Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

Only one bank faced criminal indictments related to the 2008 financial meltdown: Abacus Federal Savings Bank, a small community bank in Chinatown, New York City. With exclusive access to the Sung family, Abacus: Small Enough to Jaill is both a character-driven film and a deep examination of the unequal application of justice in the wake of the financial crisis. Thomas Sung founded the bank in 1985 to help his fellow Chinese immigrants gain a financial foothold in America on their way to citizenship. His daughters Jill and Vera eventually followed in his footsteps, becoming the Bank President and Loan Director, respectively. Against the unfolding trial, the film delves deeply into the questions of who receives justice in America and at what cost. It also asks the fundamental questions about what the purpose of a bank should be in a community, and especially an immigrant community.