As America’s central bank, the Federal Reserve is the hub of our banking world and connects institutional monetary participants and systems to its critical functions and resources. Access to this network is not guaranteed for those wanting to start a new bank, and the process is arduous. But when five Native American nations began exploring the possibility of creating their own bank to keep their money under tribal control, they were surprised to find active Fed support for their pursuit. Our guest Dennis Ortblad, a former diplomat stationed in Germany, discusses his work with these nations and how the Fed seems to know its policies need improvement when it comes to launching minority depositories. Dennis also talks about Germany’s Sparkassen banks, which for the past 200 years have helped drive that country’s economic success and are one of the models inspiring the American public banking movement.  We’re also joined by Dr. Robert Hockett of Cornell University, who talks with Ellen about digital currencies and the prospect of China taking over as the host of the world’s reserve currency.