Dear Daniel Stafford, It's no surprise that mega-banks are one of the most powerful lobbying forces in Washington today. And they're not using their influence to advocate for the middle- and lower-income people, for the owners of local "mom and pop" shops, or for green businesses.
In 2013, for example, Citigroup shelled out $5,510,000 on its lobbying efforts, which mostly went toward getting Congress to weaken important Wall Street reform and consumer financial protection laws enacted in 2010. These laws help safeguard everyday citizens against predatory lending and mortgage fraud.
Citigroup lobbied so hard, in fact, that 70 lines of one 85-line House bill—aimed at dismantling these protections—were basically written by Citi, according to the New York Times.
Our new credit card lobbying scorecard shows you which credit cards are putting your charges, fees, and interest payments toward lobbying efforts.
And sign our letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, demanding that he hold mega-banks accountable for their role in the 2008 financial collapse.
It's time to break up with your mega-bank, and switch your accounts and credit cards to community development banks and credit unions.
Break up with your mega-bank today.
For fair finance,
Alisa Gravitz,
President,
Green America 
Tell the Attorney General to Make Prosecuting Mega-Bank Mortgage Fraud a Priority  The craven actions of mega-banks led directly to the financial collapse of 2008, as well as to the victimization of millions of Americans who continue to suffer the consequences of greed-driven and illegal banking practices.
That's why Green America is asking Attorney General Eric Holder to re-prioritize the prosecution of those mega-banks involved in mortgage fraud.
A March 2014 report from the Inspector General's office of the Department of Justice (DOJ) found that the FBI and the DOJ have failed to make a priority of prosecuting those responsible for the massive mortgage fraud that helped to tank our economy.
The new report states that "DOJ did not uniformly ensure that mortgage fraud was prioritized at a level commensurate with its public statements."
The report also found that despite congressionally approved FBI budget increases, "the number of FBI agents investigating mortgage fraud as well as the number of pending investigations decreased" during the period covered by the budget increase.
And so mortgage fraud does not receive a priority ranking for investigation from the FBI or the DOJ. That is pretty incredible when you consider our nation lost $3.4 trillion in real estate wealth from July 2008 to March 2009.
Sign on to our letter to Eric Holder, demanding that he make mortgage-related crimes an immediate top priority.
How Much Does Your Bank Spend on Politics?  From January 2013 to the present, Bank of America and Citigroup spent a combined $8,750,000 on lobbying. In 2012, the majority of their lobbying expenditures supported the so-called Job Prevention and Recession Prevention Act.
The only recessions this egregious bill would have prevented were those in the bank accounts of America's wealthiest: It would have extended tax cuts for the top 2% of taxpayers, or those making above $250,000 a year.
If you hold a credit card from a mega-bank, your fees and interest, and the fees that merchants pay when you use the card, help the banks continue to exert undue influence on Washington.
Green America can help you "Take Charge of your Card" with our newest banking scorecard: "How Much Does Your Bank Spend on Politics?" The scorecard ranks 13 card-issuing banks—8 mega-banks and 5 community development banks and credit unions—on their lobbying efforts from 2013 to the present.
If you use a credit card, dump your mega-bank card and replace it with one from a responsible bank or credit union. The cards Green America recommends at TakeChargeofYourCard.org are issued by community development banks and credit unions. These financial institutions have a mission to lift up local communities, support local and green business, provide fair housing loans, and more.
Help Diminish the Power of Mega-Banks  The following resources can help you take action today to weaken mega-banks and their hold on the US government.
1) Dump your mega-bank credit card, and get a card from one of the responsible banks or credit unions recommended by Green America. Visit TakeChargeofYourCard.org.
2) Move your checking and savings accounts out of mega-banks and into community development banks and credit unions that are supporting people and the planet. Visit Green America's BreakUpWithYourMegaBank.org to find hundreds of options.
3) Community investing helps people invest in loans and projects that help lift up low- and middle income communities, rather than victimize borrowers with inflated and hidden fees. But what if you could invest in your OWN community?
For as little as $20, now you can. Calvert Foundation's new Ours to Own investment program channels investor funds to help revitalize blighted areas in a growing number of cities. You'll earn modest interest, while your money works to better your community.
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