Licensees and Programs

The DFI provides high quality and responsive regulation and oversight of the licensees under its supervision.

DFI oversees the operations of state-licensed depository and non depository financial institutions, including commercial banks, credit unions, industrial banks, savings associations, trust companies, foreign banking organizations, business and industrial development corporations, money transmitters, issuers of payment instruments and travelers checks, and premium finance companies.

In its role as Administrator of Local Agency Security of the State of California, the DFI also ensures the safety of public deposits in California financial institutions by requiring that any uninsured deposits are fully secured by the depository institution and by monitoring those deposits.

The DFI’s bank and credit union examination programs are accredited by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) and the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS).

  • Banks
    From community banks to multi-billion dollar institutions, state-chartered banks offer financial solutions tailored to fit the communities they serve.
  • Business and Industrial Development Corporations (BIDCO)
    Provide non-traditional capital and/or debt funding for qualified businesses.
  • Credit Unions
    Located in thousands of work sites and communities throughout California, state-chartered credit unions provide a range of basic financial services to their members.
  • Foreign (Other Nation) Banks
    They extend trade financing and other financial services to businesses in California and around the globe. Foreign banks range from Agencies and Branches, which proved a full range of services to Representative Offices which act as liaisons between California and countries worldwide. Facilities of foreign (other state) banks act as liaisons between California and their home states.
  • Foreign (Other State) Banks
    California plays host to offices of state-chartered banks that are headquartered in other states.
  • Industrial Banks
    Similar to community banks, industrial banks are insured deposit-taking institutions that specialize in niche banking.
  • Local Agency Security Program (LASP)
    Financial institutions that accept local agency deposits report to the state any addition, withdrawal, or substitution of pooled securities that secure local agency deposits.
  • Money Transmitters
    Money Transmitters receive money for transmission from California to locations worldwide. The Money Transmitter Division of DFI licenses and regulates money transmitters, which includes issuers of payment instruments (money orders), travelers checks and stored value.
  • Premium Finance Companies
    Provide insurance rate premium financing.
  • Trust Companies and Departments
    Offer a full range of private client and investment services to individuals and businesses.