When the Great Recession magnified the financial problems in the United States, many noticed how North Dakota weathered the storm better than any other state in the nation. Why? Because the Bank of North Dakota creates economic stability and resilience at the local level and across the state. It serves the public good, not private interests. Since then, many states have worked to create public banks, and we are working to make sure that Oregonians benefit from these time-tested institutions as well.