What is the largest bank in California?

Wells Fargo is headquartered in San Francisco and has the largest deposit base in California, followed by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and US Bancorp. Among California-chartered banks, East West Bancorp (headquartered in Pasadena) is the largest and serves a significant Chinese-American banking market.

Are there good credit unions in California?

Yes. California has some of the nation's largest credit unions. SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union (serving education employees) and Golden 1 Credit Union (based in Sacramento) each have billions in assets. America First Credit Union, CalCom Federal Credit Union, and San Diego County Credit Union are also well-regarded. Credit unions typically offer lower fees and better loan rates than banks but require membership eligibility.

What banks are best for tech workers in California?

Tech workers in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles often prioritize strong digital banking, no foreign transaction fees (for international travel), and equity/stock compensation features. Mercury and Brex are popular for startup employees' business accounts. For personal banking, Ally, SoFi, and Charles Schwab Bank (which reimburses all ATM fees worldwide) are frequently recommended.

Do California banks charge different fees than banks in other states?

No. Banks operating in California charge the same fees as they do nationally — fees are set at the bank level, not the state level. However, California has strong consumer protection laws that may give you additional rights regarding account closures, overdraft disclosures, and fee disputes compared to other states.

Best Banks in California 2026 — Top Picks for Checking, Savings, and Business

The best banks in California in 2026 offer strong digital banking, competitive savings rates, and accessible branches in the state’s large metropolitan areas. Wells Fargo and Bank of America lead in branch count. Online banks like Ally, SoFi, and Charles Schwab Bank offer higher savings rates with no in-person locations. California’s large immigrant and tech-worker populations make multilingual banking and international transfer capabilities important features for many residents.

Best Banks in California 2026

Bank	Type	Best For
Chase	National	Everyday banking; credit card rewards
Bank of America	National	Preferred rewards; ATM network
Wells Fargo	National	Bay Area roots; no overdraft fees
US Bancorp	National	Business banking; Midwest-CA corridor
East West Bank	CA regional	Chinese-American community; international banking
Golden 1 Credit Union	Credit union	Sacramento region; low fees
SchoolsFirst FCU	Credit union	Education employees; K-12 and university
Ally Bank	Online	High savings APY; no fees
SoFi	Online	Tech workers; checking + investing combo
Charles Schwab Bank	Online	ATM fee reimbursement; investors

National Banks in California

Wells Fargo is headquartered in San Francisco and has deep roots in California, with branches in every county. It eliminated overdraft fees in 2022 and offers competitive small business banking. The Wells Fargo mobile app has received strong ratings for ease of use.

Bank of America offers Preferred Rewards, which provides fee waivers, savings rate boosts, and mortgage discounts based on your combined relationship balance. Strong in Southern California — Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Inland Empire.

Chase has expanded aggressively in California and has a strong branch presence in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The Chase ecosystem (Sapphire, Freedom, Ink cards) is popular with California’s high-income and travel-heavy demographic.

California-Based and Regional Banks

East West Bancorp (East West Bank) is the largest publicly traded bank headquartered in California and specializes in serving the Chinese-American community, with bilingual staff and services connecting the US and Greater China. Branches concentrated in Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley, and the Bay Area.

Pacific Premier Bancorp and Cathay General Bancorp serve similar communities in Southern California. All three are publicly traded and accept ITINs for non-SSN customers.

Credit Unions in California

Golden 1 Credit Union is based in Sacramento and serves all Californians who work or live in the state. It offers competitive auto loan rates and a fee-free checking account with a high-yield savings option.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union serves California K-12 teachers, university employees, and their families. It consistently ranks among the best in member satisfaction for mortgage rates and customer service.

San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) serves residents of San Diego, Riverside, and Orange counties with no-fee checking and competitive CD rates.

What to Know About Banking in California

High cost of living. Many California residents maintain higher account balances and benefit from Preferred Rewards or relationship pricing that waives monthly fees. If your average checking balance is over $5,000, most major banks will waive monthly fees automatically.

International banking needs. California has the largest immigrant population in the US. Banks that accept ITIN and foreign passports include Bank of America, Citibank, and Chase. See Best Banks for Newcomers for a detailed guide.

Tech workers and equity compensation. If you receive RSUs or stock options, look for banks with brokerage integration. SoFi and Schwab Bank both offer investing accounts alongside checking and savings.

For savings rates, see Best High-Yield Savings Accounts.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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