Golden 1 makes a bigger push into business banking.
The $22 billion-asset Sacramento credit union is expanding checking, savings, payments and other services for businesses across California.
Golden 1 Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in the United States, is expanding its business banking operation, adding checking, savings and money market accounts to a broader package of services aimed at entrepreneurs and small businesses across California.
The move gives the Sacramento-based credit union a larger role in the day-to-day finances of sole proprietors, micro and small businesses, nonprofits and other community organizations. Golden 1 has more than $22 billion in assets, more than 1.2 million members and more than 2,000 employees.
The credit union earned $57.2 million in the first six months of 2026, compared with $55.1 million in the same period a year earlier, according to NCUA call report data.
“Businesses play a vital role in strengthening communities by creating jobs, supporting local economies and helping families build brighter futures,” said Donna Bland, Golden 1’s president and chief executive. “We are proud to expand Golden 1’s Business Services offerings to meet the evolving needs of California’s entrepreneurs and business owners.”
The expansion builds on services Golden 1 already offers to sole proprietors, as well as its commercial lending business. The credit union said it is one of the largest commercial real estate lenders among U.S. credit unions.
Its expanded business services include ACH and wire transfers as well as digital banking tools for everyday financial management. Business members can also use Merchant Services through Clover and Payroll Services through Paychex.
The broader product lineup reflects a push to keep more of a business’s financial activity within the same institution, from basic deposit accounts to payments and other operating needs.
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For California businesses, that can be particularly relevant as a company grows from a small operation into a more complex enterprise. Golden 1 said its expanded offerings are designed to give business members access to the resources and expertise of a large financial institution while retaining the cooperative structure of a member-owned, not-for-profit credit union.
The credit union’s size gives the expansion a significant platform. With more than 1.2 million members and a statewide presence, Golden 1 is already one of California’s larger financial cooperatives. Its new business services broaden an offering that had been more heavily associated with consumer banking and commercial lending.
Bland said the expansion is part of a larger commitment to California’s business community.
“By deepening our investment in businesses, we are helping create opportunity in communities across the state,” she said.
Golden 1 said the initiative is intended to support businesses at different stages, from entrepreneurs and sole proprietors to established organizations with more sophisticated banking needs.
The credit union framed the expansion as an extension of its long-standing mission in California rather than a standalone product launch. It said its broader business strategy combines deposit accounts and payments capabilities with its existing lending expertise.
The move also comes as financial institutions increasingly compete to deepen relationships with business customers, who can generate demand for a wider range of products than a standard consumer account. Golden 1’s offering now spans deposits, payments, merchant services, payroll and commercial lending.
For the credit union, the opportunity is straightforward: become a larger part of how California businesses manage their money, while building on the relationships and commercial capabilities it already has.
Golden 1 said the expanded Business Services operation is available to a broader range of businesses throughout the state and is part of its continuing investment in the communities it serves.
“By deepening our investment in businesses, we are helping create opportunity in communities across the state.”
Donna Bland
President and CEO
Golden 1 Credit Union
Ken McCarthy is manager of marketing communications at Tyfone, where he monitors the credit union industry and contributes to conversations shaping its future. He previously covered credit unions and community banking for American Banker and S&P Global Market Intelligence. He holds a journalism degree from Point Park University and has more than 15 years of experience covering financial services. He is also the author of three literary fiction novels.
