Union Take on alternatives to Big Banks, such as..
The Public Bank Movement It's pretty clear on Main Street that the movement to ginormous banks has been a key element in America's financial morass. The disappearance of community banks with their connection to local businesses and ordinary depositors is deeply felt. Putting that egg back in its shell may not be possible, but the movement toward publicly-owned banks, with a chartered obligation to citizens of a specific jurisdiction has an appeal. In Oregon, activists have linked public banking or "partnership" banking to the "think local" concept. In legislative hearings around the state, supporters have pressed the issue with the slogan: "buy local, eat local, bank local." |