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Resource filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 14, 2012

Local Revival: Building a Decentralized Economy

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/local-revival-building-decentralized-economy/

Local farms, independent retailers, and community banks are all experiencing newfound public support. While these trends are encouraging, local businesses still account for only a small share of the economy. In this 15-minute talk, given in May 2012, ILSR’s Stacy Mitchell presents a compelling case for moving local enterprises from the economy’s margins to its mainstream. Continue reading

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Featured Article, Resource filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 9 Comments | Updated on Dec 1, 2012

Why We Can’t Shop Our Way to a Better Economy: Stacy Mitchell’s TEDx Talk

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/ted/

In this TEDx talk, delivered on October 20, 2012 at TEDxDirigo‘s Villages conference at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine,  conference, ILSR Senior Researcher Stacy Mitchell argues for a new phase in the local economy movement. She notes that there’s been a resurgence of support for small farms, local businesses, and community banks, but argues: “As remarkable… Continue reading

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Featured Article filed under Banking | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 27, 2012

Free Checking is Rare at Big Banks, Common at Small

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/free-checking-rare-big-banks-common-small/

While just 24 percent of big banks offer totally free checking, more than 60 percent of credit unions and small banks do, according to a new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. The report also found that credit unions and small banks have lower fees on average and do a better job of disclosing fees to prospective customers. Continue reading

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Featured Article filed under Banking, Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 5 Comments | Updated on Oct 17, 2012

Too Big to Lend

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/big-lend/

A critical function of our banking system is financing small businesses. But big banks are doing a rotten job of it. At the nation’s largest banks, small business lending has plunged 33% since 2009. Trying to cajole or compel them to do more won’t make much difference because the problem is largely inherent to their scale. Continue reading

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Resource filed under Banking, Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 2 Comments | Updated on Oct 17, 2012

Small Business Lending: Local Banks vs. Big Banks

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/small-business-lending-charts/

Although they control only 21% of U.S. bank assets, small and mid-sized banks provide 54% of small business loans. Continue reading

Change in Share of Assets Devoted to Small Business Lending, 2009-2012
Resource filed under Banking | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Oct 16, 2012

Change in Share of Assets Devoted to Small Business Lending, 2009-2012

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/change-share-assets-devoted-small-business-lending-2009-2012/

As a share of their total assets, small business lending at the nation’s largest banks fell by 33% in three years. Continue reading

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Resource filed under Banking | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 1 Comment | Updated on Jun 11, 2012

Percentage of Bad Loans by Size of Bank

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/percentage-bad-loans-size-bank/

As this chart shows, giant banks (those with more than $100 billion in assets) consistently make poorer lending decisions and write-off more bad loans than community banks (those with under $1 billion in assets). Continue reading

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Featured Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Banking | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 1, 2012

Banking For the Rest of Us

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/banking-for-the-rest-of-us/

In this cover story for Sojourners Magazine, Stacy Mitchell writes that there is remarkably little evidence to support the idea that bigger banks are superior. They have come to dominate, not because they are more efficient or offer better services, but because they have rigged government policy in their own favor. It’s time for a new set of rules—banking policies for the 99 percent. Continue reading

Rule filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Mar 17, 2012

Access to Financing for Small Businesses

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/financing-local-businesses/

While chain retailers and other large corporations have access to financing through the capital markets (which many of us help fund through our retirement plans and other investments), independent businesses have a much more challenging time securing financing. Below we have assembled examples of the kinds of institutions and policies that are essential to financing… Continue reading

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Article filed under Banking | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Aug 25, 2010

Federal Policy Threatens Local Banks, a Top Fed Official Says

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/federal-policy-threatens-local-banks-top-fed-official-says/

A top Federal Reserve official says that locally owned banks do a better job of serving communities and small businesses, but they are threatened by federal policies that favor their big competitors. Continue reading