About BerkShares
BerkShares turns currency into a tool for community economic empowerment. Right here in the Berkshires.
"Instead of buying that thing on Amazon, I'm going to go a little bit out of my way to find it locally, because I know it's going to support my town and keep people employed."
BerkShares come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50, which can be spent like cash at hundreds of participating businesses.
Each note displays the face of a local hero on the front, and features artwork from local artists on the back.
BerkShares come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50, which can be spent like cash at hundreds of participating businesses.
BerkShares are cash. You may purchase BerkShares at any of six local banks in the Berkshires at a one-to-one exchange rate, meaning one dollar is worth one BerkShare. BerkShares can then be spent at participating businesses at face value; 10 BerkShares can be used to make a purchase worth 10 dollars.
You may obtain or redeem BerkShares at
Lee Bank
Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield
Pittsfield Cooperative Bank
Great Barrington
EXCHANGE RATE: BerkShares are exchanged on par with U.S. Dollars. For example, $10 can be traded for 10 BerkShares. BerkShares can be traded back for cash at any time for a 1.5% fee.
Visit any of our six participating banks to trade in cash for BerkShares. Each dollar is worth one BerkShare.
Use your BerkShares to buy from local businesses. Whether you're looking for groceries, hardware, medical services, or even a spa day, BerkShares can be spent on just about anything!
Your BerkShares will continue to circulate locally and create compounding economic impact— even after you spend them! Rest easy knowing your BerkShares are creating a stronger local economy.
BerkShares is a grassroots community movement. Use your BerkShares to raise awareness among fellow community members about the importance of supporting our local economy. You can also become a member to help shape the future of BerkShares.
Money spent at locally owned businesses can generate two to four times more local economic impact than money spent at their big-box counterparts. Local currencies like BerkShares amplify this impact even further.
In an increasingly unpredictable world, strong local economies provide stability. We can all be better positioned to adapt to economic disruptions and periods of political uncertainty when more of our wealth, decision-making, and investments remain close to home.
Beyond economics, local businesses shape community identity and relationships while fostering a shared sense of place. Buying and investing local is a statement of the type of community you want to build.
Spending $100 at an independent local retailer instead of a typical chain retailer would:
Keep $53 circulating locally, compared to just $14 at a typical chain retailer.
Prevent $39 from leaking out of the local economy.
Source: Indie Impact Study Series, Civic Economics, 2012.
Exact recirculation of money depends on a variety of factors. Figures represent averages.
A Massachusetts-chartered nonprofit corporation that handles all BerkShares banking. This entity maintains USD holding accounts and BerkShares reserves at each of our participating banks. This ensures that community members can seamlessly obtain or redeem BerkShares at any time.
A 501(c)(3) charitable organization that develops educational programs, conducts research, and creates outreach initiatives that expand understanding and adoption of BerkShares. This entity is the public-facing wing of the BerkShares program, and it raises funds through donations and grants to support its educational mission.
Our volunteer board of trustees is the decision-making body driving the growth of BerkShares and serving as representatives of our values within the community. BerkShares, Inc. and BerkShares Local Inc. share the same board.
The general membership elects the board at annual meetings, votes on key organizational changes, and provides input to shape the future of BerShares.
Become a member today by contributing $25 to BerkShares Local Inc.
"A good community insures itself by trust, by good faith and good will, by mutual help. A good community, in other words, is a good local economy."