The details and the data behind public banking

Studies & Reports

show me the money

The recent surge of interest in public banking has generated a wealth of research

Making a case for a public bank inevitably involves deeper research into how such an institution could deliver on its promises. Below is a list of recommended reports, studies, and books that provide data, details, and insights.

Recommended studies & reports

Cities

States

National & Regional

International

Cities

States

National & Regional

International

Recommended	City	Year	Title
✓	Baltimore	2019	Report “The Municipal Banking Movement: An Opportunity for Baltimore” by the Abell Foundation.
✓	East Bay, CA	2022	Public Bank East Bay Viability Study – Tom Sgouros – March 2022
✓	Los Angeles	2018	Establishing the Municipal Bank of Los Angeles A Conceptual Framework – Karl Beitel – Oct 2018
	Los Angeles	2018	#YesOnB Charter Amendment B materials via Public Bank LA – Sept 2018
	Los Angeles	2018	Report from the Chief Legislative Analyst on Public Bank Framework and Existing Housing and Economic Development Funding Programs – Feb 2018
	Los Angeles	2018	Report from the City Administrative Officer on City Infrastructure Financing – Feb 2018
	Los Angeles	2017	Report from the Chief Legislative Analyst on Legislative and Regulatory Reforms Related to Municipal Banking – Dec 2017
✓	Philadelphia	2021	On Monetizing a Philadelphia Public Bank / CAFR presentation by Scott Baker – Dec 2021. Video of Committee of Finance meeting – Dec 12, 2021.
✓	Philadelphia	2020	Philadelphia Public Bank Feasibility Study – for the City of Philadelphia, Sept 2020
✓	San Francisco	2020	Policy Analysis Report for San Francisco Board of Supervisors: Municipal Bank for San Francisco: Issues and Options for Consideration – Karl Beitel, Fred Brousseau – July 2020

Recommended	State	Year	Title
	California	2017	Report From the State Treasurer’s Cannabis Banking Working Group – Banking Access Strategies for Cannabis-Related Businesses – Nov 2017
	Hawaii	2011	Report “Putting Hawaii Money Back To Work For Hawaii: Introducing The Hawaii Partnership Bank,” by Demos.org
	Maine	2011	Report “Putting Maine Money to Work for Maine: Introducing the Maine Street Economic Development Bank” by Demos.org
	Maryland	2011	Report “Putting Maryland Money Back to Work for Maryland: Introducing the Maryland Partnership Bank” by Demos.org
✓	Massachusetts	2021	Testimony of Massachusetts Public Banking in support of S.665/H.1223 An Act to Establish a Massachusetts Public Bank (with highlights) – Oct 2021. Video of Joint Committee on Financial Services meeting testimony – Oct 26, 2021.
	Massachusetts	2011	Report “Introducing the Massachusetts Partnership Bank” by Devos.org
	Massachusetts	2011	“The Bank of North Dakota: A Model for Massachusetts and Other States?” This report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (FRBB) confirms that the Bank of North Dakota (BND) is a prudent, well-managed financial institution that serves in partnership with community banks as an effective economic backstop in economic downturns. The report suggests, however, that forming a state-owned bank is probably not worth the effort in Massachusetts. PBI respectfully disagrees. PBI response.
✓	New Mexico	2021	Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity (AFLEP) Bank Plan. The purpose of the proposed Public Bank of New Mexico is to provide a focused, agile and effective way to leverage some of the State’s General Fund bank deposits toward investing within New Mexico. – Oct 2021
✓	New Mexico	2020	Toward Designing a Public Bank for New Mexico – Aug 2020
	New Mexico	2018	Public Bank Task Force Final Report – Apr 2018
	Oregon	2011	“Putting Oregon’s Money to work for Oregon: FAQ Sheet,” 2011; “Putting Oregon’s Money to Work for Oregon: Introducing the Virtual State Bank” – 2011, by Demos.org
✓	Tennessee	2023	Why a Sovereign State Bank Is Good for Tennessee, by Richard Werner – Mar 2023
	Vermont	2014	“Exploring a Public Bank for Vermont,” Final Study, Vermonters for a New Economy, 2014.
	Vermont	2012	“Putting Vermont Money Bank to Work for Vermont: Introducing the Vermont Partnership Bank” – 2012, by Demos.org
	Washington	2011	“Putting Washington Money to Work for Washington: Introducing the Washington Investment Trust” – report by Demos.org, 2011

Recommended	Year	Title
✓	2023	Public Banks: FDIC Membership and the Collateral Requirement – Meritless Roadblocks – Earl Staelin, J.D. – Apr 2023
✓	2020	Cancel Wall Street: How Our State and Local Governments Can Save More Than $160 Billion a Year by Cutting Interest Payments to Investors, by Action Center on Race & the Economy, Sept 2020
✓	2019	Northeast-Midwest Institute: “White Paper: Public Banking in the Northeast and Midwest States” – Sept 2019
	2016	All municipalities: The Municipal Bank. Compliance, Liquidity, and Risk – Karl Beitel – Jul 2016
	2016	All municipalities: Municipal Banking: An Overview. Financing Socially Just and Sustainable Forms of Urban Development – Karl Beitel – Apr 2016
	2014	On postal banking: “Providing Non-Bank Financial Services for the Underserved” by the US Postal Service, 2014
	2011	Public Banking in America: State Banking Legislative Guide – by PBI and the Center for State Innovation – Spring 2011
	2011	“Banking on America: How Main Street Partnership Banks Can Improve Local Economies,” by Demos.org, 2011

Recommended	Year	Title
	2021	Public Banking Around the World: A Comparative Survey of Seven Models, Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice
✓	2020	Public Banks and Covid-19: Combatting the Pandemic with Public Finance, Edited by David A. McDonald, Thomas Marois, Diana Barrowclough
✓	2018	Alberta’s Public Bank: How ATB Can Help Shape the New Economy by Mark Anielski and Bob Ascah; Parkland Institute – August 2018
✓	2017	Centre for Public Impact \| A BCG Foundation – Sparkassen Savings Banks in Germany, Case Study – March 2017

The details and the data behind public banking

Studies & Reports

show me the money

The recent surge of interest in public banking has generated a wealth of research

Recommended studies & reports

Cities – Studies & Reports

States – Studies & Reports

National & Regional – Studies & Reports

International – Studies & Reports