The month of February is in full swing and tax season is officially upon us. And with a review of money made and assets lost, we begin to take stock of our financial goals.

Whether 2010 was a year in which you made a profit or took a loss, there are several local organizations that can help you to make the best of your bottom line. 

Make money, save money

Because the local economy is growing, this year should be a good one for both job-seekers and employees looking for a promotion. As a major hub for business, Oakland has branches of all the national chain banks and credit unions. However, if you're looking to put your hard earned dollars into a regional facility, here are some local options - all of which have FDIC coverage.

Community Bank of the Bay is a community bank that was founded in 1996 with offices in Oakland, Danville and San Jose. Their emphasis is on supporting small and emerging businesses. 

With an office and an ATM in Oakland, community based bank Bank of Alameda is even closer to us than the 23rd Street bridge. 

Oakland Municipal Credit Union merged with Western Federal Credit Union earlier this month. Western Federal is a regional credit union with branches in nine states.  Membership is no longer restricted to Oakland city employees. 

People’s Federal Credit Union - known as PEOPLE'S, a division of the Self-Help Federal Credit Union - is a community development financial institution, or CDFI, located in Oakland. As a CDFI, its goal is to promote the economic empowerment of Oakland’s residents, especially those traditionally underserved by financial institutions. 

Patelco is a regional credit union with a long history of charitable donations to local organizations, including Oakland Children's Hospital. 

Several local businesses also have credit unions for their employees and family of employee members, including Chevron, Kaiser Permanente and EBMUD.  You can find additional local banking resources at Bank on Oakland. 

Improve your credit

Whether you are looking to buy a house, start a business or simply reduce your current credit card rates - your credit score is key.

A couple of Oakland nonprofits specialize in credit assistance and can help you to review your credit reports, set realistic budgets and correct any inaccuracies. These organizations also provide free tax return services for working class families and individuals who are planning to file a 1040EZ. 

Sparkpoint is a project of the Bay Area United Way. It specializes in personalized point-by-point financial counseling for families. In Oakland, offices are located at the Lions Creek Crossings housing center. 

John Hope Bryant saw all the businesses that burned up or were abandoned in Los Angeles after the Rodney King Riots and wanted to find a way to empower more community members to start and run their own businesses. So he started Operation Hope to help people improve their credit scores and navigate finance systems. In Oakland, Operation Hope recently contracted to provide financial literacy classes for Oakland Unified students.

Buying a house in Oakland

According to many, now is a great time to buy a house in Oakland. Interest rates are still low and the market is flooded with foreclosures. Even low-income families can do it. If you'd like some assistance with the whole loan approval and purchasing process, you can get it from several local agencies. 

The Unity Council in Fruitvale is probably best known for its work to help build the Fruitvale Village Center at Fruitvale BART. Or perhaps you've attended its Dia de Los Muertos festival, one of the largest in the whole country. It also has a Home Ownership Center that gives bilingual classes and support to first time homebuyers to purchase in Oakland and Alameda county.

East Bay Asian Local Development Corp. specializes in large scale, affordable housing projects. It has been an invaluable resource for transforming several historic properties including the Oakpark Apartments and Swan's Marketplace.

The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America - NACA - is a national organization with an office in Oakland. More than anything, it is a homeowner's advocacy group that grew in response to predatory lending practices by banks and mortgage lenders. When you finance or re-finance through NACA, your loan is with the nonprofit itself. It waives many requirements that other lenders consider standard (like a down payment). In exchange, you commit to participate in actions and  demonstrations to hold the banking industry accountable for it's loan practices.  

The Northern California Land Trust and the Oakland Community Land Trust both fight blight by purchasing and restoring undervalued properties. They then sell them back to community members at affordable prices.