Beyond the Banks: The Rise of Community-Owned Property Wealth

For decades, banks have posed as the indispensable architects of financial growth, painting themselves as protectors of trust and economic stability. But let’s tell the real story: banks are middlemen, siphoning wealth from the very communities they’re supposed to support. In a world where technology can offer secure, direct connections between people and investment opportunities, the banks' dominance is not only outdated—it’s predatory. It’s time to expose how rigged financial intermediation is and why platforms like Assetto are reshaping the future by putting power back into the hands of the people.

Banks: Profiting from Our Losses

The banking system is designed not for mutual prosperity, but for profit at your expense. Take Romania, for instance—a country where banks boast the highest profit margins in the European Union while maintaining a shamefully low financial intermediation rate of around 30%, compared to an EU average of 100%. What does this mean? It means that while Romanian banks thrive, they are failing their most basic duty: financing the real economy. Instead, they prefer to lend to the government, raking in guaranteed profits and avoiding the “risk” of empowering private businesses and individuals. The system isn’t broken; it’s working exactly as intended—to serve the banks and starve everyone else.

Here’s the clearest sign that financial intermediation is rigged: even when banks fail to fulfill their mission, they still claim the highest profits. How can an industry that underperforms and neglects its duty to the economy be rewarded with record-breaking earnings? In a fair world, this would be impossible. Yet, in today’s reality, banks are rewarded for their inefficiency, thriving at the expense of the very people they’re meant to serve.

The True Cost of Financial Intermediation

What do banks really do with your money? They lend it to the wealthy, creating a cycle where the rich get richer and you get next to nothing. Here’s how it works: a wealthy investor wants to buy a €100,000,000 commercial property with a 10% yield. They go to the bank, securing a €70,000,000 loan while only putting in €30,000,000 of their own money. The bank gives them this loan at a 5% interest rate, funded by your deposits that earn a paltry 1%—far below inflation. This means you’re effectively lending your money to the bank so it can fund the wealthy at your expense. The result? Your savings lose value while the bank and the wealthy multiply their gains.

And let’s ask ourselves: How did you earn your money? You sold your most precious resource: time. Is it an exaggeration to say that we are giving our lives for them to become richer and richer? You tell me! This isn’t just unfair; it’s exploitation masked as business as usual. The wealthy grow wealthier using leveraged capital, while the rest of us struggle to keep up with rising costs and eroding purchasing power.

Real Estate: The Engine of Real Wealth

True wealth doesn’t come from complex financial products or speculative investments—it’s built on productive real estate assets. Office buildings, retail centers, logistics parks, hotels, farms, and factories are the backbone of the economy. Every business relies on a space to operate, making rent a fixed, unavoidable part of their financial equation. Investing in these assets can yield higher annual returns and greater value appreciation compared to residential properties. So why are we, the community, not reaping these rewards?

Community Ownership: The Game-Changer

Imagine this: instead of businesses paying rent to absentee landlords who funnel profits out of your community, what if that rent came back to you and your neighbors? What if the people shopping at malls, working in offices, and using logistics centers were also the co-owners of those very spaces? This is the power of community ownership—a model where wealth circulates back to those who help generate it. Rent isn’t just a cost for businesses; it’s a fixed component embedded in the price of everything sold. Every time you pay for goods and services, you’re indirectly paying rent to landlords. But what if you were one of those landlords?

With community ownership, customers can also be landlords, turning everyday spending into a source of personal income. Imagine seeing an advertisement that asks, “How much have you earned from rents this month?” and realizing it applies to you. Businesses also benefit in this model. A property co-owned by 10,000 community members isn’t just an investment; it becomes a business’s most loyal support network. These co-owners are more than just investors—they’re engaged customers and advocates, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem where prosperity is shared.

This isn’t just about profit. It’s about turning rent payments into community dividends and creating a world where everyone gains, not just a select few. Community ownership is the path to shared wealth and true financial empowerment.

Distributism: A Path to a Fairer Economy

The idea is simple: wealth should belong to the many, not just the privileged few. Distributism is more than an ideology; it’s a roadmap to an economy where communities own the productive assets that shape their lives. Assetto embodies this philosophy by using technology to create direct, secure pathways for people to invest in productive real estate. The era of the bank as the gatekeeper of opportunity is over. Now, communities can own their future.

Take the Next Step: Join the Movement

If you believe in a world where ownership is shared by the many, not controlled by the few; where you have full control over your money, achieve financial freedom, and let your investments work for you—even while you sleep—then Assetto is your platform. This isn’t just an investment; it’s the beginning of a revolution toward a fairer, stronger economy.

Are you ready to break free from the sidelines and be part of something transformative? Email [email protected] with “Together We Own. Together We Rise!”

This isn’t just a call to participate; it’s a call to action. Reclaim your power, build real wealth, and help create a future where productive assets—and true prosperity—belong to the community. Your time is now.