From Underserved to Unstoppable: How CCCU Built a Cannabis Banking Program That Works
Learn how a local credit union build a cannabis banking program successfully.
Not every cannabis banking program starts with a strategic growth mandate. Some start with a community need. That’s exactly what drove Coast Central Credit Union (CCCU) to act.
Serving California’s Emerald Triangle, CCCU saw the economic risks of shutting CRBs out of the financial system. Local businesses were exposed. Local revenue was unstable. They decided to be part of the solution.
What CCCU Did Right:
1. Started with Community First “We saw a gap in our community and built a program that could fill it, safely.”
CCCU didn’t chase headlines or a trend. They responded to real demand from local operators who needed secure banking.
2. Built Alignment from Day One “Have conversations, lots of them. Board alignment and risk tolerance will shape everything.”
CCCU launched with a pilot in 2019, bringing compliance, the board, and business development into the same room. Early buy-in made for smooth execution later.
3. Used Infrastructure That Could Scale
Instead of piecing together manual reviews and spreadsheets, CCCU adopted tools that delivered visibility, automation, and onboarding support.
“Green Check allows us to monitor transactions, conduct reviews, and scale our program without losing control.”
Why It Worked:
- Faster onboarding kept CRBs out of limbo
- Real-time alerts replaced manual monitoring
- Board confidence gave the team room to grow
What This Means for You: Community FIs don’t need to follow big-bank blueprints. They need purpose-built tools and cross-functional alignment. CCCU did it their way, and proved that scale doesn’t require scale.
Read CCCU’s full customer story here.
Go Beyond Compliance with Green Check
High-risk industries like cannabis may face additional compliance requirements, but that doesn’t have to be a challenge. Instead, with the right tools at your disposal, this data can become a treasure trove that helps you improve business outcomes and grow your program with confidence. If you’re ready to take charge of your customers’ data and make it work for you, get started with Green Check today.
