Subscribe

Best Banks & Credit Unions in California

Compare the best banks and credit unions in California — up to 4.00% APY, verified fees, minimums, and membership rules from 33+ local institutions.

California banking is dominated by a handful of giants — Bank of America and Wells Fargo are both headquartered in-state — but the sharpest rates almost always come from the state's massive credit-union sector. The California Credit Union League represents more than 270 credit unions, and heavyweights like Golden 1, SchoolsFirst FCU, and Star One CU routinely publish savings and money-market APYs that national online banks struggle to match. State-chartered deposits are overseen by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), and every institution in this directory is also FDIC- or NCUA-insured to $250,000.

State regulator: California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI). Every institution below is FDIC- or NCUA-insured to $250,000.

Best banks and credit unions in California 2026

Every bank with a branch in California

165 FDIC-insured banks run 5,378 full-service offices in California. 90 of them are community banks, and 91 operate nowhere else. This is the federal record: every figure below is the regulator's own.

Deposits by office come from the FDIC Summary of Deposits, counted each 30 June; the leverage ratio is capital as a share of assets, from each bank's latest Call Report. Nothing here is blended into a score. Search by ZIP to see the offices nearest you.

Every bank we publish a page for in California

41 of them, largest first. Each page carries the bank's own Call Report figures and every office it runs.

Branches by town in California

Where a bank runs more than one office in a town, every one of them is listed on a page of its own.

Branch pages in California

Every office we publish a page for in California, by town. Each carries what that branch holds, when it opened and the other branches within five miles.

Los Angeles

San Francisco

Beverly Hills

Newport Beach

Santa Rosa

Stockton

Alameda

Bakersfield

Burlingame

Daly City

Downey

Fremont

Hayward

Long Beach

Manhattan Beach

Modesto

Paramount

Pleasanton

Riverside

Rosemead

Roseville

Sacramento

San Diego

San Leandro

San Rafael

Santa Barbara

West Covina

Whittier

Every credit union with an office in California

277 federally insured credit unions run 1,620 offices in California, between them serving 36,703,699 members. 129 carry the NCUA's low-income designation. Figures are from each credit union's own NCUA Call Report.

A credit union is measured differently from a bank and the numbers are not interchangeable: the net worth ratio here is the NCUA's capital measure under 12 CFR 702, where 7% is well capitalised, and shares are the credit union equivalent of deposits. Membership usually turns on where you live or work, so a local credit union is often open to you even when its name suggests otherwise.

What makes a California bank account worth opening

Look at four things in order: the APY (does it beat the FDIC national average of about 0.60%?), the monthly fee (anything above $0 should come with a clear waiver path), the minimum opening deposit, and the membership rule for credit unions. California residents typically qualify for at least one large state-chartered credit union on residency alone, and that credit union is often the highest-APY option available locally.

Is my money safe at a California bank or credit union?

Yes, if the institution is federally insured. FDIC covers banks up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category; NCUA covers credit unions at the same limits. Every institution in this directory carries one of those insurances — the FDIC or NCUA ID is listed on the full provider row.

Best banks in California cities

California banking FAQ — credit unions, rates & insurance

Which California credit unions accept members statewide?

Golden 1 Credit Union is open to any California resident — no employer group required. SchoolsFirst FCU is open to K–12 educators and their families statewide, and Star One Credit Union accepts members who live or work in Santa Clara County plus several affiliated employer groups. For out-of-area California residents, Alliant and Consumers CU (both Illinois-chartered) also offer nationwide membership through a small charitable contribution.

Does California tax interest earned on savings accounts?

Yes — California taxes bank interest as ordinary income at the state level, on top of federal tax. California has no separate personal-income-tax exemption for interest the way some other states do, so a high-yield savings account paying 4% effectively nets closer to 3.5% for a top-bracket California resident. Municipal-bond interest from California issuers is exempt from state tax, which can make California-specific muni funds more attractive than a taxable HYSA for high earners.

Are deposits at California state-chartered banks federally insured?

Yes. Every state-chartered bank in California that takes retail deposits is required to carry FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category. State-chartered credit unions carry NCUA insurance at the same limits. The California DFPI supervises state-chartered institutions, but federal insurance is the backstop that matters for depositors.

What is the highest savings APY available to a California resident right now?

The top rate changes monthly. Our last-verified California savings leaders come from a mix of state-chartered credit unions (Golden 1, SchoolsFirst, Star One) and nationally-available online banks (SoFi, Marcus, Ally) that California residents can join without geographic restriction. Expand any row in the directory above to see the current APY, minimum balance, and any rate-cap rules that apply.

Related guides for California savers

Rates and fees change frequently. Confirm current figures directly with each institution before applying, and see our editorial methodology for how this directory is built and maintained.