Public Banking Launches in Fresno!

We co-hosted Fresno’s first public banking conversation with the community, alongside EPIC (End Poverty in California) and local partners: Academy of Financial Education, Central Valley Urban Institute, CVIIC (Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative), and ELF (Education & Leadership Foundation).

Held at Fresno City College on September 25, the session brought together dozens of community members, renters, small business owners, and advocates for a great conversation about unfair banking practices and what a city-run public bank could look like in Fresno. People shared stories, priorities, and ideas for how local dollars could better serve local needs, from funding affordable housing and small businesses to creating a bank with democratic, accountable governance rooted in community priorities.

Read the coverage in Fresnoland: A city-owned bank? Fresno enters the chat on public banking

Earlier that day, the California Public Banking Alliance (CPBA) and the Central Valley Urban Institute presented a Public Banking 101 workshop for the Fresno City Council to explain how public banks work and their benefits for the city.

CPBA’s Executive Director Trinity Tran and Vice Chair Rick Girling also joined Central Valley Urban Institute’s Executive Director Eric Payne for the Council presentation.

Public banking flyer | Spanish version
CalAccount flyer | Spanish version

In the new year, CPBA and EPIC will co-host additional Public Banking Listening Sessions in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

Statewide Roundup: Public Banking Updates from CPBA Locals!

EAST BAY
In early September, Friends of the Public Bank East Bay hosted a happy hour designed to bring endorsers and allies up to date on the progress of the group, and get community input on some next steps under discussion. About 50 people attended the event. It was truly amazing to spend an evening in community with our supporters and hear what was on people’s minds.

LOS ANGELES
In Los Angeles, the public banking motion cleared the Government Operations Committee in September 2025. PBLA’s Trinity Tran and Move LA’s Executive Director Eli Lipmen presented at City Hall, backed by community allies including SEIU 721, ACCE Los Angeles, Inclusive Action for the City, United Parents and Students, and PBLA members. The motion has unanimous support in Council, with nine councilmembers including Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson contributing their own discretionary dollars to move the work forward.

Upcoming Event

NORTH COAST
Join us at Cal Poly Humboldt for the Next System Teach-In on November 8 organized by David Cobb from CPBA affiliate, North Coast Progressive Alliance. A public banking workshop will be conducted by Debbie Notkin (Public Bank East Bay) and Rick Girling (SF Public Banking Coalition) to give participants ideas about how public banking can be part of building the next world that is democratic, sustainable, and just.

Trinity Tran Named 2025 Fellow with Social Justice Partners LA

CPBA’s Executive Director, Trinity Tran, joined the 2025 Fellowship Class of Social Justice Partners LA, a network of local changemakers working on equity and systems change in Los Angeles. The fellowship will help support our volunteer-driven work to make real, transformative financial change across California.

Volunteer with the California Public Banking Alliance!

Join the fight to build local public banks and a California State Bank. Let’s build a movement and a banking system that actually works for the people of California.

Volunteer with Us!

San Diego Union-Tribune – February 2, 2020. The San Diego Union-Tribune talks with Jeff Olson with Public Bank SD and the California Public Banking Alliance on the next steps for a San Diego Public Bank.

SAN DIEGO —  New state legislation allowing cities to establish government-run “public banks” has prompted San Diego officials to begin exploring the idea, including four City Council members who want to spend $250,000 on a feasibility study.

San Diego would join Los Angeles, Oakland and several other cities that have begun analyzing the pros and cons of public banks, which aim to boost city revenue and direct more capital to priorities like affordable housing.

If approved, San Diego would launch its public bank, which could happen as soon as next year, using hundreds of millions of dollars from city reserves that it now keeps at Bank of America.

By cutting out a commercial bank as the middle man, the city could replace the small interest payments it receives from B of A — currently about 1 percent — with interest revenue as high as 20 percent from loans it would make, supporters say.

Continue reading on The San Diego Union-Tribune.