This Is the Moment: State Public Bank Coalition Call – January 26 at 5pm!

We’re gearing up for our 2026 State Public Bank campaign, and we want partners at the table! If you’re interested in joining a coalition call, this is the moment. We’re building a groundbreaking, one-stop financing tool for California that can back housing, climate resilience, small business growth, and community lending at scale. With federal funding getting more uncertain and politicized, California can’t rely on help from Washington or risk loss of investment funds for California by outsourcing public dollars to Wall Street. Now’s the moment to build the public infrastructure needed to fund community needs here at home!

Join our monthly statewide Zoom call on Monday, January 26 at 5pm to learn more!

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81809235811?pwd=1KC18BQbDmYbZpMChQ6HaSKvDg9BTI.1
Meeting ID: 818 0923 5811
Passcode: 654537

Reach out to us at team@capublicbanking.org with any questions, or if you’d like the meeting agenda or a calendar invite.

Join Sacramento Public Bank’s Town Hall!

Sacramento is bringing our public dollars home! On Tuesday, January 27, we’re co-hosting the Sacramento Public Bank Town Hall at Parkside Community Church. This is Sacramento’s first public banking community conversation, and it’s the moment to learn what’s on the table, ask questions, and help shape what comes next.

Doors open at 5:30pm for live music, light refreshments, and community tabling.
The panel starts at 6:30pm.

Featuring:
– Katie Valenzuela, former Sacramento City Council Member
– Trinity Tran, Executive Director, California Public Banking Alliance
– Dr. Flo Cofer, former Sacramento mayoral candidate and public health expert
– Moderator: Chris Brown, Sacramento Climate Coalition

Sacramento’s public dollars should work for Sacramento, not get shipped off to Wall Street and hijacked for fossil fuels, private prisons, or gun manufacturing. A public bank keeps community funds local so we can finance the priorities we actually live with every day.

If you’re in Sacramento, show up, bring a friend, and join the discussion!

RSVP on Eventbrite.

Co-hosted by the California Public Banking Alliance, Sacramento Area Congregations Together (SacACT), and Sacramento Climate Coalition.

Event flyer / Fact sheet
https://capublicbanking.com/sacramento

New California Region!

Big news from the field: Public Bank Fresno is officially the newest addition to the California Public Banking Alliance’s cities and regions. We recently launched a new Fresno page on the CPBA website, and we’re excited to keep building power across Central Valley communities.

https://capublicbanking.com/fresno/

In January, Fresno public banking advocate Samuel Molina was interviewed by ABC Fresno’s Money Monday. Watch him break down the benefits of public banking: What are public banks?

A Big Thank You to Ben & Jerry’s Foundation

We’re excited to announce that the California Public Banking Alliance has received a grant from the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation. We’re grateful for their support of our grassroots work to advance public banks at the state and regional levels, and to move CalAccount forward, so more Californians can access safe, zero-fee banking and keep public dollars working for the public good. It’s a strong match with Ben & Jerry’s commitment to equity and community power!

Watch Samuel Molina of The Academy of Financial Education on Money Monday (CBS News Fresno) breaking down the benefits of public banking and why it’s urgently needed in the Central Valley to turn public dollars into local investment.

Fresno/Central Valley is the latest region to join the California Public Banking Alliance’s network of advocates working to form socially and environmentally responsible public banks. Let’s put public money to work and do more with our dollars in a public bank!

Money Monday: What are public banks? 
https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/money-monday/money-monday-what-are-public-banks/

Learn more here: https://capublicbanking.com/fresno/

The California Public Banking Alliance (CPBA) is covered in a Dec. 9, 2025 article in Crain’s Chicago Business. California is on the leading edge of this fight, and CPBA’s Trinity Tran puts the stakes plainly: many funding streams will be hit by federal volatility, which is why public banking feels urgent right now. “The power of a public bank is that you can maximize the impact of public dollars at scale.” For CA, that’s the promise of building on the California Public Banking Act and turning public money into long-term community capacity.

Read the article : https://www.chicagobusiness.com/elevate/federal-funding-cuts-stir-interest-public-banks

Hi everyone,

On behalf of the California Public Banking Alliance, New Economy Project, the University of Michigan School of Social Work, Massachusetts Public Banking, and The Democracy Collaborative, thank you for joining Public Banking: Coast to Coast webinar.

We had people tuning in from 39 states and even abroad for this powerful conversation with movement leaders from across the country. Senator Warren’s message set the tone: public banks are a practical way to lower costs, keep dollars local, and invest in the things our communities actually need.

In a moment of federal volatility, the idea is simple. Keep public money working for the public good in housing, small businesses, climate resilience, and community wealth.

We appreciated the interest and curiosity! 130 questions came in through the Q&A, and we’ve answered them below.

Webinar recording: See the full session here and Senator Warren’s message here.
Q&A: Link
Resources from the event: Link

Thank you to our panelists: Trinity Tran, Dey Del Rio, Rei Fielder, Terri Friedline, and Linda Levy, and to our moderator, David Cobb. Special thanks to Senator Elizabeth Warren for lending her voice and helping bring public banking into the national conversation.

We appreciate you being part of this growing movement. There’s much more ahead.

With gratitude,
California Public Banking Alliance, on behalf of all co-sponsoring organizations

A national conversation exploring how cities and states are moving to reclaim public money for the public good.

As the federal government cuts core funding for cities and states, people are organizing to build power and take back control of local resources, by demanding creation of public banks that are owned by the people and serve the public interest.

Join us for a powerful national conversation on the growing movement for public banking, and how cities, states, and communities are reclaiming public funds to invest in permanently affordable housing, small and worker-owned businesses, climate infrastructure, and more.

Featuring remarks by Senator Elizabeth Warren and public banking movement leaders from across the country.

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
12 PM PT / 3 PM ET
Register on Zoom: bit.ly/PBC2C

Panelists:

• Trinity Tran, Executive Director, California Public Banking Alliance
• Dr. Terri Friedline, Associate Professor, University of Michigan
• Deyanira Del Río, Executive Director, New Economy Coalition
• Rei Fielder, Steering Committee, Massachusetts Public Banking
• Linda Levy, Board Member and former CEO of Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union

Moderated by David Cobb, Special Advisor, The Democratic Collaborative and the California Public Banking Alliance.

Attendees are invited to submit questions for the panelists when registering via Zoom.

Sponsored by
California Public Banking Alliance · The Democracy Collaborative · University of Michigan School of Social Work · New Economy Project · Public Bank NYC · Massachusetts Public Banking

Breaking SF Public Bank: New Poll Shows 2 in 3 likely SF voters support starting a San Francisco Public Bank!

Read the story: https://www.kqed.org/news/12058853/san-francisco-public-bank-supporters-eye-2026-ballot-measure

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!

Fresno Public Banking Listening Sessions

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.

Fresno just entered the public banking chat! And the community is driving it. From local organizers to small-business owners, folks packed the West Fresno Center to keep public dollars working for Fresno’s working families. @fresnoland has the story.

https://fresnoland.org/2025/09/29/fresno-public-bank/

Huge thanks to every community member that showed up and spoke at the listening session, and to the lead groups who coordinated the event with us: End Poverty in California, The Academy of Financial Education, The Central Valley Urban Institute, CVIIC, Education & Leadership Foundation.