Supporting Financial Inclusion
Financial institutions are a key component to connect unbanked and underbanked consumers to safe, affordable bank accounts.
Join the growing number of financial institutions nurturing financial inclusion and opening doors of opportunity to lower income households by offering Bank On-certified accounts.
This basic transaction account provides unbanked and underbanked consumers cost savings, secure access and an important first step to financial inclusion. The lack of affordable accounts at mainstream financial institutions, especially accounts without overdraft, is a challenge preventing financial inclusion for many people. Establishing a banking relationship can help improve families’ lives and lead to affordable credit opportunities for a car, small business or home mortgage.
Safe
Almost 20% of U.S. households are underbanked, meaning they still use some alternative financial services.
Affordable
Nearly 37% of unbanked and 45% of underbanked households earn less than $30,000 per year.
Accessible
Close to 7% of U.S. households are unbanked without a checking or savings account.
Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households, 2017
The goal of financial services is to support people’s lives and livelihoods. A valid way to facilitate economic growth is with a long-term banking relationship. Fiserv is supporting this initiative by creating awareness and helping financial institutions develop and offer Bank On-certified accounts.
Safe and Affordable Accounts for Everyone
The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) national Bank On platform supports local banking access efforts.
The CFE Fund has worked closely with the Bank On National-Advisory Board and other key stakeholders to develop the Bank On National Account Standards. Inspired by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Model Safe Accounts Template, these standards provide local programs with a benchmark for account partnerships with financial institutions, including their local partners. Financial institutions with accounts that meet these Standards can apply free for national certification.
Research: Bank On Accounts Are Attracting New Customers to the Financial Mainstream
During this time, a safe, affordable and productive banking account is more important than ever.
Building off the CFE Fund’s partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and a pilot study in 2017, the St. Louis Fed’s Bank On National Data (BOND) Hub has released its latest report.
Have a question for us?
For more information about how Fiserv can help you offer Bank On-Certified Accounts and other Fiserv solutions, call us at 800-872-7882 or click below.
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