Shortly after Mayor Eric Adams delivered his State of the City address this year, there was an after-party for his allies.

Cheering him on next to the stage was Terence Banks.

“You know I’ve known the Banks’ families for years,” Adams said Tuesday. “And my knowing someone. I hold them to the same standards as I hold myself to.”

What You Need To Know

  • Terence Banks is the little-known brother of a deputy mayor and schools chancellor

  • Banks set up a government relations firm in 2022

  • A client roster from September shows he had clients with business before the city

Terence Banks is not a household name — the little-known brother of the schools Chancellor David Banks and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks.

Along with his siblings, he was the subject of a search warrant executed by the FBI last week.

Sources tell NY1 federal investigators are potentially examining the lobbying firm Terence Banks created shortly after Adams took office known as The Pearl Alliance.

The website was scrubbed soon after the search warrants came to light last week.

But an archived version shows how this Banks brother was courting clients — claiming expertise in government and business to support minority-owned business growth. And the website boasted a client list that included some companies which had city contracts.

According to the comptroller’s office, at least five of them had some sort of business with the city.

Terence Banks lists Saferwatch on his site, which is an app aimed at reporting emergencies in public schools. An NYPD spokesperson told NY1 the department conducted a small pilot with the app but did not continue with the service.

Another client, 21st Century Ed, previously contracted with the Department of Education for professional services several years ago, but does not currently have a contract.

Terence Banks is not a registered lobbyist and there is question of whether or not his potential work violated lobbying laws requiring reporting and registration. Lobbyists are also prohibited from lobbying family members.

A source in the business said Banks was using his brothers’ names as a way to recruit clients.

On Tuesday, the mayor said, he had not met with Terence Banks regarding any clients.

“As indicated, I have known Terry Banks for many years,” Adams said. “I have known the Banks families. And I have seen them in social settings. I had no meeting with him about any clients at City Hall. He’s come in to sit down and meet with me about any of his clients.”