Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

In a city marked by the 2008 financial crisis, Abacus follows the Sung family as they run Abacus Federal Savings Bank in Manhattan's Chinatown. The bank becomes the only financial institution in the United States to face criminal charges in the wake of the crisis, when the Manhattan District Attorney accuses it of mortgage fraud. The indictment thrusts the family and their staff into a lengthy courtroom battle that lasts five years, forcing them to defend not only the bank but the community it serves. The film balances courtroom drama with intimate portraits of the Sung siblings, their employees, and customers, revealing the human stakes behind a high profile case.

Directed by Steve James, Abacus is an original documentary released in 2017. It centers on a family and their bank rather than being adapted from external material, offering an intimate portrait of a unique moment in financial history.

Critics praised the film for its patient, non sensational look at a crisis era story and for foregrounding a family's resolve, loyalty, and dignity. It also invites reflection on prosecutorial discretion.

Abacus adds a perspective often missing in crisis narratives, showing a family business at stake and the resilience of a tight knit community. It has sparked reflections on the role of race, small business, and trust in the modern banking system.