Dive Brief:
California lawmakers are backing a bill to create BankCal, a government program that would offer a zero-fee, zero-penalty consumer banking option to the state’s residents. The measure is aimed at protecting consumers who lack access to traditional banking services from predatory, discriminatory, and costly alternatives.
Assembly Bill 1177, which lawmakers and advocates unveiled last week, would establish a Public Banking Option Board, which would partner with financial institutions to offer the free accounts. California employers with five or more employees would be required to facilitate direct deposit, when requested, into the account.
The bill is scheduled to be heard April 29 before the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.