Responsible loans, transparent services, and financial education
We're making ownership and financial opportunity more accessible to meet our communities' needs.
Transparent services to meet community needs
Self-Help provides fair and affordable financial services to all, with a focus on reaching people of color, women, rural residents and low-income communities.
We offer accounts, loans and services designed for people from varied economic backgrounds and life stages.
We prioritize transparency, low fees and loan criteria that don't exclude people with limited incomes.
For many new members, our loans and accounts represent their first use of mainstream financial services.
We partner with values-aligned investors who enjoy the benefits of a federally insured credit union and competitive rates while contributing to our mission.
We intentionally open branches in underserved communities to provide a responsible alternative to predatory lenders and high-fee check cashers.
We work with community partners to transform underutilized historic buildings and vacant lots into vibrant, useful spaces.
To learn more about the vibrant legacies of our merged family members who built a foundation of trust and impact in their communities, check out our Video Histories.
We're using financial coaching to make sure our members are better off in the long term because we believe everyone should have access to ownership and economic opportunity.
We're using financial coaching to make sure our members are better off in the long term because we believe everyone should have access to ownership and economic opportunity.
Real Stories from Our Members
To support herself and her son with Guillaume-Berret Syndrome, Leola took out two personal loans from predatory lenders that were charging astronomical interest rates. These lenders kept Leola in a seemingly hopeless cycle of debt until she was able to refinance with Self-Help.
Jerry felt pressured to act quickly when given the opportunity to buy the property where he had been operating his auto and tire shop, resulting in a predatory loan. The refinancing process was complex, but necessary to protect Jerry and this community resource for years to come.
The median first-time homebuyer age is around 38 years old. With a statistic like that, it can be hard to imagine someone becoming a homeowner at 20 years old, especially in California. Yet, that is what one Self-Help borrower, Andrea, was able to accomplish.
Keep your money safe while uplifting underserved communities.