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Assembly committee advances CalAccount bill to create state-sponsored no-fee banking option after lengthened debate
Summary
AB 13 65, introduced by Assemblymember Garcia, would establish 'CalAccount,' a state-administered, zero-fee, no‑minimum checking option for unbanked and underbanked Californians. The committee advanced the bill after witness testimony on need, cost, implementation and alternatives such as Bank On.
Assemblymember Garcia presented AB 13 65 to establish CalAccount, a state-administered, zero‑fee banking account the bill describes as "0 fee, 0 penalty and no minimum account." Garcia said the program is modeled on other California public–private initiatives and aimed at unbanked and underbanked households.
Sandra (surname not specified), who said she works at Jack in the Box in Sacramento, described paying repeated overdraft fees for routine purchases and urged lawmakers to create safer options. "Working families like mine deserve a banking option that doesn't charge us just so we can access our own hard earned money," she testified.
Cynthia Amezqua, described in testimony as a state policy and advocacy manager at FreeFrom, a survivor‑support nonprofit, said CalAccount would address barriers…
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