Bank Comparison · California

See where your money actually goes

Banking is a political act. Your deposits either fuel global extraction or build local resilience. Pick your current bank and a community alternative — see the eight ripple effects of where your dollar actually goes.

JPMorgan Chase

Class: Mega Bank
Local Reinvestment Rate 79%
Optimal Range
Avg Monthly Fee $12.00
Overdraft Fee $34
CA Small Biz Lending $2,100M
CA Branches 873
CRA Rating Outstanding
Annual Cost To You $144/yr
Better Choice

Self-Help Federal Credit Union

Class: CDFI Certified
Local Reinvestment Rate 78%
Optimal Range
Avg Monthly Fee $0.00
Overdraft Fee $0
CA Small Biz Lending $180M
CA Branches 22
CRA Rating N/A (Exempt - CDFI)
Annual Cost To You $0/yr
Annex A · Ecosystem Impact

Ripple Effects of $1,000 Deposited

A side-by-side analysis of how your dollar moves through each institution. Methodology →

ITEM_01
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Dollar Recirculation

JPMorgan Chase ~79¢
Self-Help Fed… ~78¢

Of every $1, how much stays in your community after one cycle.

ITEM_02
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Local Job Support

JPMorgan Chase ~4.2
Self-Help Fed… ~14.2

Estimated local jobs supported per $1M lent.

ITEM_03
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CA Small Biz Lending

JPMorgan Chase $2100M
Self-Help Fed… $180M

CRA-reported small business lending volume in California.

ITEM_04
payments

Wage Quality

JPMorgan Chase $22.5/hr
Self-Help Fed… $26/hr

Median hourly pay for CA-based employees.

ITEM_05
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Ownership & Control

JPMorgan Chase Corporate
Self-Help Fed… Member-owned

Who owns and governs decisions about your money.

ITEM_06
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Lending Decisions

JPMorgan Chase Global
Self-Help Fed… Local

Where loan approvals happen — locally or at HQ.

ITEM_07
eco

Community Reinvestment

JPMorgan Chase Low
Self-Help Fed… Very High

CRA performance and community development mission.

ITEM_08
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Personal Cost

JPMorgan Chase $144/yr
Self-Help Fed… $0/yr

What you pay just to hold an account here.

State Level Data · California

117 certified CDFIs
in California

36 credit unions, 65 loan funds, and dozens of community banks built specifically to serve underbanked Californians.

Locate Alternatives east