About Us – Bank On San Diego

Our Mission

Bank On San Diego strives to connect San Diego County individuals and families with safe and affordable financial products and services offered by trusted partner organizations throughout the community. Bank On San Diego is particularly focused on assisting youth, first-time job seekers, and individuals and families with disabilities to access financial services.

We also provide educational resources to help empower San Diegans to take control of their monetary future and become financially capable, resilient, and independent.

Our History

Since 2021, Bank On San Diego has helped connect consumers to safe and affordable banking products certified as meeting the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund’s Bank On National Account Standards.

Through the CFE Fund, local funders and partners formed Bank On San Diego to increase collaboration, create community engagement opportunities, share banking best practices, and connect consumers with mainstream financial products and services.

Bank On San Diego partners include community-based organizations, financial institutions, and local government agencies who provide:

– Financial education and empowerment programs
– Credit counseling and repair services
– Savings programs
– Banking series
– Employment assistance
– Youth engagement services

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“Many of the individuals and families in MAAC’s network have incredible potential but have limited access to the tools and information that will help them achieve economic mobility. Through this collaboration with BankOn San Diego, MAAC will be able to offer equitable access to individualized financial coaching and services that will allow working individuals and families achieve economic advancement and build generational wealth.”

Arnulfo Manriquez, MAAC President and CEO

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Our nonprofit consumer credit counseling and HUD-approved housing counseling agency recently had 5 different clients secure Bank On accounts and in the words of their caseworker, it had been “life-changing” as all had previously been “denied, denied, denied” a traditional bank account. One of those clients said, “I feel so grown up now.” Her Bank On deposit account has made a huge difference in her life, she no longer must lose her hard-earned money to pay expensive check-cashing fees or deal with the safety issues of carrying large sums of cash.

Melinda Opperman, Chief External Affairs Officer of Credit.org

Partner of the National CFE Fund

Bank On San Diego is proud to be part of the national Bank On movement, made up of dozens of similar local coalitions across the country.

The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) is the national nonprofit partner for all Bank On coalitions, supporting local efforts by:

– Creating Bank On National Account Standards and providing accompanying certification
– Granting support to build local coalition capacity
– Informing federal regulatory policy and financial institution practices using feedback collected from local coalitions