Business

Chase Community Branch to Empower Black and Brown Start-Ups

During the ribbon cutting ceremony before an audience of about 40 people, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon addressed executive staff members of Chase from various regions in California along with local staff and community members. For Dimon, community banks represent the changes he hopes to see in the world for future generations. Dimon also said the George Floyd murder and the pandemic shed light on the racial disparities in communities of color. “Disparities are not something we were unaware of, but it did spotlight the need to do more.”

Published

4 years ago

December 17, 2021

Oakland Post

If you think you’re ready to take the next step in purchasing a home, reach out to learn more about the tools, resources and capital available to help make your homeownership dream a reality.

JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon with branch manager Latanya Millican of Chase’s Community Bank in Oakland at 3005 Broadway at the bank’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

On Dec. 8, JPMorgan Chase & Co. celebrated the grand opening of an innovative bank branch experience in downtown Oakland.

With a mission to help more Black and Latino start-ups and small businesses, the new Community Center branch will provide Oakland residents with financial tools and resources, including access to funding, mentoring and pop-up space for entrepreneurs.

Located at 3005 Broadway, the site is the first of its kind in Northern California, and only one of 12 among Chase’s nearly 5,000 branches nationwide.

“This is all about Oakland,” said branch manager Latanya Millican, who has served Chase for nearly 30 years. “This is a celebration of reaching our community with resources beyond traditional banking. At our branch, clients will be welcomed with opportunities to launch their business, expand their business, and secure closing costs on homes in addition to our traditional banking services.”

For Dimon, community banks represent the changes he hopes to see in the world for future generations. Dimon also said the George Floyd murder and the pandemic shed light on the racial disparities in communities of color. “Disparities are not something we were unaware of, but it did spotlight the need to do more.”

For Dimon, ‘more’ includes offering $5,000 homebuyer grants to help cover closing costs and down payments and increasing affordable housing and home ownership by providing $300 million in construction, permanent loans, and low-income housing tax credits over the past five years.

In 2020, the company committed to a $75 million, five-year investment in Oakland and San Francisco through long-term, low-cost loans and philanthropy to provide more affordable housing, and protect local residents from displacement.

“Our firm has committed $30 billion to advance racial equity and drive economic opportunities for Black, Latino and Hispanic communities, and the new centers are designed to accelerate minority, small-business growth in the country,” said Dimon.

“He’s like the modern-day Robin Hood,” said Betty Uribe, head of retail for California at Chase in describing Dimon.

Chase has also supported local organizations like the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) and The Unity Council and their mission of preserving affordable housing in Oakland neighborhoods with a $35 million loan through the Housing for Health Fund.

“We’re putting our communities first and this new hub will serve as a place where dreams are going to be hatched and brought to fruition,” Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said.

“After collaborating with my Chase Senior Business Consultant Nykole Prevost, myself and our director of operations were able to identify areas where the business can really impact our local communities on a faster timeline then we originally envisioned,” Derrick Hill, founder and president of Hill & Quality Associates, LLC, said.

Attendees also included Chase associates September Hargrove, Northern California director for Community Banking at JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Jonathan Morales, head of Community and Business Development for Chase in California; Nykole Prevost, senior business consultant, at Chase and Ben Walter, Chase Business Banking CEO.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC