Make Banks Pay

Jan and I marched with the Occupy SF folks on national Bank Transfer Day, to chide the big banks for: (1) gambling with our money, (2) making overpriced loans to people who couldn't afford them, (3) not lending to small businesses that need it, (4) not renegotiating underwater mortgages (or renegotiating VERY SLOWLY while also foreclosing), and (5) leaving foreclosed homes vacant to become blights on the neighborhood. The marchers also encouraged each other to move our own money away from the big banks and into local community banks or credit unions.

I had been looking into credit unions off and on for some time, and the handout listing good local CUs was the final motivation I needed. I headed out the the SF Fire Credit Union within the week to open a new checking account, and closed my Wells Fargo account as soon as I got the new checks and ATM card. And then I got an SF Fire credit card and have just closed the most annoying of my big bank cards.

This divestment activity is all around me. I attended a hearing of the SF Board of Supervisors on whether to create a local bank of our own or how otherwise to make sure our money is being used wisely and locally. And the board of SFOP and my synagogue have both decided to move their funds to credit unions.

Credit unions are non-profit organizations that are owned by their depositor/members. I hear that local community banks are also good guys, and the state bank of North Dakota seems like a really good idea.

Unless you have a batch of stock in one of the big banks, I'd advise you to move any money you have in one to some place where it won't line the pockets of corporate executives.