A team from First Tech Federal Credit Union and members of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce celebrate the opening of First Tech's latest Experience Center.First Tech Federal Credit UnionImagine it’s Friday afternoon at a bank and a customer calls the office in a panic needing an immediate wire transfer. The problem? The cutoff time for wires had already passed. East West Bank has seen this exact scenario play out many times. While a large national bank typically wouldn’t make an exception, which would leave the client waiting until Monday for an important transfer, East West has taken a different approach, says Irene Oh, executive vice president and chief risk officer at the bank. If the customer had the money and the Federal Reserve was open, “we’d send the wire,” Oh says. “It didn’t matter if it was 40 minutes late.” The result, according to Oh: “Customers are very grateful that we come through for them.”And this gratitude was evident in our latest rankings in which East West Bank earned the No. 2 spot in California on Forbes’ list of America’s Best-In-State Banks 2026, which was produced in tandem with America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions 2026.A team from First Tech Federal Credit Union and members of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce celebrate the opening of First Tech's latest Experience Center.First Tech Federal Credit UnionTo create the ninth annual edition of these lists, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista, which surveyed 26,000 United States residents. Respondents were asked how satisfied they were and how likely they were to recommend the U.S.-based banks and credit unions at which they have a checking or savings account, those at which they had an account within the last three years, and those they knew through friends and family. (Online-only banks and credit unions were excluded, as well as larger institutions with branches in 15 or more states.) Participants were also asked to rate their financial institutions on factors including trust, customer service, digital tools, the quality of financial advice given, and whether fees were transparent and reasonable.Additionally, Statista gathered more than 1.2 million publicly available reviews and ratings online about each bank and credit union written between February 2023 and March 2026. This research was incorporated into the analysis, accounting for 20% of each financial institution’s score, while the surveys accounted for 80%. The banks and credit unions with the highest overall scores made our rankings—with 228 unique banks and 246 unique credit unions recognized in one or more states.Banks such as WaFd and Huntington Bank ranked in multiple states, with the former taking the No. 1 spot in Oregon and Nevada on our banking list. On our credit union list, American Airlines Federal Credit Union ranked in four states, including No. 1 in New Jersey, while First Technology Federal Credit Union placed in three states: No. 3 in Washington, No. 4 in Oregon and No. 5 in California.DCU's mascot, Smiley, with DCU employees at a branch in Worcester, Massachusetts, during a member appreciation eventDigital Federal Credit UnionAt the beginning of this year, First Tech Federal Credit Union completed its merger with Digital Federal Credit Union, which ranked No. 2 in New Hampshire and No. 3 in Massachusetts on Forbes’ credit union list. To Shruti Miyashiro, First Tech's president and CEO, the merger was like bringing together “fraternal twins from the East and West Coasts.” The unified financial institution now has more than 50 branches across eight states and more than two million members. As the names imply, technology is central to how the organizations operate. Miyashiro says First Tech was among the first financial institutions to introduce online and mobile banking and was an early adopter of digital check capture. Today, “members can manage the majority of their financial needs digitally, while still having support through our shared network or contact center when it matters most,” Miyashiro says. The firm has partnered with tech giants like Amazon, Google and Microsoft to build digital tools. Last year, Digital Federal Credit Union launched a machine-learning lending platform called DocVisionAI, which, to date, has sped up approval for car loans by 50%, according to Miyashiro. Despite First Technology Federal Credit Union and Digital Federal Credit Union’s digital advances, technology has not always been a strong suit of credit unions, according to a report from global consulting firm McKinsey. The company’s analysis noted that while credit unions tend to have strong ties to their communities, “they are losing ground in the digital space” compared to large, national banks. The divide has been especially problematic for credit unions trying to attract younger customers, who often prefer digital interactions and the convenience of finance from their phones. Security Service Federal Credit Union recognizes that its customers “are increasingly expecting a seamless digital experience,” says Aaron M. Leek, the financial institution’s chief operating officer. He sees technology offering clients more flexibility, convenience and information to “make their financial lives easier.” That level of ease for financial matters is important as customers are “navigating real affordability pressures,” says Leek, particularly in fast-growing states such as Colorado and Texas, where Security Service ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, on the credit union list. An analysis published last month by The Brookings Institution found that 45.5% of U.S. households did not earn enough money to make ends meet, according to the most recent data available. And while affordability in Colorado is among the highest in the nation, per the Brookings analysis, only a slight majority—60.4% of households—earn enough to afford the cost of living there.Affordability concerns and financial uncertainty have been top of mind in recent years, given a slew of challenges, such as the pandemic, significant bank failures in 2023 and “sticky inflation,” says Oh of East West. Inflation in the U.S. reached 4.2% last month, the highest rate since April 2023 and it has remained above 2% for the last five years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. East West Bank employees at workEast West BankFor that reason, East West is taking the “longer view” and giving clients advice on how to invest over the course of their lives, navigate times of financial stress, and plan for their personal or business futures, says Oh. Further, East West prides itself on being big enough to have products, services and capabilities that compete with large banks, but small enough to offer flexibility and a personal touch to customer service. “In a pinch, [customers] know there is somebody at the headquarters that they can talk to to get something resolved,” says Oh.Miyarshiro of First Tech recognizes that persistent inflation has made consumers more cautious with their finances, and that managing money has become more complex for customers with the introduction of currencies like stablecoin and crypto. So First Tech has made a major move to assuage their customers’ financial concerns and earn their trust: This January, the credit union lowered fees across its products—a move that’s “practically unheard of for financial institutions,” Miyashiro says. The institution estimates it will save customers $6 million in fees this year. To find more examples of banks and credit unions going above and beyond for their clients throughout the country, check out our complete lists below:For the full list of the Best-In-State Banks, click here.For the full list of the Best-In-State Credit Unions, click here.MethodologyTo create the 2026 edition of America’s Best-In-State Banks and America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista for the ninth straight year to survey 26,000 United States residents. Respondents were asked how satisfied they were and how likely they were to recommend the U.S.-based banks and credit unions at which they have a checking or savings account, those at which they had an account within the last three years, and those they knew through friends and family. (Online-only banks and credit unions were excluded, as well as larger institutions with branches in 15 or more states.) Participants were also asked to rate their financial institutions on factors including trust, customer service, digital tools, the quality of financial advice given, and whether fees were transparent and reasonable.Additionally, Statista gathered more than 1.2 million publicly available reviews and ratings online about each bank and credit union written between February 2023 and March 2026. This research was incorporated into the analysis, accounting for 20% of each financial institution’s score, while the surveys accounted for 80%. The banks and credit unions with the highest overall scores made our rankings—with 228 unique banks and 246 unique credit unions recognized in one or more states.As with all Forbes lists, companies do not pay to participate or be selected. To read more about how we make these lists, click here. For questions about this list, please email listdesk [at] forbes.com.