FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

F&M Bank Partners with GoVA Foundation to Expand Financial Education for Military Families Across Southern California 

CARY, NC (June 29, 2026) — GoVA Foundation is pleased to announce a new Community Development grant partnership with Farmers & Merchants Bank (F&M Bank), a California-based regional bank with deep roots in Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Barbara counties. Through this collaboration, GoVA Foundation will provide free digital financial education resources to low- and moderate-income (LMI) military families through its innovative platform, The Edge. 

The program will serve sponsored military households across Santa Barbara, Orange, and Los Angeles counties. This region is home to a significant concentration of active-duty service members, veterans, and their families, including those connected to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and the Los Angeles Space Force Base. The Edge platform offers AI-powered personalized learning, interactive financial courses, and digital tools designed to address the unique financial challenges of military life, from PCS moves and deployment planning to building long-term financial stability. 

“Supporting military families reflects F&M Bank’s 120-year legacy of service above self and our deep respect for those who serve,” said Henry Walker, F&M Bank CEO. “By helping families in need achieve greater financial stability and confidence, we strengthen the homes and communities at the core of everything we do.” 

“We are proud to welcome Farmers & Merchants Bank as a GoVA Foundation sponsor,” said George Earhart, Executive Director of GoVA Foundation and Air Force veteran. “Southern California is home to one of the largest and most vibrant military communities in the country. F&M Bank’s commitment ensures that service members, veterans, and their families across Santa Barbara, Orange, and Los Angeles counties will have access to the financial education tools they deserve.” 

As part of the partnership, F&M Bank will receive LMI verification documentation and impact reports for CRA compliance purposes. Sponsored military members will gain full access to The Edge’s financial education platform for a 12-month period. This collaboration is part of GoVA Foundation’s ongoing efforts to partner with forward-thinking financial institutions nationwide in service of military families. 

About GoVA Foundation 

GoVA Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering military families through innovative financial education and resources. GoVA addresses the unique financial challenges many military families face. Through its digital education platform The Edge, GoVA provides comprehensive financial literacy tools, interactive courses, and personalized resources tailored to the needs of service members, veterans, and their spouses. The platform features a mobile-optimized design to ensure accessibility for military families regardless of location. GoVA Foundation has served over 9,000 military families across all 50 states and maintains partnerships with forward-thinking financial institutions. The organization’s mission includes advocacy for military financial wellness and suicide prevention, recognizing the critical link between financial stress and military mental health outcomes. 

About Farmers & Merchants Bank (F&M Bank) 

Farmers & Merchants Bank, founded in Long Beach in 1907, provides personalized, white-glove service through a strong branch network and modern digital banking solutions across Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Barbara counties. Recognized by Forbes and Newsweek in 2026 as a top bank—and ranked among the top 3% of U.S. banks by asset size—F&M Bank offers a full range of consumer, commercial, and small business banking services. F&M Bank is a California state-chartered institution, Member FDIC, and an Equal Housing Lender (NMLS #537388). Learn more at FMB.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 

Contact: Lizann Lightfoot, VP of Marketing & Partnerships 

GoVA Foundation Lizann.Lightfoot@GoVAFoundation.org