OneUnited Bank
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
OneUnited Bank firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OneUnited Bank
- Legal name
- OneUnited Bank
- Website
- https://oneunited.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OneUnited Bank industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Banking
- NAICS
- Commercial Banking (52211), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (52218)
- SIC
- National Commercial Banks (6021), State Commercial Banks (6022)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Underbanked/Financial Inclusion Neobanks (FSABAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Credit & Overdraft Enablement (Credit Lines, Underwriting Integrations) (FSAGAAAJ), Digital Wallets & Account Aggregation Hub (Multi-account, Stored Value) (FSAGAAAD), Open-Loop Prepaid Cards (Network-Branded) (FSAMANAA), Embedded Deposit Accounts & Digital Wallet Infrastructure (FSAGALAE)
Keywords
Where OneUnited Bank is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
OneUnited Bank business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Interest Income on Loans: Primary revenue from interest earned on multifamily mortgage loans, small business loans (via Lendistry referral), CashPlease short-term personal loans, and other lending products. Loans originated primarily in low-to-moderate income communities.
- Deposit Account Fees and Interest: Revenue from deposit account maintenance, with some checking accounts earning interest. Savings accounts, CDs, and money market accounts generate fee income and interest spread. No monthly maintenance fee for Basic Checking; interest-earning accounts include UNITY E-Gold Checking, various savings tiers, and money market accounts.
- Secured Credit Card Fees: UNITY Visa Secured Credit Card generates revenue through annual fees, interest on carried balances, and interchange fees. The card requires a refundable security deposit matching the credit limit. Reports to all three major credit bureaus daily.
- WiseOne Subscription: WiseOne AI money management subscription at $9.99/month for non-Essential Checking customers. Free for Essential Checking account holders. Revenue from premium subscription tier for AI-driven financial coaching and insights.
- Referral and Advocate Rewards: Refer-a-friend cash rewards program for advocates with cash rewards up to $12,000 per year, funded by new account acquisitions. Referral rewards serve as customer acquisition cost.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic Checking - No monthly fee, no money management features |
| Subscription | Monthly | Essential Checking - AI money management included with WiseOne |
| Subscription | Monthly | U2 E-Checking - Second chance checking for ChexSystems record holders |
| Subscription | Monthly | WiseOne Premium Subscription (non-Essential customers) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | UNITY 15-Month E-CD promotional rate |
| Subscription | Monthly | UNITY E-Gold Savings tiers |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Business loan through Lendistry |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CashPlease No-Credit-Check Loan |
Go-to-market motion5 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
OneUnited Bank product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OneUnited Bank is a CDFI-certified, FDIC-insured retail and community development bank providing consumer and small business deposit products (checking, savings, CDs), secured credit cards, no-credit-check small-dollar loans, multifamily mortgage lending, and P2P payments, delivered through a digital banking platform called TheOne and a network of branches and 100,000+ surcharge-free ATMs. The bank differentiates with WiseOne, an AI-driven conversational money management assistant built on Google Gemini, and with culturally branded debit cards (BankBlack, OneLove, Greenwood) targeted at Black and minority consumers.
Product overview
OneUnited Bank operates as a multi-year award-winning Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) offering a comprehensive digital banking platform called TheOne, which combines traditional banking services with AI-driven financial wellness tools. The core product ecosystem centers on WiseOne AI Money Management—a conversational AI platform built with Google Gemini that provides personalized financial guidance and account aggregation—paired with TheOne Digital Banking Solution offering checking, savings, and CD accounts. Key products include CashPlease (no-credit-check emergency loans up to $1,000), the UNITY Visa Secured Credit Card for credit building, multiple debit card brands (BankBlack, OneLove, Greenwood), Money Moves peer-to-peer payments, AutoSave automated savings, and Early Pay early direct deposit. The bank also provides multifamily mortgage loans, small business loans via Lendistry partnership, and the OneTransaction financial education initiative. Services are delivered through mobile and online banking with 100,000+ surcharge-free ATMs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WiseOne: AI-driven conversational money management platform built with Google Gemini that provides personal financial AI assistant, wealth and credit-building tools, and financial wellness guidance.
- TheOne
- BankBlack Card
- OneLove Card
- Greenwood Card
- CashPlease
- UNITY Visa
- Money Moves
- AutoSave
- OneTransaction
- OneUnited Rewards Suite
Products and services
- TheOne Digital Banking Solution Core digital banking platform providing mobile and online account access, Basic and Essential Checking options, Money Management, and digital banking features for individual consumers nationwide.
- Basic Checking Entry-level consumer checking account with no monthly maintenance fee, Visa debit card, access to 100,000+ surcharge-free ATMs, and Early Pay (2-day early direct deposit).
- Essential Checking Premium consumer checking account that includes WiseOne Money Management (AI-driven personalized insights, credit score monitoring, AI-generated budgets) at no additional cost alongside all Basic Checking features.
- U2 E-Checking Second-chance checking account designed for individuals with a ChexSystems record, providing access to standard banking services and a Visa debit card.
- OneUnited Savings Basic savings account with no monthly fee when direct deposit is maintained, enabling customers to set goals, track progress, and build a financial cushion.
- UNITY E-Gold Savings Tiered high-interest savings account paying 0.20% APY on $1,000-$24,999.99, 0.30% APY on $25,000-$99,999.99, and 0.40% APY on balances of $100,000 or more, with a minimum balance requirement to avoid fees.
- UNITY Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Certificate of Deposit products with terms ranging from 4 months to 2 years, with a UNITY 15-Month E-CD promotional rate of 3.00% APY on $500-$9,999.99 and 3.75% APY on $10,000-$250,000 or more (rates effective 4/23/2026), and no monthly fee.
- WiseOne AI Money Management AI-driven conversational money management platform built on Google Gemini that links all of a customer's financial accounts, delivers personalized AI insights, credit monitoring, AI-generated budgets, and a debt payoff strategy, priced at $9.99/month or free with Essential Checking.
- CashPlease Short-term small-dollar emergency loan of up to $1,000 with no credit check, repaid over 90 days in 3 installments, with funds deposited within 4 hours of approval and payment history reported to credit bureaus.
- UNITY Visa Secured Credit Card Secured Visa credit card designed to help rebuild or establish credit with no minimum credit score required, where the refundable security deposit matches the credit limit on a 1:1 basis, with payment history reported to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion daily.
- BankBlack Visa Debit Card Signature black-on-black Visa debit card design that 'being in the black' represents profitability and positive cash balance, serving as the primary branded debit card for the bank.
- OneLove Visa Debit Card Visa debit card featuring a heart-shaped design by artist Addonis Parker that symbolizes unity, self-love, family love, and community love within the Black community.
- Greenwood Visa Debit Card Visa debit card honoring the legacy of the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma (Black Wall Street) and Charles Cohee Jr., a civil rights leader and ancestor of CEO Kevin Cohee.
- Money Moves P2P Payments Real-time peer-to-peer payment service enabling instant money transfers to friends and family via phone or email, with immediate deposit to OneUnited accounts, standard 1-3 day deposit to external banks, or instant deposit to debit cards for a $1 fee.
- AutoSave Automatic savings service that rounds up debit card purchases and transfers the difference to a savings account at the end of each banking day, activated by a switch in the mobile app.
- Early Pay Direct deposit feature that makes funds available up to two days earlier than traditional banks, with pre-filled deposit forms for easy employer setup.
- Multifamily Mortgage Loans Mortgage loans for multifamily properties (5+ units) in the Boston, Los Angeles, and Miami areas with a 45-day close goal, focused on affordable rental housing in low-to-moderate income minority communities (60%+ of originations are LMI/80%+ minority).
- Small Business Loans (via Lendistry) Business loan resource powered by Lendistry fintech with a $50,000 minimum loan amount, available nationwide to OneUnited customers and non-customers, requiring 2+ years in business, with 48-hour response and SBA 7(a) loans.
- Overdraft Protection Optional service linking a checking account to a savings account as backup to automatically cover checks, ATM withdrawals, debit transactions, and pre-authorized debits, with no overdraft transfer fee.
- Overdraft Privilege Service that pays overdrafts from check transactions and can extend to cover debit and ATM transactions with customer permission, with insufficient funds charges applying per item.
- Advocate Rewards Program (BankBlack Card) Referral and advocate program that pays customers cash rewards (up to $12,000 annual cap) for referring new account holders, with tiered Bronze, Silver, and Gold Advocate levels and exclusive rewards.
- OneTransaction Financial Education Financial education initiative promoting the concept that the wealth gap can be closed by one strategic transaction, covering savings, investments, credit scores, insurance, homeownership, wills, and profitable business ownership.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly $1 billion in loans financed in LMI communities with $0 loan losses in over 12 years
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use OneUnited Bank
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
OneUnited Bank technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability8 records
Feature7 records
OneUnited Bank partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CandescentcoreCandescent's Intelligent Banking platform serves OneUnited Bank, contributing to a 33% increase in digital feature adoption. Candescent invested over $120 million in annual R&D and serves 1,300+ financial institutions and 30 million registered users. OneUnited Bank is featured in Candescent's 2025 Annual Report as a client case study.
- Google CloudcoreOneUnited Bank partnered with Google Cloud to enhance its financial services and customer support through AI and cloud infrastructure. The project led to reduced onboarding and call resolution times, improved API management, and advanced fraud detection capabilities. WiseOne AI money management platform is built with Google Gemini.
- LendistrycoreLendistry is a Black-led fintech and SBA-designated Small Business Lending Company providing small business loans to OneUnited Bank customers and non-customers nationwide ($50,000 minimum, 2+ years in business). Lendistry is a CDFI and CDE certified lender headquartered in a Los Angeles Opportunity Zone. OneUnited Bank serves as a referral and access channel for Lendistry's loan products.
- JP MorganminorOneUnited Bank has retained and expanded its corporate relationship with JP Morgan through mission-driven deposits, supporting community lending initiatives. Jointly featured in content about financial empowerment and community development.
- Citi BankminorCitibank branch ATMs are available to OneUnited Bank customers surcharge-free. Partnership between two financial institutions passionate about driving positive change and uplifting communities. OneUnited Bank customers can access Citibank ATMs through the surcharge-free network.
- Mass Black ExpominorOneUnited Bank supports the Mass Black Expo as a community partner, contributing to economic development initiatives for Black communities in Massachusetts.
- Miami Dade Chamber of CommerceminorOneUnited Bank supports the Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce to promote economic development, small business growth, and community empowerment in South Florida.
- Watts of Power FoundationminorOneUnited Bank supports the Watts of Power Foundation, a community organization focused on economic empowerment and development.
- Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA)minorOneUnited Bank supported the purchase of a headquarters building in Roxbury for BECMA. Invested in organizations generating loans, training, and back office support for small businesses.
- Partnership for MiamiminorOneUnited Bank joined the Partnership for Miami to contribute to building a city that works for all, with a holistic approach to community development including the 79th Street Corridor Initiative.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
OneUnited Bank competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Current: Current is a U.S. neobank offering mobile-first checking, savings pods, and secured credit-building cards to underbanked and younger consumers. It is comparable to OneUnited in product set (checking, savings, secured card, early pay) and in serving consumers seeking alternatives to traditional banks.
- Chime: Chime is one of the largest U.S. neobanks targeting underbanked and fee-sensitive consumers with no-fee checking, early direct deposit, and secured credit-building cards. Like OneUnited, Chime competes on digital-first acquisition, low/no fees, and credit-building products for consumers underserved by traditional banks.
- Varo Bank: Varo is a national, FDIC-insured digital bank chartered as an actual bank rather than a fintech partner bank, offering no-fee checking, high-yield savings, and credit-building products. Like OneUnited, Varo is a real chartered bank competing in the underbanked digital-first segment, though without OneUnited's CDFI/community mission focus.
- Green Dot Corporation: Green Dot is a leading provider of prepaid debit cards, secured credit cards, and mobile banking for underbanked consumers, with a bank charter. Comparable to OneUnited in serving underbanked consumers, offering secured cards (UNITY Visa), prepaid products, and digital banking.
- Hope Credit Union (Hope Enterprise Corporation): Hope Credit Union is a CDFI and community development financial institution serving low-income, underbanked, and minority communities in the Deep South with deposit, lending, and financial coaching products. It is one of the most direct comparables to OneUnited in mission, CDFI status, and target demographics.
- LendingClub Bank: LendingClub Bank is a digital-first bank offering deposit products and personal loans, originally built around consumer credit. It is comparable to OneUnited as a digitally native bank that pairs deposit products with consumer lending, and is among the few chartered banks focused on the underbanked segment.
- Self-Help Federal Credit Union: Self-Help is a CDFI credit union network serving low-wealth and minority communities with deposit products, mortgage lending, and small business loans. It is highly comparable to OneUnited as a CDFI serving similar demographics, with a focus on responsible lending to underserved borrowers.
Broad incumbents
- Bank of America: Bank of America is a national commercial bank with one of the largest U.S. retail branch and digital banking footprints, including an early direct-deposit product (Early Pay / "Get Paid Up to 2 Days Early"). Comparable to OneUnited in offering low-fee checking, early direct deposit, and credit-building card products to mass-market and minority consumers.
- JPMorgan Chase: JPMorgan Chase is a national commercial bank with a large retail branch network, mobile banking platform, and credit card franchise, and is also a major mission-driven deposit partner to OneUnited. Comparable as a digital-banking competitor to OneUnited customers and as a strategic counterparty in the CDFI ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Cash App (Block): Cash App is a mobile P2P and banking-adjacent product reaching tens of millions of underbanked and younger consumers. While not a chartered bank, it competes for primary financial relationship with similar demographics to OneUnited through P2P, debit, and credit products.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
OneUnited Bank social profiles
Digital presenceOneUnited Bank compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
OneUnited Bank financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OneUnited Bank leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
OneUnited Bank funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OneUnited Bank M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about OneUnited Bank
What does OneUnited Bank do?
OneUnited Bank is a CDFI-certified, FDIC-insured retail and community development bank providing consumer and small business deposit products (checking, savings, CDs), secured credit cards, no-credit-check small-dollar loans, multifamily mortgage lending, and P2P payments, delivered through a digital banking platform called TheOne and a network of branches and 100,000+ surcharge-free ATMs. The bank differentiates with WiseOne, an AI-driven conversational money management assistant built on Google Gemini, and with culturally branded debit cards (BankBlack, OneLove, Greenwood) targeted at Black and minority consumers.
Is OneUnited Bank a public or private company?
OneUnited Bank is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was OneUnited Bank founded?
OneUnited Bank was founded in 1968. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is OneUnited Bank based?
OneUnited Bank is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does OneUnited Bank make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Interest Income on Loans are the primary driver. The others are deposit Account Fees and Interest, secured Credit Card Fees, wiseOne Subscription and referral and Advocate Rewards.
Who are OneUnited Bank's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Current, Chime, Varo Bank, Green Dot Corporation, Hope Credit Union (Hope Enterprise Corporation), LendingClub Bank and Self-Help Federal Credit Union. Broad incumbents are Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase. Cash App (Block) is listed as an emerging player.
Does OneUnited Bank have an API?
No public API is recorded for OneUnited Bank.
What industry is OneUnited Bank in?
OneUnited Bank's product category is Community Development Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABAFAJ, Underbanked/Financial Inclusion Neobanks, with a secondary code of FSAGAAAJ, Credit & Overdraft Enablement (Credit Lines, Underwriting Integrations). Its NAICS code is 52211 and its SIC code is 6021.