Become a bank sponsor

Find guidance on how to become a wetland mitigation bank sponsor. A bank sponsor is any public or private entity responsible for establishing and, in most cases, operating a bank. Learn about becoming a bank sponsor and establishing a wetland mitigation bank.

We work in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as the co-chairs of the Interagency Review Team (IRT), to certify and regulate wetland mitigation banks in Washington.

Research the business side of banking

Establishing a wetland mitigation bank is similar to setting up any other business. The first step entails doing some initial research by asking:

Do local jurisdictions in the watershed allow the use of banks to offset wetland impacts from development and construction?
If banking is allowed, is there a market for bank credits? If you had credits to sell, would you have buyers? Have wetland impacts happened in the area? Is there a need for mitigation?
Is the site appropriate for a bank?

The last question may be the most critical because having a wetland on a piece of property doesn't mean it will make a good wetland mitigation bank. Consider how the site currently looks and ask:

Can the wetlands be restored, created, enhanced, or preserved?
What actions would you need to take to make it a bank?
How can the site provide ecological benefits in the service area?

As you research whether to become a bank sponsor, ask yourself whether you are prepared for a long-term commitment.

Unlike other businesses that may change over time, bank sites are designed to compensate for losses to wetlands and their functions in perpetuity.
Wetland mitigation banks are permanently protected, usually through a conservation easement. This means the site can't be sold or used for other uses - even into the future.

Another critical question is whether a proposed bank site is large enough to generate sufficient credits to be economically viable. It often takes a large initial investment and bank credits typically are released over a 10-year time span. Some key questions to ask:

Do you have the money to make a bank site that is ecologically appropriate and environmentally sustainable?
Do you have the environmental background to determine the mitigation actions necessary on the site or will consultants need to be hired?
After construction, what type of on-going maintenance and monitoring will the bank need?

See Step 2: Investigate for more information regarding what you should investigate about your bank site.

Investigate your potential bank site

Anyone interested in setting up a wetland mitigation bank should first gather some preliminary technical information and research available background information about the potential bank site.

Find out if a wetland delineation has been conducted on your site.
- If not, is there any information available that would identify wetlands are currently on the site or have been in the past?
What types of wetlands exist in your watershed?
Are the soils and hydrology at the site suitable for wetlands?
Is there any potential for cultural resources on the site?
Is the site located on agricultural lands of long-term commercial significance?

We have tools to help you locate an appropriate bank site:

Propose a bank project

Step 1: Submit a complete prospectus to our wetland mitigation banking staff and the Corps.
Step 2: We and the Corps review the prospectus and determine whether it is complete.
Step 3: We and the Corps provide feedback, information, and guidance to the wetland mitigation bank sponsor to ensure everyone understands the next step(s) of the certification process.

For a detailed list of information required to propose a wetland mitigation bank in Washington, please refer to the wetland mitigation banking rule and checklists provided below:

Contact information

Do you want to become a bank sponsor? Contact the wetland mitigation banking staff.