Bank of Albuquerque names Kyle Beasley market executive streetinsider.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from streetinsider.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
LAS CRUCES - A years-long effort to establish a public bank in New Mexico took its first step forward Thursday, Feb. 18, on a 5-4 vote in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.
In past years, legislators had been unwilling to even study the issue, given the fierce opposition from community bankers from throughout the state. That opposition remains, and was bolstered by the fiscal-impact report on the bill, in which state officials from several agencies raised questions about it.
House Bill 236 would appropriate $100 million to start the Public Bank of New Mexico, and create a new 11-person board that would provide oversight and hire the CEO to manage the bank. Supporters said it would keep more of our money in the state and would make more funds available for lending.