The San Francisco Reinvestment Working Group was created by ordinance #87021, and tasked with submitting to the Board of Supervisors and the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), a business and governance plan to establish a non-depository lending corporation wholly-owned by the City. Also within one year its first meeting, the Working Group must submit to the Board and LAFCo a separate business and governance plan for the MFC to become a state-licensed public bank. Among other requirements, this plan must include the business plan elements required for a State public bank license; a study required to apply for a State public bank license; and lending priorities. The plan must recommend a governance and regulatory structure for the Public Bank; modifications to City laws and regulations; and whether the City should partner with another local agency in the establishment and operation of a public bank.
At the May 18, 2023 special meeting of the San Francisco Reinvestment Working Group, the RWG members voted to submit to the Board of Supervisors and to the Local Agency Formation Commission the San Francisco Municipal Finance Corporation Business and Governance Plan and Viability Study and the San Francisco Public Bank Business and Governance Plan and Viability Study, as prepared by HR&A Advisors:
- San Francisco Municipal Finance Corporation (MFC) Business and Governance Plan and Viability Study
- San Francisco Public Bank Business and Governance Plan and Viability Study
On June 22, 2023, pursuant to Administrative Code, Section 2. Chapter 5, Article 16, the San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission submitted, on behalf of the San Francisco Reinvestment Working Group, to the Board of Supervisors and LAFCo Commissioners, the Final Governance Plan, Business Plan and Viability Study for a San Francisco Municipal Financial Corporation and Final Governance Plan, Business Plan and Viability Study for a San Francisco Public Bank. Included in the file:
- RWG Item 1: Governance and Business Plans for MFC (step 1)
- RWG Item 2: Governance and Business Plans for Public Bank (step 2)
- RWG Item 3: Letters from members of the Reinvestment Working Group to the BOS and LAFCo
- RWG Item 4: Letter from the RWG Chair on the Public Bank Governance Plan
- (Original file sent to BOS)
On July 20, 2023, the Board of Supervisors’ Government Audit and Oversight Committee (GAO) held a Hearing to consider the Reinvestment Working Group’s (RWG) Final Governance Plan, Business Plan and Viability Study for a San Francisco Municipal Financial Corporation and Final Governance Plan, Business Plan and Viability Study for a San Francisco Public Bank; and recommend the Board of Supervisors accept the RWG’s proposed Plan; and requesting the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) to report. The RWG’s final plans were presented by the Chair of the RWG, the HR&A Team, and LAFCo staff. The GAO Committee approved a motion that the Hearing be Prepared in Committee as a Resolution to accept the Reinvestment Working Group’s Plans, for introduction at the full Board of Supervisors. Links to the July 20, 2023 GAO meeting materials:
- GAO Agenda (entire agenda)
- GAO Agenda (RWG item only)
- RWG Presentation
- GAO Full Meeting Recording (RWG item begins at 3 minutes and 20 seconds)
On September 5, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved the Resolution accepting receipt of the San Francisco Reinvestment Working Group’s Final Governance Plan, Business Plan and Viability Study for a San Francisco Municipal Financial Corporation and Final Governance Plan, Business Plan and Viability Study for a San Francisco Public Bank.
Members and Staff
Bylaws
- RWG Bylaws (Approved by RWG Members on August 18, 2022)
Notices
- Notice of Cancelation of the Regular September 2022 Meeting; Notice of Special September 2022 Meeting
- Notice of Cancelation of the Regular April 2023 Meeting; Notice of Special April 2023 Meeting
- Notice of Cancelation of the Regular May 2023 Meeting; Notice of Special May 2023 Meeting
- Notice of Cancelation of the Regular June 2023 Meeting
Resources
- California Assembly Bill 857 - Public Banks
- San Francisco Ordinance 87-21 - San Francisco Reinvestment Working Group
- Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) - Public Bank Regulations
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) - Deposit Insurance Applications From Proposed Publicly Owned Depository Institutions
U.S. Congress
- SAFE Banking Act of 2021 (HR 1996 & S 910)
- Public Banking Act of 2020 (HR 8721)
- National Infrustructure Bank Act of 2021 (HR 3339)
Public Banking Community
San Francisco Public Banking Reports
- Budget & Legislative Analyst - Updates to July 2020 report on Municipal Bank Issues and Options (October 29, 2021)
- Office of the City Attorney - Use of the Investment Pool to Capitalize a Public Bank or Municipal Finance Corporation (June 29, 2021)
- Budget & Legislative Analyst - Municipal Bank for San Francisco: Issues and Options for Consideration (July 24, 2020)
- Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector - Municipal Banking Feasibility Task Force (March 1, 2019)
- Budget & Legislative Analyst - Community Supportive Banking Options 2017 Update (November 27, 2017)
- Budget & Legislative Analyst - Large Bank Social Responsibility Screening (May 19, 2017)
- Budget & Legislative Analyst - Community Supportive Banking Options (September 8, 2011)
Suggested Reading for RWG Members
- FDIC - Applications from Non-Bank and Non-Community Bank Applicants (distributed to RWG Members on June 24, 2022)
- FDIC - A Handbook for Organizers of De Novo Institutions (distributed to RWG Members on June 24, 2022)
- FDIC - Business Plan Guidelines (distributed to RWG Members on June 24, 2022)
- San Francisco Budget Process Timeline (distributed to RWG Members on July 22, 2022)
- African American Reparations Advisory Committee - San Francisco Reparations Plan (distributed to RWG Members on January 6, 2023)