LMI Support for Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses Through Financial Education
California maintains one of the nation’s most significant military and veteran populations, with active-duty service members, military families, and Veterans distributed across major installations spanning from San Diego to Sacramento. Through GoVA Foundation’s CRA-qualified programs, banks can provide financial education to LMI military households throughout California assessment areas.
California hosts an extensive military footprint with 19 major installations, from Camp Pendleton in Oceanside to Travis Air Force Base in Solano County. The state’s total active-duty military population stands at 179,777 service members, with significant concentrations in San Diego County, where Naval Base San Diego and Camp Pendleton each support 42,000 active-duty personnel.
Major military installations and their active-duty populations include:
Approximately 40% of active-duty military households qualify as low-to-moderate income (LMI), representing nearly 71,910 service members across California installations. Additionally, the state hosts an estimated 89,888 military spouses, calculated as 50% of the active-duty population, many of whom face employment challenges that impact household income.
Membership to The Edge is open to service members, Veterans, and their spouses. The combined military community in California represents a remarkable demographic presence:
This total military-connected population of 1,756,832 Californians represents a significant opportunity for banks to expand their services while meeting CRA obligations. The concentration of these communities near military installations creates natural assessment areas where banks can make meaningful impact through targeted financial education and services.
Within California’s Veteran population of over 1.4 million, approximately 297,433 veterans qualify as LMI households. The highest concentrations of Veterans are found in:
These population centers create distinct opportunities for bank partnerships in these assessment areas.
GoVA Foundation currently has verified-LMI members ready to sponsor in these counties. Complete the form at the bottom of the page for more details.
The military community presents unique opportunities for banks to fulfill their CRA obligations while serving an important demographic. GoVA Foundation’s financial education programs have been reviewed and approved by the FDIC and OCC. We meet regulatory standards not only for adult education, but also for CRA documentation. Our programs satisfy key CRA requirements through:
2. Community Development Activities:
The Edge platform currently serves over 350 active members across California, with 21% verified as LMI households. Our highest membership concentrations align with major military populations in:
These members receive targeted financial education addressing:
These resources are freely available to qualified LMI members, supported by Community Development grants from our banking partners.
Banks operating in California can leverage our established presence to meet CRA goals while making meaningful impact in military communities. We provide complete documentation for CRA reporting, including:
Discover immediate opportunities to support LMI military households in your assessment area. Our custom reports provide detailed analysis of military demographics, LMI verification, and potential Community Development impact through financial education programs.
Discover the impact potential for your bank’s Community Development initiatives. Our customized report reveals:
Simply share your assessment area, and we’ll prepare a custom report showing how your bank can support military financial wellness while meeting CRA objectives.
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GoVA Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, EIN: 93-4855398
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At GoVA, we’re proud to partner with a lender that delivers peace of mind to those who have served and continue to serve our county. Together, GoVA and TowneBank Mortgage are committed to helping our military service members achieve their dreams of homeownership, as well as providing them with valuable resources along the way. As experienced lenders, TowneBank Mortgage understands the need for a quick and easy mortgage process, especially during life’s transitional moments. Headquartered in Norfolk, just miles from the world’s largest naval base, TowneBank Mortgage has had the honor of helping thousands of military families through their VA loan offerings. Their team is knowledgeable about VA products and the local market, and in-house operations allow them to respond to questions and concerns in a timely manner. Together, we can get you to closing in 30 days or less. Trust TowneBank Mortgage and GoVA loans to get you home.
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