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    dial on your phone: green phone 2-1-1

    FACTS

    • Over 100 bank and credit union branches are participating in Bank on California.
    • People spend over $35 million a year at check cashers and payday lenders.
    • One in five Californians does not have a checking account.
    • Nearly half of Californians do not have a savings account.
    • The average unbanked worker will throw away more than $40,000 over a lifetime to cash checks and pay bills.

    ABOUT US


    Bank on Orange County began as an initiative between Orange County United Way, the City of Santa Ana, the FDIC, Financial Institutions and local Community Based Organizations as a part of the Bank on California project led by the Office of Governor Schwarzenegger to ensure every resident has access to mainstream financial services. After opening almost 4,000 accounts in Santa Ana alone, this program is expanding to all of Orange County.  Through Bank on Orange County, those who are unbanked or need a second-chance account have access to low-cost banking products and free financial education. This will help working families in Orange County reduce their use of payday loan systems, increase financial education and provide entry on the road to financial self-sufficiency.

    The convenience and safety of having a bank or credit union account is often taken for granted . Unbanked individuals spend an average of $800 each year to cash their checks. Without bank accounts, many people are forced to carry large sums of cash and can easily fall victim to crime as a result. Financial security, personal safety, and simple convenience are byproducts of a financially educated Orange County community with access to mainstream financial services.

    The success of this initiative and the ability to reach our target communities will not happen without help from you and the hard-working Community-Based Organizations and Nonprofits who have invested countless hours into this initiative. By acting as trusted liaisons, reaching out to neighbors and clients to explain the benefits of using mainstream financial institutions, you will be part of helping thousands of Orange County residents get on the road to economic mobility. We encourage all to use this directory as a reference to help clients, neighbors and friends find the banking relationship that best meets their needs.

    The coalition is also working to offer financial education, free tax preparation, and other asset building opportunities. To locate any of these services, or find a participating branch, just dial  2-1-1 from any phone. We hope that you will work closely with the partner institutions to connect people to these vital services as well.