Move your money!

Move your money out of big corporate banks and into socially responsible credit unions and community banks.

The big corporate banks (including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, Citigroup, and US Bank) are largely responsible for our current economic crisis.

In the lead-up to the 2008 Bank Bailout (in which taxpayers loaned $700 billion to the banks to stabilize financial markets), many banks were engaged in highly profitable - but very risky - investment and lending practices known as derivatives and sub-prime mortgages.

When the housing bubble that was driven by these business practices finally popped, the economy spiraled downwards. Many people lost their homes, their life savings and their jobs. The resulting Great Recession is the root of our current budget crisis, which is leading to massive cuts in education and many other important public services in California and nationwide.

There is an alternative to corporate banks.
Credit unions and community banks can be just as convenient as the big banks – with free checking and savings accounts, nationwide networks of ATMs, ATM fee refund policies, competitive interest rates, and online banking services – plus they invest their money responsibly and they are accountable to their members.

SOME LOCAL CREDIT UNIONS & COMMUNITY BANKS:
1st United Services Credit Union - http://www.1stuscu.org
Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union - http://www.coopfcu.org
USE Credit Union - http://www.usecu.org
SafeAmerica Credit Union - http://www.safeamerica.com
Contra Costa Federal Credit Union - http://www.contracostafcu.org
Community Bank of the Bay - http://www.communitybankbay.com
Mission National Bank - http://www.mnbsf.com

These credit unions and banks will be on the Berkeley City College campus April 12-13 to answer your questions.