Dakota from 2008 - 2010
• Determining the velocity of money in North Dakota and the connection between the new money created by BND and the state's $40B GDP
• Projecting the impact (on those who are unbanked or underbanked) of a US Postal Savings Bank in a sampling of states
• Developing the technical specs for a dual-currency (USD and local currency) payment system on a mobile platform
• Identifying the conversion rate, and its baseline valuation, for public bank-issued currency
• Projecting the economic impact on locally generated food and energy with funding from a public bank in targeted states and counties
• Researching and writing the case study of the extent to which the Sparkassen banks funded the upsurge in local energy production in Germany

We envision a network of sustainable state and local publicly owned banks that create affordable credit as an alternative to the current unsustainable, high-risk, centralized private banking system and that provide affordable credit to local communities, which are able to then develop their economies and create well-paying jobs and provide the livelihoods needed for working families. Localization of credit is key to restoring the financial security that our communities and middle class once enjoyed – and to providing communities new tools to address economic, racial, and social inequities.

We support public banking as a solution to provide affordable credit to individuals, municipalities, students and businesses and pledge to advocate for and promote public banking whenever possible.

We have been building on the research, education and grassroots organizing fom the last 20 months. Our path for the Public Banking Coalition is to take what we have learned and create a model of public banking at every level of public governance.

1. Build the coalition- This movement needs political power. Political power will come from organizations, workers, students, businesses, and influential individuals organizing and talking to decision makers from a position of strength.
• Core staff is currently traveling the country gaining partners and growing support.
• The Public Banking Coalition needs to establish base agreements and ways and means for reaching and activating membership as well as helping lift voices in local communities.
• Indentify target states, counties and cities in which success is most likely and focus our efforts.

2. Educate at the national level
• Create a media campaign to reach and educate people that public banking is an attractive and real possibility; media will be intensified in our target areas.
• Over 2.6 million people have viewed one video from our first national conference.
• We have partnered with the Agenda Project to further our publicity efforts, and look forward to more support with publicity from other coalition partners.
• Conduct feasibility studies demonstrating how public banking can work in specific localities.

3. Train at ground Level
• Each of our target areas needs educated and activated leadership to make the right contacts in the right places in local communities, business and government, as well as provide opportunities for the electorate to get involved.
• Publish a legislative guide, training presentations, and handouts to aide local public banking initiatives.
• Hold local public forums that educate and grow public banking efforts.

4. Open the next public bank
• Move a legislative body to say yes!
• Create banks through initiatives, going directly to the electorate where possible and advisable.
• Publish research on the legal requirements, structure, and daily operations of existing and proposed public banks and financing systems.
• Hire banking professionals, with accountability to the people through oversight from elected officials and respected parties who are required to conduct business in a transparent and public process.

Sign a petition to all State and County Public Finance Officeholders