Final Report 

December 2008 

Dove Consulting 

2 Atlantic Ave, 3rd Floor 

Boston, Massachusetts 02110 USA 

(617) 482-2100 

www.doveconsulting.com 

Banks’ Efforts to 

Serve the Unbanked 

and Underbanked 

for 

The Federal Deposit 

Insurance Corporation 

 

 
ii

Study Authors 

Edward Bachelder, Director of Research 

Elizabeth Kronick Alexander, Lead Survey Research Analyst 

Lydia Yu, Lead Qualitative Research Analyst 

Charles Bellows, Consultant 

Joel Stanton, Survey Manager 

Jesse Rumble, Research Analyst 

Professor Michael S. Barr, University of Michigan Law School, Advisor 

Production 

Sharon Petitpas 

This Study was conducted by Dove Consulting on behalf of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. 

The FDIC does not endorse any bank or product. The views expressed in this Study are those of the 

authors and not necessarily those of the FDIC. 
iii

Table of Contents 

Chapter 1: Study Summary.......................................................................................................................1

 I. Banks’ Efforts with Education and Outreach...............................................................3

 II. Banks’ Efforts to Address Obstacles and Access.........................................................7

 III. Banks’ Efforts to Provide Products and Services.......................................................13

Chapter 2: Study Objectives and Methodology ..................................................................................21

Chapter 3: Participating Bank Characteristics and Retail Bank Information .................................35

Chapter 4: Education and Outreach Efforts.......................................................................................41

Chapter 5: Retail Branch Operations .................................................................................................105

Chapter 6: Services Provided to Non-Customers ...........................................................................131

Chapter 7: Account Opening Process................................................................................................177

Chapter 8: Deposit Products ...............................................................................................................201

Chapter 9: Savings Accounts ...............................................................................................................217

Chapter 10: Payments Products ............................................................................................................233

Chapter 11: Credit Products...................................................................................................................247

Chapter 12: Case Studies ........................................................................................................................279

Appendix A: Survey Instrument............................................................................................................ A-1

Appendix B: Retail Bank and Deposit Summary Statistics ...............................................................B-1
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Table of Figures 

The figure names indicate the section of the report and/or the question number that is being 

discussed. Specifically, ES indicates Executive Summary, OM indicates Objectives and 

Methodology and QIA is for the first table of results from the first question in section 1 of 

the survey. 

ES Figure 1. Indicate efforts your bank makes as part of its branch strategy to serve un/under banked in your 

market areas. ................................................................................................................................................... 8

ES Figure 2. If an individual does not have an account relationship with the bank, will the bank typically cash 

the following types of checks, and is a fee charged? ................................................................................ 9

ES Figure 3. What forms of consumer identification or validation does the bank rely on for individuals who do 

not have an account relationship to cash a check?................................................................................. 10

ES Figure 4. How soon are funds ordinarily available for an established customer who presents the following 

items? ............................................................................................................................................................. 15

OM Figure 1. Sample Frame by Number of Banks ........................................................................................................ 24

OM Figure 2. Sample Frame by Number of Banks ........................................................................................................ 24

OM Figure 4. Sample Stratification by Tier and Census Division ................................................................................ 26

OM Figure 5. Listing of States by Census Division ........................................................................................................ 26

OM Figure 6. Survey Response Rates................................................................................................................................ 28

OM Figure 7. Survey Response Mix and Timing............................................................................................................. 28

OM Figure 8. Responding Banks by Tier and Region .................................................................................................... 29

OM Figure 9. Base Weights................................................................................................................................................. 30

OM Figure 10. Response Adjusted Base Weights ............................................................................................................. 31

Figure 1. Bank Size (Assets)........................................................................................................................................ 35

QIA. Figure 1. Overall: Account Statistics.......................................................................................................................... 36

QIA. Figure 2. Tier 1: Account Statistics............................................................................................................................ 36

QIA. Figure 3. Tier 2: Account Statistics............................................................................................................................ 37

QIA. Figure 4. Tier 3: Account Statistics............................................................................................................................ 37

QIA. Figure 5. Urban: Account Statistics ........................................................................................................................... 37

QIA. Figure 6. Rural: Account Statistics ............................................................................................................................. 38

QIB. Figure 1. ATM Statistics .............................................................................................................................................. 38

QIB. Figure 3. Tier 2: ATM Statistics ................................................................................................................................. 39

QIB. Figure 4. Tier 3: ATM Statistics ................................................................................................................................. 39

QIB. Figure 5. Rural: ATM Statistics................................................................................................................................... 40

QIB. Figure 6. Urban: ATM Statistics................................................................................................................................. 40

QIIA. Figure 1. Does your bank perceive that there are unbanked and underbanked populations in your area? ... 43

QIIA. Figure 2 Does your bank perceive that there are unbanked and underbanked populations in your area? ... 43

QIIA. Figure 3. Percentage of Banks Providing Types of Educational Materials ......................................................... 44

QIIB. Figure 1. Basic Banking Unbanked............................................................................................................................ 45
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QIIB. Figure 2. Basic Banking Underbanked ...................................................................................................................... 45

QIIB. Figure 3. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 45

QIIB. Figure 4. Predatory Unbanked.................................................................................................................................... 46

QIIB. Figure 5. Predatory Underbanked.............................................................................................................................. 46

QIIB. Figure 6. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 46

QIIB. Figure 7. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 47

QIIB. Figure 8. Savings Unbanked........................................................................................................................................ 48

QIIB. Figure 9. Savings Underbanked.................................................................................................................................. 48

QIIB. Figure 10. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 48

QIIB. Figure 11. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 48

QIIB. Figure 12. Home ownership unbanked....................................................................................................................... 49

QIIB. Figure 13. Home ownership underbanked ................................................................................................................. 49

QIIB. Figure 14. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 49

QIIB. Figure 15. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 49

QIIB. Figure 16. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 50

QIIB. Figure 17. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 50

QIIB. Figure 18. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 50

QIIB. Figure 19. Credit Counseling Unbanked..................................................................................................................... 50

QIIB. Figure 20. Credit Counseling Underbanked ............................................................................................................... 50

QIIB. Figure 21. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 51

QIIB. Figure 22. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 51

QIIB. Figure 23. Other Unbanked .......................................................................................................................................... 51

QIIB. Figure 24. Other Underbanked .................................................................................................................................... 51

QIIB. Figure 25. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 52

QIIB. Figure 26. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 52

QIIB. Figure 27. None Unbanked........................................................................................................................................... 53

QIIB. Figure 28. None Underbanked..................................................................................................................................... 53

QIIB. Figure 29. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 53

QIIB. Figure 30. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 53

QIIB. Figure 31. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 54

QIIB-2. Figure 1. Have the financial education materials helped establish relationships with the unbanked?............ 55

QIIB-2. Figure 2. Have the financial education materials helped establish relationships with the underbanked? ...... 55

QIIB-2. Figure 3A. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 56

QIIB-2. Figure 3B. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 56

QIIB-3. Figure 1. Does your bank participate in education or outreach with other organizations?.............................. 57

QIIB-3. Figure 2. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 57

QIIB-3. Figure 3. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 58
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QIIB-3. Figure 4. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 58

QIIC. Figure 1. Does your bank teach financial literacy and education sessions?......................................................... 58

QIIC. Figure 2. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 59

QIIC. Figure 3. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 59

QIIC. Figure 4. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 60

QIIC-1. Figure 1. If yes, how long has your bank been providing the sessions? .............................................................. 60

QIIC-1. Figure 2. If yes, how long has your bank been providing the sessions? .............................................................. 61

QIIC-2. Figure 1. Percent of Banks Teaching Financial Literacy by Type (among banks which provide sessions) ... 62

QIIC-2. Figure 2. Basic Banking ............................................................................................................................................... 63

QIIC-2. Figure 3. Home Ownership and Mortgage Products.............................................................................................. 63

QIIC-2. Figure 4. Predatory and Abusive Lending Prevention............................................................................................ 63

QIIC-2. Figure 5. Credit Counseling ........................................................................................................................................ 63

QIIC-2. Figure 6. Savings ........................................................................................................................................................... 63

QIIC-2. Figure 7. Other.............................................................................................................................................................. 63

QIIC-2. Figure 8. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 64

QIIC-2. Figure 9. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 64

QIIC-2. Figure 10. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 64

QIID. Figure 1. Did you conduct off-premise financial outreach in 2007?.................................................................... 65

QIID. Figure 2. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 65

QIID-1. Figure 1. Percent of Banks Offering Outreach by Location ................................................................................. 66

QIID-1. Figure 2. High Schools................................................................................................................................................. 67

QIID-1. Figure 3. Employer Sites.............................................................................................................................................. 67

QIID-1. Figure 4. Public Gatherings......................................................................................................................................... 67

QIID-1. Figure 5. Local &State Government Sites ................................................................................................................ 67

QIID-1. Figure 6. Community-based Organizations.............................................................................................................. 67

QIID-1. Figure 7. Vocational Schools ...................................................................................................................................... 67

QIID-1. Figure 8. Military Installations .................................................................................................................................... 67

QIID-1. Figure 9. Other.............................................................................................................................................................. 67

QIID-1. Figure 10. Region: High Schools.................................................................................................................................. 67

QIID-1. Figure 11. Region: Employer Sites............................................................................................................................... 68

QIID-1. Figure 12. Region: Public Gatherings.......................................................................................................................... 68

QIID-1. Figure 13. Region: Local and State Government Sites ............................................................................................. 68

QIID-1. Figure 14. Region: Community-based Organizations............................................................................................... 69

QIID-1. Figure 15. Tier: High Schools/Employer Sites/Public Gatherings........................................................................ 69

QIID-1. Figure 16. Tier: Local and State Government Sites/Community-based Organizations/Vocational Schools. 69

QIID-1. Figure 17. Tier: Military Installations/Other.............................................................................................................. 70

QIID-1. Figure 18. Rural............................................................................................................................................................... 70
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QIID-1. Figure 19. Urban ............................................................................................................................................................. 70

QIIE. Figure 1. Does your bank work with corporate or business customers?............................................................. 71

QIIE. Figure 2. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 71

QIIE. Figure 3. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 71

QIIE. Figure 4. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 72

QIIE-1. Figure 1. Does your bank offer payroll cards?......................................................................................................... 72

QIIE-1. Figure 2. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 72

QIIE-1. Figure 3. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 73

QIIE-1a. Figure 1. Weighted: How many payroll cards has your bank issued during 2007?............................................ 73

QIIF. Figure 1. Does your bank use targeted marketing to reach un/underbanked individuals? .............................. 75

QIIF. Figure 2. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 75

QIIF. Figure 3. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 75

QIIF. Figure 4. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 76

QIIF-1. Figure 1. Are there particular segments that you target?........................................................................................ 76

QIIF-1. Figure 2. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 76

QIIF-1. Figure 3. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 77

QIIF-2. Figure 1. Percent of Banks Targeting Specific Population Segments .................................................................. 77

QIIF-2. Figure 2. Working Poor ............................................................................................................................................... 78

QIIF-2. Figure 3. Consumers on Public Assistance............................................................................................................... 78

QIIF-2. Figure 4. Post-disaster Assistance .............................................................................................................................. 78

QIIF-2. Figure 5. Urban Residents........................................................................................................................................... 78

QIIF-2. Figure 6. Rural Residents............................................................................................................................................. 78

QIIF-2. Figure 7. Immigrants................................................................................................................................................... 78

QIIF-2. Figure 8. African Americans ....................................................................................................................................... 78

QIIF-2. Figure 9. Hispanic Americans..................................................................................................................................... 78

QIIF-2. Figure 10. Asian Americans .......................................................................................................................................... 78

QIIF-2. Figure 11. Other.............................................................................................................................................................. 78

QIIF-2. Figure 12. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 79

QIIF-2. Figure 13. Tier 1.............................................................................................................................................................. 79

QIIF-2. Figure 14. Tier 2.............................................................................................................................................................. 79

QIIF-2. Figure 15. Tier 3.............................................................................................................................................................. 80

QIIF-2. Figure 16. Rural............................................................................................................................................................... 80

QIIF-2. Figure 17. Urban ............................................................................................................................................................. 80

QIIG. Figure 1. Does your bank have any other outreach or education programs to encourage unbanked or 

underbanked consumers to open an account?........................................................................................ 81

QIIG. Figure 2. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 81

QIIG. Figure 3. Urban/Rural ................................................................................................................................................. 81

QIIH Figure 1. Most Effective Types of Financial Education and Outreach Programs (Calculated Ranking)...... 83
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QIIH Figure 2. Financial Education Sessions..................................................................................................................... 84

QIIH Figure 3. Advantages of Financial Education Sessions (non-weighted).............................................................. 84

QIIH Figure 4. Disadvantages of Financial Education Sessions (non-weighted)......................................................... 84

QIIH Figure 5. Participation in Programs with Other Organizations ............................................................................ 85

QIIH Figure 6. Advantages of Participation with Other Organizations (non-weighted) ............................................ 85

QIIH Figure 7. Disadvantages of Participation with Other Organizations (non-weighted) ....................................... 85

QIIH Figure 8. Outreach Visits............................................................................................................................................. 86

QIIH Figure 9. Advantages of Outreach Visits (non-weighted)...................................................................................... 86

QIIH Figure 10. Disadvantages of Outreach Visits (non-weighted)................................................................................. 86

QIIH Figure 11. Financial Education Materials.................................................................................................................... 87

QIIH Figure 12. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 87

QIIH Figure 13. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 88

QIIH Figure 14. Advantages of Materials (non-weighted).................................................................................................. 88

QIIH Figure 15. Disadvantages of Materials (non-weighted)............................................................................................. 88

QIIH Figure 16. Targeted Marketing...................................................................................................................................... 89

QIIH Figure 17. Advantages of Target Marketing (non-weighted)................................................................................... 89

QIIH Figure 18. Disadvantages of Target Marketing (non-weighted).............................................................................. 89

QIIH Figure 19. Other.............................................................................................................................................................. 90

QIIH Figure 20. Other Rankings (non-weighted) ................................................................................................................ 90

QII I Figure 1. Have you identified expanding services in your market as a priority in your bank's business 

strategy? ......................................................................................................................................................... 91

QII I Figure 2. Region............................................................................................................................................................ 91

QII I Figure 3. Tier ................................................................................................................................................................. 92

QIIJ Figure 1. Has your bank conducted research on the un/underbanked in your CRA area?.............................. 92

QIIL Figure 1. Greatest Challenges in Serving or Targeting Un/underbanked Populations (calculated ranking 

based on reverse scoring)............................................................................................................................ 99

QIIL Figure 2. Statistics .......................................................................................................................................................100

QIIL Figure 3. Profitability issues ......................................................................................................................................100

QIIL Figure 4. Competition from alternative service providers ...................................................................................100

QIIL Figure 5. Unfamiliar with this Population ..............................................................................................................101

QIIL Figure 6. High Cost of Customer Acquisition.......................................................................................................101

QIIL Figure 7. Internal Challenges ....................................................................................................................................101

QIIL Figure 8. Regulatory Barriers ....................................................................................................................................101

QIIL Figure 9. Fraud Concerns..........................................................................................................................................101

QIIL Figure 10. Other............................................................................................................................................................101

QIIM Figure 1. Does your bank perceive any regulatory impediments to provide products and services? ...........102

QIIM Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................102

QIIM Figure 3. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................103
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QIIM Figure 4. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................103

QIIIA. Figure 1. Does your bank offer extended hours?..................................................................................................106

QIIIA. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................106

QIIIA. Figure 3. Tiers..............................................................................................................................................................107

QIIIA. Figure 1. Percent of Banks Offering Extended Hours by Branch Type ...........................................................108

QIIIA. Figure 2. Brick and Mortar Weekday Evening.......................................................................................................108

QIIIA. Figure 3. Brick and Mortar Saturday .......................................................................................................................108

QIIIA. Figure 4. Brick and Mortar Sunday..........................................................................................................................108

QIIIA. Figure 5. Region: Brick and Mortar Weekday Evening........................................................................................109

QIIIA. Figure 6. Region: Brick and Mortar Saturday.........................................................................................................109

QIIIA. Figure 7. Region: Brick and Mortar Sunday ...........................................................................................................109

QIIIA. Figure 8. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................110

QIIIA. Figure 9. Retail Weekday Evening ...........................................................................................................................110

QIIIA. Figure 10. Retail Saturday............................................................................................................................................110

QIIIA. Figure 11. Retail Sunday ..............................................................................................................................................110

QIIIA. Figure 12. Region..........................................................................................................................................................111

QIIIA. Figure 13. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................111

QIIIA. Figure 14. Limited Service Weekday Evening..........................................................................................................112

QIIIA. Figure 15. Limited Service Saturday...........................................................................................................................112

QIIIA. Figure 16. Limited Service Sunday.............................................................................................................................112

QIIIA. Figure 17. Region: Limited Service Weekday Evening...........................................................................................112

QIIIA. Figure 18. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................113

QIIIA. Figure 19. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................113

QIIIA. Figure 20. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................114

QIIIA. Figure 21. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................114

QIIIB. Figure 1. Languages other than English Spoken by Branch Staff ......................................................................114

QIIIB. Figure 2. Spanish.........................................................................................................................................................115

QIIIB. Figure 3. Chinese ........................................................................................................................................................115

QIIIB. Figure 4. Vietnamese..................................................................................................................................................115

QIIIB. Figure 5. Korean .........................................................................................................................................................115

QIIIB. Figure 6. Tagalog ........................................................................................................................................................115

QIIIB. Figure 7. Other............................................................................................................................................................115

QIIIB. Figure 8. Does the bank have staff that speaks a language other than English?..............................................115

QIIIB. Figure 9. Region: Spanish.........................................................................................................................................116

QIIIB. Figure 10. Region: Chinese.........................................................................................................................................116

QIIIB. Figure 11. Region: Vietnamese ...................................................................................................................................116

QIIIB. Figure 12. Region: Korean ..........................................................................................................................................117
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QIIIB. Figure 13. Region: Tagalog..........................................................................................................................................117

QIIIB. Figure 14. Region: Other .............................................................................................................................................117

QIIIB. Figure 15. Tier: Spanish/Chinese/Vietnamese........................................................................................................117

QIIIB. Figure 16. Tier: Korean/Tagalog/Other ..................................................................................................................118

QIIIB. Figure 17. Urban/Rural: Spanish/Chinese/Vietnamese.......................................................................................118

QIIIB. Figure 18. Urban/Rural: Korean/Tagalog/Other...................................................................................................118

QIIIC. Figure 1. Has the bank modified its retail operations? .........................................................................................119

QIIIC. Figure 2. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................119

QIIIC-1. Figure 1. Extended Banking Hours .........................................................................................................................120

QIIIC-1. Figure 2. Non-traditional Locations ........................................................................................................................120

QIIIC-1. Figure 3. New Branch Located in LMI Areas........................................................................................................120

QIIIC-1. Figure 4. Innovative Branch Design........................................................................................................................121

QIIIC-1. Figure 5. Internet or Mobile Banking......................................................................................................................121

QIIIC-1. Figure 6. External ATMs...........................................................................................................................................121

QIIIC-1. Figure 7. Off-premise ATMs....................................................................................................................................121

QIIIC-1. Figure 8. Other............................................................................................................................................................121

QIIIC-1. Figure 9. Region: External ATMs ............................................................................................................................122

QIIIC-1. Figure 10. Region: Other .............................................................................................................................................122

QIIIC-1. Figure 11. Tier: Extended Banking Hours/Non-traditional Locations/New Branch Located in LMI Areas123

QIIIC-1. Figure 12. Tier: Innovative Branch Design/Internet or Mobile Banking/External ATMs .............................123

QIIIC-1. Figure 13. Tier: Off-premise ATMs/Other..............................................................................................................123

QIIIC-1. Figure 14. Rural.............................................................................................................................................................124

QIIIC-1. Figure 15. Urban ...........................................................................................................................................................124

QIIID. Figure 1. Percent of Banks Branch Strategies to Serve Un/Underbanked by Effort......................................125

QIIID. Figure 2. Check Cashing............................................................................................................................................126

QIIID. Figure 3. Money Orders.............................................................................................................................................126

QIIID. Figure 4. Kiosks for Check Cashing........................................................................................................................126

QIIID. Figure 5. Bill Payment................................................................................................................................................126

QIIID. Figure 6. Prepaid Card ...............................................................................................................................................127

QIIID. Figure 7. Other............................................................................................................................................................127

QIIID. Figure 8. Region: Check Cashing ............................................................................................................................127

QIIID. Figure 9. Region: Money Orders..............................................................................................................................128

QIIID. Figure 10. Tier: Money Orders/Other ......................................................................................................................128

QIIID. Figure 11. Urban/Rural: Check Cashing/Money Orders/Kiosk for Check Cashing .......................................128

QIIID. Figure 12. Urban/Rural: Bill Payment/Prepaid Card/Other ................................................................................129

QIVA. Figure 1. Do you cash business checks drawn on your bank for non-customers?..........................................134

QIVA. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................134
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QIVA. Figure 3. Do you charge a fee to cash on-us business checks? ...........................................................................134

QIVA. Figure 4. Region..........................................................................................................................................................135

QIVA. Figure 5. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................135

QIVA. Figure 6. Do you cash personal checks drawn on your bank for non-customers?..........................................135

QIVA. Figure 7. Region..........................................................................................................................................................136

QIVA. Figure 8. Do you charge a fee to cash personal checks drawn on your bank for non-customers?...............136

QIVA. Figure 9. Region..........................................................................................................................................................136

QIVA. Figure 10. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................137

QIVA. Figure 11. Do you cash business checks not drawn on your bank for non-customers?...................................137

QIVA. Figure 12. Region..........................................................................................................................................................137

QIVA. Figure 13. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................138

QIVA. Figure 14. Do you charge a fee to cash business checks not drawn on your bank for non-customers?........138

QIVA. Figure 15. Do you cash payroll checks not drawn on your bank for non-customers?......................................138

QIVA. Figure 16. Region..........................................................................................................................................................139

QIVA. Figure 17. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................139

QIVA. Figure 18. Do you charge a fee to cash payroll checks not drawn on your bank for non-customers?...........139

QIVA. Figure 19. Do you cash personal checks not drawn on your bank for non-customers?...................................140

QIVA. Figure 20. Region..........................................................................................................................................................140

QIVA. Figure 21. Do you charge a fee to cash personal checks not drawn on your bank for non-customers?........140

QIVA. Figure 22. Region..........................................................................................................................................................141

QIVA. Figure 23. Do you cash government checks for non-customers?.........................................................................141

QIVA. Figure 24. Region..........................................................................................................................................................141

QIVA. Figure 25. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................142

QIVA. Figure 26. Do you charge a fee to cash government checks for non-customers?..............................................142

QIVA. Figure 27. Region..........................................................................................................................................................142

QIVA. Figure 28. Do you cash double endorsed checks for non-customers? ................................................................143

QIVA. Figure 29. Do you charge a fee to cash double endorsed checks for non-customers? .....................................143

QIVA. Figure 30. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................144

QIVA. Figure 31. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................144

QIVA. Figure 32. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................145

QIVA. Figure 33. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................145

QIVB. Figure 1. Does training include strategies for reaching out to the unbanked? .................................................146

QIVB. Figure 2. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................147

QIVC. Figure 1. Does the bank accept a driver’s license as a form of ID to cash a check for a non-customer? ...149

QIVC. Figure 2. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................149

QIVC. Figure 3. Does the bank accept a state ID as a form of ID to cash a check for a non-customer? ...............149

QIVC. Figure 4. Does the bank accept a social security number as a form of ID to cash a check for a noncustomer? ....................................................................................................................................................150
xii

QIVC. Figure 5. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................150

QIVC. Figure 6. Does the bank accept a passport as a form of ID to cash a check for a non-customer?...............151

QIVC. Figure 7. Does the bank accept a Military ID as a form of ID to cash a check for a non-customer?..........151

QIVC. Figure 8. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................152

QIVC. Figure 9. Does the bank accept a student ID as a form of ID to cash a check for a non-customer? ..........152

QIVC. Figure 10. Does the bank accept an employer letter as a form of ID to cash a check for a non-customer?.153

QIVC. Figure 11. Does the bank accept a Matrícula Consular card as a form of ID to cash a check for a noncustomer? ....................................................................................................................................................153

QIVC. Figure 12. Region..........................................................................................................................................................154

QIVC. Figure 13. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................154

QIVC. Figure 14. Does the bank accept a utility bill as a form of ID to cash a check for a non-customer?.............155

QIVC. Figure 15. Does the bank accept a housing lease as a form of ID to cash a check for a non-customer?......155

QIVC. Figure 16. Does the bank accept an ITIN number as a form of ID to cash a check for a non-customer?...156

QIVC. Figure 17. Does the bank accept any other forms of ID to cash a check for a non-customer?......................156

QIVC-1. Figure 1. Do you offer check cashing cards? .........................................................................................................157

QIVC-1. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................157

QIVC-2. Figure 1. Fingerprinting.............................................................................................................................................158

QIVC-2. Figure 2. Biometrics ...................................................................................................................................................158

QIVC-2. Figure 3. None ............................................................................................................................................................158

QIVC-2. Figure 4. Other............................................................................................................................................................158

QIVC-2. Figure 5. Region: Fingerprinting .............................................................................................................................159

QIVC-2. Figure 6. Region: None.............................................................................................................................................159

QIVC-2. Figure 7. Tier: Fingerprinting/Biometrics.............................................................................................................159

QIVC-2. Figure 8. Tier: None/Other......................................................................................................................................160

QIVC-2. Figure 9. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................160

QIVD. Figure 1. Mean Fixed Fees per Transaction ...........................................................................................................162

QIVD. Figure 2. Mean Percentage of Transaction Fees (If priced as a percent of value) ...........................................162

QIVD. Figure 3. Do you offer bank/official checks for non-deposit customers?........................................................163

QIVD. Figure 4. Region..........................................................................................................................................................163

QIVD. Figure 5. Non-Customer Fee Statistics ...................................................................................................................163

QIVD. Figure 7. Do you offer money orders for non-deposit customers?....................................................................164

QIVD. Figure 8. Region..........................................................................................................................................................164

QIVD. Figure 9. Money Order Fees.....................................................................................................................................164

QIVD. Figure 10. Money Order Fees.....................................................................................................................................164

QIVD. Figure 11. Do you offer domestic wire transfers for non-deposit customers?...................................................165

QIVD. Figure 12. Region..........................................................................................................................................................165

QIVD. Figure 13. Domestic Wire Transfer Fees..................................................................................................................165

QIVD. Figure 14. Domestic Wire Transfer Fees..................................................................................................................165
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QIVD. Figure 15. Do you offer international remittances for non-deposit customers? ................................................166

QIVD. Figure 16. Region..........................................................................................................................................................166

QIVD. Figure 17. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................166

QIVD. Figure 18. International Remittance Fees .................................................................................................................167

QIVD. Figure 19. International Remittance Fees .................................................................................................................167

QIVD. Figure 20. Do you offer international ACH transfers for non-deposit customers?...........................................168

QIVD. Figure 21 International ACH Fees............................................................................................................................168

QIVD. Figure 22 International ACH Fees............................................................................................................................168

QIVD. Figure 23 Do you offer foreign currency exchange for non-deposit customers? .............................................168

QIVD. Figure 24 Region..........................................................................................................................................................169

QIVD. Figure 25 Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................169

QIVD. Figure 26 Currency Exchange Fee............................................................................................................................169

QIVD. Figure 27 Currency Exchange Fee............................................................................................................................169

QIVD. Figure 28 Do you offer bill pay for non-deposit customers? ...............................................................................170

QIVD. Figure 29 Region..........................................................................................................................................................170

QIVD. Figure 30 Bill Pay Fees................................................................................................................................................170

QIVD. Figure 31 Bill Pay Fees................................................................................................................................................170

QIVD. Figure 32 Do you offer prepaid cards for non-deposit customers? ....................................................................171

QIVD. Figure 33 Region..........................................................................................................................................................171

QIVD. Figure 34 Prepaid Card Fees......................................................................................................................................171

QIVD. Figure 35 Prepaid Card Fees......................................................................................................................................171

QIVD. Figure 36 Urban/Rural: Bank/Official Checks .....................................................................................................172

QIVD. Figure 37 Urban/Rural: Money Orders ..................................................................................................................172

QIVD. Figure 38 Urban/Rural: Domestic Wire Transfers ...............................................................................................172

QIVD. Figure 39 Urban/Rural: International Remittance................................................................................................172

QIVD. Figure 40 Urban/Rural: Prepaid Cards ...................................................................................................................172

QIVD-1. Figure 1 Does you bank offer lower prices for customers for these services?................................................173

QIVD-1. Figure 2 Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................173

QIVE. Figure 1 Is you bank concerned about offering remittances due to regulatory requirements?.....................174

QIVE. Figure 2 Region..........................................................................................................................................................174

QIVE. Figure 3 Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................175

QIVE. Figure 4 Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................175

QVA. Figure 1 Acceptable Forms of Identification Required to Open a Checking Account..................................178

QVA. Figure 2 Driver’s License..........................................................................................................................................178

QVA. Figure 3 Passport .......................................................................................................................................................178

QVA. Figure 4 Social Security Number.............................................................................................................................179

QVA. Figure 5 Matricula Consular.....................................................................................................................................179
xiv

QVA. Figure 6 State ID........................................................................................................................................................179

QVA. Figure 7 ITIN.............................................................................................................................................................179

QVA. Figure 8 Military ID...................................................................................................................................................179

QVA. Figure 9 Other............................................................................................................................................................179

QVA. Figure 10 Region: Social Security Numbers ...........................................................................................................180

QVA. Figure 11 Region: Matricula Consular Card ...........................................................................................................180

QVA. Figure 12 Tier: Driver’s License/Passport/Social Security Number .................................................................180

QVA. Figure 13 Tier: Matricula Consular Card/ITIN/Other........................................................................................181

QVA. Figure 14 Urban/Rural: Drivers License/Passport/Social Security Number ..................................................181

QVA. Figure 15 Urban/Rural: Matricula Consular Card/State ID/ITIN ...................................................................181

QVA. Figure 16 Urban/Rural: Military ID/Other ...........................................................................................................182

QVB. Figure 1 Utility Bills...................................................................................................................................................182

QVB. Figure 2 Housing Lease ............................................................................................................................................182

QVB. Figure 3 Employer Letter/Pay Stub .......................................................................................................................182

QVB. Figure 4 Other............................................................................................................................................................182

QVB. Figure 5 None ............................................................................................................................................................183

QVB. Figure 6 Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................183

QVB. Figure 6 Account Screening and Risk Management Tools.................................................................................184

QVC. Figure 1 ChexSystems/Qualifile..............................................................................................................................184

QVC. Figure 2 Early Warning Services .............................................................................................................................184

QVC. Figure 3 OFAC Lists.................................................................................................................................................184

QVC Figure 4 Credit Bureau Reports...............................................................................................................................184

QVC. Figure 5 None ............................................................................................................................................................185

QVC. Figure 6 Other............................................................................................................................................................185

QVC. Figure 7 Region: ChexSystems/Qualifile..............................................................................................................185

QVC. Figure 8 Region: Credit Bureau..............................................................................................................................185

QVC. Figure 9 Tier: ChexSystems/ Early Warning Services........................................................................................186

QVC. Figure 10 Tier: OFAC Lists/Other .........................................................................................................................186

QVC. Figure 11 Urban/Rural: Check Systems/Qualifile/Early Warning Services/OFAC Lists ............................186

QVC. Figure 12 Urban/Rural: Credit Bureau Reports/None/Other...........................................................................187

QVD. Figure 1 Can a customer open a checking account without a third-party screen?..........................................187

QVD. Figure 2 Can a customer open a savings account without a third-party screen?.............................................187

QVD. Figure 3 Region: Can a customer open a checking account without a third-party screen? ...........................187

QVD. Figure 4 Region: Can a customer open a savings account without a third-party screen?.............................188

QVD. Figure 5 Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................188

QVD. Figure 6 Bank Policies on Opening/Overrides ....................................................................................................188

QVE. Figure 1. Automatically Rejected..............................................................................................................................189
xv

QVE. Figure 2. Decision is made at the discretion of the new account rep ................................................................189

QVE. Figure 3. Decision is made at the discretion of the branch manager .................................................................189

QVE. Figure 4. Submitted to a centralized office for review..........................................................................................189

QVE. Figure 5. Other............................................................................................................................................................189

QVE. Figure 6. Region..........................................................................................................................................................190

QVE. Figure 7. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................190

QVE. Figure 8. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................191

QVF. Figure 1. Does the bank use credit reports or bureau scores as screening for new checking accounts? .....191

QVF. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................191

QVF. Figure 3. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................192

QVG. Figure 1. Reason for Declining Applications .........................................................................................................193

QVG. Figure 2. Overall Calculated Rankings ....................................................................................................................193

QVG. Figure 3. Calculated Rankings by Tier.....................................................................................................................194

QVG. Figure 4. Statistics .......................................................................................................................................................194

QVG. Figure 5. Insufficient ID............................................................................................................................................195

QVG. Figure 6. Negative account screening due to prior closure or mismanagement...............................................195

QVG. Figure 7. Negative account screening due to potential fraud alert .....................................................................195

QVG. Figure 8. No credit score/insufficient credit history ............................................................................................195

QVG. Figure 9. Low credit score/poor credit record or history....................................................................................195

QVG. Figure 10. Insufficient initial deposit .........................................................................................................................195

QVG. Figure 11. Other 1.........................................................................................................................................................196

QVG. Figure 12. Other 2.........................................................................................................................................................196

QVG. Figure 13. Region..........................................................................................................................................................196

QVG. Figure 14. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................197

QVH. Figure 1. Does the bank offer “stepping stone” accounts? .................................................................................198

QVH. Figure 2. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................198

QVIA. Figure 1. Does the most entry level checking account have a minimum balance? ..........................................202

QVIA. Figure 2. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................202

QVIA-1. Figure 1. Statistics .......................................................................................................................................................203

QVIA-1. Figure 2. Minimum Balance (if required) Without Direct Deposit on an Entry-Level Checking Account.204

QVIB. Figure 1. Is check writing available for the most basic transaction account? ...................................................205

QVIB. Figure 2 Statistics .......................................................................................................................................................205

QVIB. Figure 3. Is an ATM card available for the most basic transaction account? ...................................................206

QVIB. Figure 4. Is an ATM card available for the most basic transaction account? ...................................................206

QVIB. Figure 5. Statistics .......................................................................................................................................................206

QVIB. Figure 6. Is a debit card available for the most basic transaction account? ......................................................207

QVIB. Figure 7. Region..........................................................................................................................................................207
xvi

QVIB. Figure 9. Is online bill pay available for the most basic transaction account? ..................................................208

QVIB. Figure 10. Statistics .......................................................................................................................................................208

QVIB. Figure 11. Tier 1............................................................................................................................................................209

QVIB. Figure 12. Tier 2............................................................................................................................................................209

QVIB. Figure 13. Tier 3............................................................................................................................................................209

QVIB. Figure 14. Urban and Rural.........................................................................................................................................210

QVIC. Figure 1. Does the bank charge a NSF fee on its most basic account? .............................................................210

QVIC-1. Figure 1. Standard NSF Fee......................................................................................................................................211

QVIC-1. Figure 2. New England: Standard NSF Fee.........................................................................................................211

QVIC-1. Figure 3. Mid Atlantic: Standard NSF Fee ...........................................................................................................211

QVIC-1. Figure 4. South Atlantic: Standard NSF Fee........................................................................................................211

QVIC-1. Figure 5. East South Central: Standard NSF Fee................................................................................................211

QVIC-1. Figure 6. West South Central: Standard NSF Fee...............................................................................................211

QVIC-1. Figure 7. East North Central: Standard NSF Fee ...............................................................................................211

QVIC-1. Figure 8. West North Central: Standard NSF Fee ..............................................................................................212

QVIC-1. Figure 9. Mountain: Standard NSF Fee................................................................................................................212

QVIC-1. Figure 10. Pacific: Standard NSF Fee......................................................................................................................212

QVIC-1. Figure 11. Tiers: Standard NSF Fee..........................................................................................................................212

QVIC-1. Figure 12. Rural: Standard NSF Fee.........................................................................................................................213

QVIC-1. Figure 13. Urban: Standard NSF Fee ........................................................................................................................213

QVIC-2. Figure 1. Does the bank offer programs to waive the NSF fee? ........................................................................213

QVIC-2. Figure 2. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................213

QVIC-2. Figure 3. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................214

QVIC-3. Figure 1. Does the bank offer alerts to notify customers of low balances or NSF fees? ...............................215

QVIC-4. Figure 1. Will the bank automatically close the account due to NSF fees or a negative balance?.................215

QVIC-4. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................216

QVIIA. Figure 1. Savings Accounts and Programs .............................................................................................................218

QVIIA. Figure 2. Does the bank offer basic savings accounts? ........................................................................................218

QVIIA. Figure 3. Basic Savings Interest Rate.......................................................................................................................219

QVIIA. Figure 4. Tier: Basic Savings Interest Rate ............................................................................................................219

QVIIA. Figure 5. New England: Basic Savings Interest Rate..........................................................................................220

QVIIA. Figure 6. Mid-Atlantic: Basic Savings Interest Rate............................................................................................220

QVIIA. Figure 7. South Atlantic: Basic Savings Interest Rate.........................................................................................220

QVIIA. Figure 8. East South Central: Basic Savings Interest Rate.................................................................................220

QVIIA. Figure 9. West South Central: Basic Savings Interest Rate................................................................................220

QVIIA. Figure 10. East North Central: Basic Savings Interest Rate ................................................................................220

QVIIA. Figure 11. West North Central: Basic Savings Interest Rate ...............................................................................220
xvii

QVIIA. Figure 12. Mountain: Basic Savings Interest Rate.................................................................................................220

QVIIA. Figure 13. Pacific: Basic Savings Interest Rate.......................................................................................................220

QVIIA. Figure 14. Does the bank offer Individual Development Accounts? ..................................................................221

QVIIA. Figure 16. Individual Development Account Interest Rate...................................................................................221

QVIIA. Figure 17. Tier 1: Individual Development Account Interest Rate....................................................................222

QVIIA. Figure 18. Tier 2: Individual Development Account Interest Rate....................................................................222

QVIIA. Figure 19. Tier 3: Individual Development Account Interest Rate....................................................................222

QVIIA. Figure 20. Does the bank offer IRS VITA programs? ...........................................................................................223

QVIIA. Figure 21. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................223

QVIIA. Figure 22. Weighted Statistics: IRS VITA Interest Rate ........................................................................................223

QVIIA. Figure 23. Does the bank offer Money Market accounts?.....................................................................................224

QVIIA. Figure 24. Weighted Statistics: MMA Interest Rate ................................................................................................224

QVIIA. Figure 25. Does the bank offer specialized savings clubs? ....................................................................................224

QVIIA. Figure 26. Region..........................................................................................................................................................225

QVIIA. Figure 27. Weighted Statistics: Specialized Savings Interest Rate.........................................................................225

QVIIA. Figure 28. Does the bank offer workplace-based savings programs? ..................................................................225

QVIIA. Figure 29. Region..........................................................................................................................................................226

QVIIA. Figure 30. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................226

QVIIA. Figure 31. Workplace Interest Rate ..........................................................................................................................226

QVIIA. Figure 32. Does the bank offer other savings accounts?........................................................................................227

QVIIA. Figure 33. Region..........................................................................................................................................................227

QVIIA. Figure 34. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................227

QVIIA. Figure 35. Other Account Interest Rate ..................................................................................................................228

QVIIA. Figure 36. Rural.............................................................................................................................................................228

QVIIA. Figure 37. Urban ...........................................................................................................................................................228

QVIIA. Figure 38. Rural.............................................................................................................................................................229

QVIIA. Figure 39. Urban ...........................................................................................................................................................229

QVIIB. Figure 1. Does the bank partner with organizations to promote savings products?.......................................230

QVIIB. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................230

QVIIB. Figure 3. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................231

QVIIB. Figure 4. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................231

QVIIIA. Figure 1. Funds Availability ......................................................................................................................................234

QVIIIA. Figure 2. How soon are funds available for a business check drawn on your bank? ......................................234

QVIIIA. Figure 3. Region..........................................................................................................................................................234

QVIIIA. Figure 4. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................235

QVIIIA. Figure 4. How soon are funds available for a personal check drawn on your bank? ......................................235

QVIIIA. Figure 5. Region..........................................................................................................................................................236
xviii

QVIIIA. Figure 6. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................236

QVIIIA. Figure 7. How soon are funds available for a payroll check not drawn on your bank?..................................236

QVIIIA. Figure 8. Region..........................................................................................................................................................237

QVIIIA. Figure 9. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................237

QVIIIA. Figure 10. How soon are funds available for a local business check not drawn on your bank?......................238

QVIIIA. Figure 11. Region..........................................................................................................................................................238

QVIIIA. Figure 12. How soon are funds available for a personal check not drawn on your bank? ...............................239

QVIIIA. Figure 13. Region..........................................................................................................................................................239

QVIIIA. Figure 14. How soon are funds available for a government check?.....................................................................240

QVIIIA. Figure 15. Region..........................................................................................................................................................240

QVIIIA. Figure 16. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................241

QVIIIA. Figure 17. How soon are funds available for a double endorsed check?.............................................................241

QVIIIA. Figure 18. Region..........................................................................................................................................................242

QVIIIB. Figure 1. Can a customer get an advance loan on the funds from a deposited check or direct deposit? ....243

QVIIIB. Figure 2. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................243

QVIIIB-2. Figure 1.Statistics .......................................................................................................................................................244

QVIIIB-3. Figure 1.All Checks ...................................................................................................................................................245

QVIIIB-3. Figure 2.Business Checks, but Not Personal Checks ..........................................................................................245

QVIIIB-3. Figure 3.Government Checks..................................................................................................................................245

QVIIIB-3. Figure 4.Payroll Checks Only ..................................................................................................................................245

QVIIIB-3. Figure 5.Regularly Scheduled Direct Deposits .....................................................................................................245

QVIIIB-3. Figure 6.Other............................................................................................................................................................245

QIXA. Figure 1. Percent of Banks Offering Credit Cards and Loans ............................................................................248

QIXA. Figure 2. Does the bank offer unsecured loans up to $5000?.............................................................................248

QIXA. Figure 3. Region..........................................................................................................................................................249

QIXA. Figure 4. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................249

QIXA. Figure 5. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................249

QIXA-1. Figure 1. Eligibility Requirements for Obtaining an Unsecured Closed-End Personal Loan........................250

QIXA-1. Figure 2. Review of Credit History.........................................................................................................................250

QIXA-1. Figure 3. Proof of Income ........................................................................................................................................250

QIXA-1. Figure 4. Minimum Credit Score..............................................................................................................................250

QIXA-1. Figure 5 Deposit Relationship.................................................................................................................................250

QIXA-1. Figure 6. Direct Deposit............................................................................................................................................251

QIXA-1. Figure 7. Other............................................................................................................................................................251

QIXA-1. Figure 8. Region..........................................................................................................................................................251

QIXA-1. Figure 9. Region..........................................................................................................................................................251

QIXA-1. Figure 10. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................252
xix

QIXA-1. Figure 11. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................252

QIXA-1. Figure 12. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................252

QIXA-1. Figure 13. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................253

QIXA-1. Figure 14. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................253

QIXA-2. Figure 1. Statistics: Weighted....................................................................................................................................254

QIXA-2. Figure 2. Tier 1............................................................................................................................................................254

QIXA-2. Figure 3. Tier 2............................................................................................................................................................255

QIXA-2. Figure 4. Tier 3............................................................................................................................................................255

QIXA-2. Figure 5. New England..............................................................................................................................................255

QIXA-2. Figure 6. Mid-Atlantic................................................................................................................................................256

QIXA-2. Figure 7. South Atlantic.............................................................................................................................................256

QIXA-2. Figure 8. East South Central.....................................................................................................................................256

QIXA-2. Figure 9. West South Central....................................................................................................................................257

QIXA-2. Figure 10. East North Central ....................................................................................................................................257

QIXA-2. Figure 11. West North Central ...................................................................................................................................257

QIXA-2. Figure 12. Mountain .....................................................................................................................................................257

QIXA-2. Figure 13. Pacific...........................................................................................................................................................258

QIXA-2. Figure 14. Urban ...........................................................................................................................................................258

QIXA-2. Figure 15. Rural.............................................................................................................................................................258

QIXA-3. Figure 1. How long does it take to originate an unsecured loan? .......................................................................259

QIXA-3. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................259

QIXA-3. Figure 3. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................260

QIXA-3. Figure 4. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................260

QIXB. Figure 1. Does the bank offer small dollar loans?.................................................................................................261

QIXB. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................261

QIXB. Figure 3. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................262

QIXB. Figure 4. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................262

QIXC. Figure 1. Does the bank offer tax refund anticipation loans? .............................................................................264

QIXC. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................264

QIXC. Figure 3. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................264

QIXC. Figure 4. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................265

QIXC-1. Figure 1. Statistics .......................................................................................................................................................265

QIXD. Figure 1. Does the bank offer consumer credit cards?.........................................................................................266

QIXD. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................266

QIXD. Figure 3. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................267

QIXD. Figure 4. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................267

QIXD-1. Figure 1. Summary of Bank Requirements for Credit Cards...............................................................................268
xx

QIXD-1. Figure 2. Social Security Number.............................................................................................................................268

QIXD-1. Figure 3. Minimum Credit Score..............................................................................................................................268

QIXD-1. Figure 4. Review of Credit History..........................................................................................................................268

QIXD-1. Figure 5. Proof of Income ........................................................................................................................................268

QIXD-1. Figure 6. Other............................................................................................................................................................268

QIXD-2. Figure 1. Statistics .......................................................................................................................................................269

QIXD-2. Figure 2. Tier 1............................................................................................................................................................270

QIXD-2. Figure 3. Tier 2............................................................................................................................................................270

QIXD-2. Figure 4. Tier 3............................................................................................................................................................270

QIXD-2. Figure 5. New England..............................................................................................................................................271

QIXD-2. Figure 6. Mid-Atlantic................................................................................................................................................271

QIXD-2. Figure 7. South Atlantic.............................................................................................................................................271

QIXD-2. Figure 8. East South Central.....................................................................................................................................272

QIXD-2. Figure 9. West South Central....................................................................................................................................272

QIXD-2. Figure 10.East North Central ....................................................................................................................................272

QIXD-2. Figure 11.West North Central ...................................................................................................................................273

QIXD-2. Figure 12.Mountain .....................................................................................................................................................273

QIXD-2. Figure 13.Pacific...........................................................................................................................................................273

QIXD-3. Figure 1. Does having a deposit account improve a customer's ability to receive a credit card? ..................274

QIXD-4. Figure 1. Does the bank offer secured credit cards for customers who don't qualify for a traditional one?275

QIXD-4. Figure 2. Region..........................................................................................................................................................275

QIXD-4. Figure 3. Tier ...............................................................................................................................................................275

QIXD-4. Figure 4. Urban/Rural ...............................................................................................................................................276

QIXD-4a. Figure 1. Statistics .......................................................................................................................................................276

QIXD-5. Figure 1. Can a cardholder 'graduate' from a secured card to a traditional credit card? .................................277

CS. Figure 1. Strategy ........................................................................................................................................................281

CS. Figure 2. Institutional Characteristics......................................................................................................................282

CS. Figure 3. Geography...................................................................................................................................................283

Figure 1. Bank Size (Assets)...................................................................................................................................... B-1

Figure 2. Tier 1: Bank Size ........................................................................................................................................ B-2

Figure 3. Tier 2: Bank Size ........................................................................................................................................ B-2

Figure 4. Tier 3: Bank Size ........................................................................................................................................ B-2

Figure 5. New England Division: Bank Size.......................................................................................................... B-2

Figure 6. Middle Atlantic Division: Bank Size ....................................................................................................... B-2

Figure 7. South Atlantic Division: Bank Size......................................................................................................... B-2

Figure 8. East South Central Division: Bank Size................................................................................................. B-2

Figure 9. West South Central Division: Bank Size................................................................................................ B-2
xxi

Figure 10. East North Central Division: Bank Size ................................................................................................ B-2

Figure 11. West North Central Division: Bank Size ............................................................................................... B-2

Figure 12. Mountain Division: Bank Size ................................................................................................................. B-2

Figure 13. Pacific Division: Bank Size....................................................................................................................... B-3

Figure 14. Urban: Bank Size -- Unweighted............................................................................................................. B-3

Figure 15. Rural: Bank Size -- Unweighted............................................................................................................... B-3

Figure 16. Overall Branch Statistics........................................................................................................................... B-4

Figure 17. Tier 1: Branch Statistics -- Weighted ...................................................................................................... B-4

Figure 18. Tier 2: Branch Statistics -- Weighted ...................................................................................................... B-4

Figure 19. Tier 3: Branch Statistics -- Weighted ...................................................................................................... B-4

Figure 20. New England Division: Branch Statistics -- Weighted....................................................................... B-5

Figure 21. Middle Atlantic Division: Branch Statistics -- Weighted.................................................................... B-5

Figure 22. South Atlantic Division: Branch Statistics -- Weighted...................................................................... B-5

Figure 23. East South Central Division: Branch Statistics -- Weighted.............................................................. B-6

Figure 24. West South Central Division: Statistics -- Weighted...........................................................................B-6

Figure 25. East North Central Division: Branch Statistics -- Weighted ............................................................. B-6

Figure 26. West North Central Division: Branch Statistics -- Weighted ............................................................ B-6

Figure 27. Mountain Division: Branch Statistics -- Weighted ..............................................................................B-6

Figure 28. Pacific Division: Branch Statistics -- Weighted.................................................................................... B-7

Figure 29. Urban: Branch Statistics -- Weighted...................................................................................................... B-7

Figure 30. Rural: Branch Statistics -- Weighted ....................................................................................................... B-7
xxii
 1 Study Summary 

Study Summary 

A. Background 

This report summarizes and interprets findings from a nationwide survey of FDIC-insured 

depository institutions about their efforts to serve unbanked and underbanked individuals and 

families.1 The survey was conducted by Dove Consulting, a division of Hitachi Consulting, on behalf 

of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). 

The FDIC is required by law to conduct ongoing surveys “on efforts by insured depository 

institutions to bring those individuals and families who have rarely, if ever, held a checking account, 

a savings account or other type of transaction or check cashing account at an insured depository 

institution (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘unbanked’) into the conventional finance 

system.”2

 This first survey—Banks’ Efforts to Serve the Unbanked and Underbanked—had the following 

three objectives: 

1. Identify and quantify the extent to which FDIC-insured institutions outreach, serve, and 

meet the banking needs of the unbanked and underbanked. 

2. Identify challenges affecting the ability of insured institutions to serve the unbanked and 

underbanked, including but not limited to cultural, language, identification issues, and 

spatial/location issues. 

3. Identify innovative efforts depositories use to serve the unbanked and underbanked, 

including community storefronts, small dollar loans, basic banking accounts, remittances, 

and other low-cost products and services used by the unbanked and underbanked. 

These objectives were designed to address a number of potential research topics, including the 

following 

A) “To what extent do insured depository financial institutions promote financial education and 

financial literacy outreach? 

B) Which financial education efforts appear to be the most effective in bringing ‘unbanked’ 

individuals and families into the conventional financial system? 

C) What efforts are insured institutions making at converting ‘unbanked’ money order, wire 

transfer, and international remittance customers into conventional account holders? 

D) What cultural, language, and identification issues as well as transaction costs appear to most 

prevent ‘unbanked’ individuals from establishing conventional accounts? 

E) What is a fair estimate of the size and worth of the ‘unbanked’ market in the United States?” 3

 

1 For the purposes of this survey, unbanked individuals and families are those who rarely, if ever, held a checking account, savings account, or other 

type of transaction or check cashing account at an insured depository institution in the conventional finance system. Underbanked individuals and 

families are those who have an account with an insured depository institution but also rely on nonbank alternative financial service providers for 

transaction services or high-cost credit products. 

2 The Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Conforming Amendments Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-173). 

3The FDIC plans to address this question through a separate survey effort to be conducted jointly with the U.S. Bureau of the Census as a Supplement 

to the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey in January 2009. The goals of that survey effort are to gather accurate estimates of the number of 

Chapter 

1
 2 Study Summary 

B. Methodology 

A nationwide survey of FDIC-insured depository institutions was conducted to collect information 

about banks’ efforts to serve the unbanked and underbanked (a copy of the survey is provided in 

Appendix A). The survey questionnaire was approved by the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB Form # 3064-0158) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Survey packages with forms 

and instructions were mailed in April 2008 to a nationally representative sample of 1,283 banks with 

retail branch operations. The survey used a stratified design based on bank asset size, or tiers. Tier 1 

included the top 25 largest banks; Tier 2 included banks with assets of $1 billion or more excluding 

Tier 1 participants; and Tier 3 included banks with assets under $1 billion. To improve sampling 

efficiency, the larger banks were sampled at a higher rate than the smaller banks. The sampling rates 

for the three tiers were 100 percent, 47.5 percent, and 14.4 percent, respectively. 

Dove Consulting received 685 completed surveys, which was a response rate of 53.7 percent. 

Response rates were 96.0 percent for Tier 1 banks, 60.7 percent for Tier 2, and 50.8 percent for Tier 

3. Together, the banks that responded to the survey had more than $8.3 trillion in assets—

approximately 70 percent of the total assets for FDIC-insured institutions in the United States—at 

the time the sample was drawn. Due to the stratified design and high response rate among larger 

banks, responding banks represented a substantial percentage of retail branch operations and 

consumer banking services. 

In addition to the survey, Dove Consulting conducted in-depth interviews and developed 16 case 

studies on surveyed banks that offer innovative approaches to serving unbanked and underbanked 

individuals. 

C. Report Format 

This report is organized into 12 chapters that highlight and interpret the survey data.4 Chapter 2 

describes the objectives and methodology. Chapters 3 through 11 provide the results for each of the 

nine sections of the survey. Specifically, Chapter 3 presents information about participating banks’ 

characteristics and retail bank information; Chapter 4 presents information on banks’ education and 

outreach efforts; Chapters 5 through 7 present information on banks’ account opening and 

onboarding (i.e., account initiation) processes and products offered by banks to non-customers; and 

Chapters 8 through 11 present results related to the types of low-cost deposit, savings, payment, and 

credit products offered by banks that are used by the unbanked and underbanked. Chapter 12 

contains the case studies. 

 

unbanked and underbanked households in the United States, their demographic characteristics, and reasons why they are unbanked and/or 

underbanked. 

4 Throughout the report, the percentages provided are weighted by the reciprocals of stratum selection probabilities and response rates to provide 

representative results for all banks in the sample frame. The sample frame includes banks with retail operations but excludes wholesale, special purpose 

industrial, and credit card banks. Dove Consulting did not independently verify all survey responses, but did follow-up with banks that provided 

information to clarify data that appeared to be inconsistent with tier group statistics. 
 3 Study Summary 

The following sections highlight information from the 12 chapters and are organized by the survey’s 

three objectives. 

I . Banks’ Efforts with Education and Outreach 

Objective 1: Identify and quantify the extent to which insured depository institutions outreach, serve, and meet the 

banking needs of the unbanked and underbanked. (Education and Outreach; Chapter 4) 

By educating unbanked and/or underbanked individuals about bank products and services, insured 

institutions can begin to establish relationships with these individuals and ease their entry into the 

mainstream banking system. Chapter 4 examines banks’ perception of whether unbanked and 

underbanked individuals live in their market area; financial education materials provided to these 

individuals; financial education and outreach efforts; effectiveness of bank education and outreach 

programs; activities to bring the unbanked and/or underbanked into the financial mainstream; and 

challenges in serving or targeting unbanked and/or underbanked customers. 

A. Perceptions of Unbanked and/or Underbanked in Area Served and 

Educational Efforts 

Most banks are aware that unbanked and/or underbanked populations exist and live in their market 

areas, and the majority of banks provide educational materials and conduct outreach activities to 

help bring these individuals into the banking mainstream. Specifically, the stratum and response 

adjusted weighting shows that: 

 An estimated 73 percent of banks in the United States recognize that unbanked or underbanked 

individuals live in their service area. Specifically, all Tier 1 banks, 90 percent of Tier 2 banks, 

and 71 percent of Tier 3 banks are aware of these populations. 

 Sixty-four percent of all banks provide financial education materials. 

Objective 1 – Chapter 4

Education and Outreach 

Objective 2 – Chapters 5-7

Obstacles and Access 

Objective 3 – Chapters 8-11

Products and Services 

Identify and quantify the extent to 

which insured depository 

institutions outreach, serve, and 

meet the banking needs of the 

unbanked and underbanked. 

Identify challenges affecting 

the ability of insured 

depository institutions to 

serve the unbanked and 

underbanked, including but 

not limited to cultural, 

language, identification 

issues, and spatial/location 

issues. 

Identify innovative efforts 

depository institutions use to 

serve the un/underbanked, 

including small dollar loans, 

basic banking accounts, 

remittances, and other low 

cost accounts, products and 

services used by the 

un/underbanked. 

• Retail Branch Information 

• Services Provided to NonCustomers 

• Account Opening & 

Onboarding 

• Deposit Products 

• Savings Accounts 

• Payment Products 

• Credit Products 

Case Study 

Examples 

Case Study 

Examples 

Case Study 

Examples 
 4 Study Summary 

 Thirty-nine percent of banks provide basic banking educational materials (either literature 

available in bank branches or content on the bank Web site) aimed at unbanked and/or 

underbanked individuals. 

 More than half (53 percent) of banks teach financial literacy and education sessions that target 

unbanked and/or underbanked customers. Of the banks that teach these sessions, 85 percent 

teach basic banking. 

 Less than half of banks (37 percent), however, participate in education and outreach with other 

organizations. Of those that do, the most common places for outreach are high schools and 

community-based organizations. 

 Off-premise educational outreach aimed at the unbanked or underbanked is provided by 58 

percent of banks. Among these, more than 75 percent of banks hold outreach sessions at 

schools. 

B. Effectiveness of Financial Education Efforts 

Based on the survey results, the most effective education and outreach activities for bringing 

unbanked individuals into the conventional banking system are formal classroom education, 

community outreach, and participation with other organizations, particularly employers, to expand 

employee access to direct deposit. Educational materials aimed at these populations tend to be 

brochures and pamphlets, which may require non-customers to learn about bank services and 

products on their own. Case studies suggest that banks that are the most successful in educating 

non-customers place a high value on their relationships with community organizations and other 

stakeholders who provide important strategies for reaching unbanked consumers. 

The survey results, explained in detail in Chapter 4, show that an estimated 64 percent of banks that 

provide materials designed to increase bank account ownership among the unbanked and 

underbanked have not evaluated the effectiveness of their financial education programs. 

 However, among banks that provide materials and that have evaluated the results, 86 percent 

report that the materials have helped them establish relationships with the unbanked. 

 Survey results reveal that formal classroom-style financial education sessions are the most 

effective type of education or outreach program used to bring unbanked and underbanked 

individuals into the banking mainstream. Participation with other organizations and outreach 

visits are the second and third most effective methods. 
 5 Study Summary 

Community outreach efforts also are effective for developing and promoting banking services and 

products that meet the needs of unbanked and underbanked populations. 

 Slightly more than one-third (37 percent) of banks participate in education or outreach with 

outside organizations. Unfortunately, few banks are able to quantify the success of such 

programs. 

 One challenge in assessing their success is that banks only know if an individual is a customer 

of their bank; they do not have a reliable system for determining whether an individual is 

unbanked or an underbanked customer of another bank. 

Employer programs to expand employees’ access to direct deposit and bank accounts might hold 

special promise for the unbanked because direct deposit provides immediate availability of funds 

and removes fees associated with check cashing. 

Outreach to employers encouraging use of direct deposit for payroll is key for bringing unbanked 

and underbanked individuals into the conventional financial system. 

 Only 38 percent of banks work with corporate and business customers to provide services to 

their unbanked employees, and, of those, only 14 percent offer payroll cards which can be used 

to provide payment directly onto a debit card. 

 Direct deposit reduces the need for unbanked and underbanked individuals to use alternative 

service providers, such as check cashers and payday lenders. 

In open-ended responses, banks cite the most effective strategies for bringing unbanked individuals 

and families into the conventional banking system as outreach (27 percent of banks recommended 

it), offering low-cost products and services (recommended by 21 percent of banks), and offering 

educational programs and materials (21 percent). 

Depository institutions cite the lack of profitability as a significant barrier to serving unbanked and 

underbanked individuals. However, 77 percent of all banks reported that they have not conducted 

research on the potential unbanked customers in their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) 

assessment areas, suggesting that untapped opportunities to serve this market may exist. 

C. Case Study Highlights: Education and Outreach 

Case studies suggest that banks that are successful in educating non-customers have developed 

relationships with community organizations and strategies involving important stakeholders within 

and outside the bank. While the types of initiatives undertaken by the case study banks vary, they 

exemplify effective approaches that leverage partnerships with third-party organizations, such as 

employers, schools, nonprofit organizations, and assistance agencies. These programs bring 

education to the places that unbanked populations frequent and feel most comfortable, increasing 

the number of individuals reached. 
 6 Study Summary 

Institution Target Population Initiative 

Amalgamated Bank 

(New York, NY) 

Union workers, primarily 

immigrant and low income 

Created educational curriculum specific to needs of target market; 

partners with union and local government agencies to deliver 

outreach and products 

Citibank, NA 

(New York, NY) 

Low-income, urban 

individuals in their area 

Leverages United Way case management and outreach expertise in 

area to market, educate, and open entry-level accounts for clients 

The Commerce Bank 

of Washington 

(Seattle, WA) 

Homeless population, 

mentally ill individuals 

Automated check cashing processes and improved access to 

banking services for unbankable individuals by providing backoffice systems and support to The Compass Center, a nonprofit 

assistance agency 

Fort Morgan State 

Bank 

(Fort Morgan, CO) 

Employees of food 

processing company in 

Colorado 

Established branch at plant facility, introduced services during new 

employee orientation and opened accounts to encourage direct 

deposit of paychecks 

International Bank of 

Commerce 

(Laredo, TX) 

Elementary school 

students in predominantly 

Mexican immigrant 

communities in their areas 

Partners with elementary schools to create student-run “microcommunities,” simulated societies in which students earn wages in 

mock currency, conduct banking transactions, and learn to manage 

finances 

Mitchell Bank 

(Milwaukee, WI) 

High school students in 

large Mexican and Central 

American immigrant 

communities in their areas 

Partners with a local high school to establish full-service branch on 

campus to open accounts for students, provide financial literacy 

education, and build trust and awareness in wider community 

Monroe Bank and 

Trust 

(Monroe, MI) 

Low- to moderate-income 

individuals in the bank’s 

county, many of whom are 

affected by rising 

unemployment 

Established education program, an off-shoot of its existing 

volunteer organization, to provide educational outreach in its 

markets by bringing seminars and programs to faith-based 

organizations, service agencies, and high schools 

Common Lessons Learned 

 Financial education is the primary vehicle for serving the unbanked and underbanked populations and is essential to 

help them make informed decisions. 

 Employers and community organizations can provide important insights to banks seeking to assess and understand 

the needs of the unbanked market. 

 Partnerships with third-party organizations that leverage core competencies can supplement and complement bank 

initiatives to provide outreach and serve the community. 

 Building strong relationships with trusted community organizations presents valuable opportunities for banks to 

establish their presence and increase awareness in their service areas, which are particularly important when working 

with unbanked populations. 

 Developing and executing a successful strategy requires innovative approaches that involve stakeholders both 

within and outside of the bank. 
 7 Study Summary 

I I . B a n k s ’ E f f o r t s t o Address Obstacles and 

Access

Objective 2: Identify challenges affecting the ability of insured depository institutions to serve the unbanked and 

underbanked, including but not limited to cultural, language, identification issues, and spatial/location issues. 

(Obstacles and Access; Chapters 5-7)

For unbanked and underbanked individuals to enter the banking mainstream, insured institutions 

must make retail branches more accessible, offer appropriate products and services to meet 

customer needs, and ensure that the procedures for opening an account are straightforward. 

Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of this report examine banks’ efforts to address these challenges. Survey results 

show that banks have modified their retail branch operations in a variety of ways that may increase 

access for unbanked and/or underbanked individuals. 

A. Retail Branch Information (Chapter 5) 

i. Modifications 

Banks’ efforts to make retail branches more accessible to unbanked and underbanked individuals 

include extending branch hours, employing staff that can speak foreign languages, and changing 

operations to make them more welcoming. These efforts provide unbanked and underbanked 

consumers more opportunities to take advantage of bank services. 

 Based on survey results, an estimated 59% of banks have extended their retail branch hours, 

with the most common hours being later than 5:00 p.m. on weekdays for all types of branches. 

Some of the banks that extended their hours now operate until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and/or 

offer Sunday hours. 

 More than half (52 percent) of banks now have staff that can speak a language other than 

English. Almost half (47 percent) of banks have branch staff that can speak Spanish, while 4 

percent have staff that speak Chinese, 3 percent have staff that speak Vietnamese, 2 percent 

have staff that speak Korean, and 2 percent have staff that speak Tagalog. 

Identify and quantify the extent to 

which insured depository 

institutions outreach, serve, and 

meet the banking needs of the 

unbanked and underbanked. 

Identify challenges affecting 

the ability of insured 

depository institutions to 

serve the unbanked and 

underbanked, including but 

not limited to cultural, 

language, identification 

issues, and spatial/location 

issues. 

Identify innovative efforts 

depository institutions use to 

serve the un/underbanked, 

including small dollar loans, 

basic banking accounts, 

remittances, and other low 

cost accounts, products and 

services used by the 

un/underbanked. 

• Retail Branch Information 

• Services Provided to NonCustomers 

• Account Opening & 

Onboarding 

• Deposit Products 

• Savings Accounts 

• Payment Products 

• Credit Products 

Case Study 

Examples 

Case Study 

Examples 

Case Study 

Examples 

Objective 1 – Chapter 4

Education and Outreach 

Objective 2 – Chapters 5-7

Obstacles and Access 

Objective 3 – Chapters 8-11

Products and Services 
 8 Study Summary 

 Sixty-four percent of banks have modified their retail operations over the past five years to 

make it easier, more welcoming, or more convenient for unbanked and/or underbanked 

consumers to take advantage of banking services. 

 The most common way that banks have modified their operations is by offering Internet or 

mobile banking, which is now available at 73 percent of banks. Mobile banking includes both 

mobile branches that go to customers’ work or residential locations, and technology such as 

mobile telephones and personal digital assistant (PDA) devices. 

ii. Strategies 

Banks can and do provide important financial services to unbanked and/or underbanked 

individuals; however, many banks may hesitate to offer products and transaction services to 

individuals who do not hold conventional deposit-based transaction accounts because of the 

perceived challenges and risks. For example, while check cashing presents opportunities for banks to 

better serve unbanked and/or underbanked individuals, many responding banks reported that 

cashing checks for non-customers presents risks and that regulatory requirements impede serving 

some potential customers due to identification issues. Consequently, less than one-third of banks 

will cash payroll checks drawn on another bank for non-customers. Banks also appear to limit 

money orders and other important bill payment products for non-customers. 

 Identification issues can present challenges for unbanked and underbanked consumers who 

want to open an account. 

— Banks generally require government-issued forms of identification to open a new account. 

State-issued drivers’ licenses (99 percent) and passports (92 percent) are the most 

commonly accepted forms of identification. 

— Matricula Consular cards are accepted by less than one-third of banks (27 percent). 

 In addition, unbanked and/or underbanked individuals with blemished credit histories likely 

face additional challenges to account opening because of widespread use of risk management 

screening tools, such as the ChexSystems and third-party credit score databases. 

For all banks, the most common branch strategies to serve unbanked and/or underbanked 

individuals are check cashing, with 49 percent of all banks offering this service, followed by offering 

money orders (41 percent), and bill payment services (18 percent). 

ES Figure 1. Indicate efforts your bank makes as part of its branch strategy to serve un/under banked in 

your market areas. 

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Check

Cashing

Money

Orders

Bill Payment Prepaid

Cards

Kiosks for

Check

Cashing
 9 Study Summary 

B. Services Provided to Non-Customers (Chapter 6) 

i. Check Cashing 

Insured institutions appear to believe that they have a limited ability to serve unbanked consumers 

who would like money orders, wire transfers, and international remittances because of compliance 

concerns under the Patriot Act, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) guidelines, and Bank Secrecy Act 

(BSA) regulations. Although the survey did not specifically ask about these policies, banks 

commented that they had concerns about AML, BSA, and other federal regulations. Banks also are 

reluctant to cash checks for non-customers for reasons related to regulatory compliance, 

identification, and loss prevention (fraud) concerns. 

 In an open-ended question, 75 percent of responding banks reported concerns about offering 

check cashing transactions to non-customers because of the amount of money they would 

stand to lose if fraud were to occur. For example, the lack of valid identification makes it 

difficult to serve non-customers. 

 Forty percent of banks perceive regulatory impediments that limit their ability to provide 

products and services to unbanked and/or underbanked individuals. 

Banks do not know if an individual is unbanked or not, so they tend to view individuals as either 

customers or non-customers. 

 Nearly all banks cash business checks (96 percent) and personal checks (96 percent) drawn on 

their bank for non-customers. 

 Slightly more than half (58 percent) of banks will cash government checks for non-customers. 

Of the banks that cash government checks, 58 percent charge a fee. 

 Most banks will not cash checks drawn on another bank for non-customers. Thirty-two percent 

of banks cash payroll checks not drawn on their bank for non-customers, and 23 percent cash 

business checks not drawn on their bank. Of the banks that cash payroll or business checks that 

are drawn on another bank for non-customers, more than 90 percent charge a fee. 

ES Figure 2. If an individual does not have an account relationship with the bank, will the bank typically 

cash the following types of checks, and is a fee charged? 

40%

94%

92%

87%

58%

12%

13%

2%

6%

23%

32%

58%

96%

96%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Double Endorsed Checks

Personal Checks Not Drawn on the Bank

Business Checks not Drawn on the Bank

Payroll Checks

Government Checks

Personal Checks Drawn on the Bank

Business Checks Drawn on the Bank

If Cashes, Charges a Fee Will Cash for a Non-Customer

ii. Identification for Check Cashing 
 10 Study Summary 

For check cashing, banks rely primarily on government-issued forms of identification, such as 

drivers’ licenses and passports. Non-government identification is accepted less often, and noncustomers are commonly required to present a secondary form of identification. 

 The most commonly accepted form of primary identification for check cashing is a driver’s 

license, with 99 percent of banks accepting licenses, followed by passports, state identification, 

and military identification. An Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) is the least 

commonly accepted form of identification; 83 percent of banks will not accept an ITIN as 

identification to cash a check. 

 Housing leases and Matrícula Consular cards are accepted by less than 43 percent of banks as a 

secondary form of identification. 

ES Figure 3. What forms of consumer identification or validation does the bank rely on for individuals 

who do not have an account relationship to cash a check? 

Identification Forms 

Primary: 

Sufficient 

alone by 

itself 

Secondary: 

Insufficient alone but 

acceptable with 

another secondary ID 

Not Accepted

as ID for 

check cashing

Driver’s license 91.1% 8.3% 0.6% 

State-issued photo ID 85.3% 13.1% 1.5% 

Social Security number 82.3% 14.2% 3.4% 

Passport (US. or foreign) 76.3% 20.2% 3.5% 

Employer letters/pay stub 23.0% 50.6% 26.4% 

Military ID 31.5% 40.5% 27.9% 

Student/school ID card 23.3% 19.4% 57.4% 

Matrícula Consular 3.0% 42.4% 54.5% 

Housing lease 1.7% 30.2% 68.0% 

Other: 0.5% 28.4% 71.0% 

Utility bills/payments 2.1% 23.3% 74.6% 

Individual Taxpayer 

Identification Number (ITIN) 0.9% 16.0% 83.2% 

iii. Products

Besides check cashing services, banks offer a limited number of products to non-customers, often 

charging them higher fees than customers. Products that are least often offered to non-customers 

are those that allow funds to be transferred internationally, specifically foreign currency exchange, 

international remittances, and automated clearinghouse (ACH) transfers. Not offering these kinds of 

products could make it more difficult for unbanked and/or underbanked individuals, many of 

whom are immigrants, to send money to family and friends in different countries. 

 Only 37 percent of banks offer bank checks and money orders for non-customers. 

 Banks generally do not offer international remittances to non-customers. Only 6 percent of 

banks report that they offer international remittance services to non-customers. 

 Thirty-two percent of banks are concerned about offering remittances to non-customers due to 

regulatory considerations. 
 11 Study Summary 

Teller training seems to be a simple and effective strategy for reaching out to unbanked and/or 

underbanked consumers. Sixty-nine percent of banks provide teller and customer service training 

that includes strategies for reaching out to unbanked and/or underbanked consumers. 

C. Account Opening & Onboarding Process (Chapter 7) 

Survey information indicates that unbanked populations face significant barriers when they try to 

open mainstream bank accounts. As with check cashing, banks generally require government-issued 

identification, and they also screen potential customers using ChexSystems or other risk 

management screening tools. Few banks offer products or are willing to open accounts for 

individuals who have a past of mismanaging accounts. 

 Ninety-six percent of banks use Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) lists for new account 

screening and risk management. 

 Eighty-seven percent of banks require a third-party screen before they will open checking 

accounts, and 81 percent of banks require third-party screens to open savings accounts. 

— The ChexSystems/Qualifile service is used by 77 percent of banks. 

 At nearly half (49 percent) of banks, branch managers are required to decide whether 

to override an account application when an applicant screening returns a negative hit. 

 Twenty-five percent of banks will reject the account application automatically if there is 

negative information in the ChexSystems records. 

 Based on the survey results, the top reasons that banks decline new account 

applications are negative screening information for a prior account (62 percent), 

insufficient identification information (39 percent) and a low credit score/rating (37 

percent). 

— A considerable obstacle for unbanked individuals who want to open an account appears to 

be negative information in ChexSystems or another screening database. (Most individuals 

appear in the ChexSystems database because of prior account mismanagement rather than 

attempted check fraud). 

 Credit bureau reports are used by 33 percent of banks for new customer deposit account 

opening. 

 Only one-quarter (25 percent) of all banks have at least one entry-level deposit account 

designed for individuals ineligible for conventional accounts. 

The greatest challenges banks face in serving unbanked and/or underbanked individuals are 

profitability issues and perceived regulatory barriers, closely followed by fraud. 
 12 Study Summary 

D. Case Study Highlights: Obstacles and Access 

Unbanked and/or underbanked individuals often face obstacles that deter them from developing 

banking relationships with financial institutions. The case studies below highlight a number of 

successful ways that banks address the challenges of serving unbanked and/or underbanked 

individuals, including recognizing changes in customer demographics and addressing these changes 

in their business practices, offering banking services in a more casual setting or a more convenient 

location, providing easier access to bank products, and enlisting bank employees to play a role in 

welcoming unbanked individuals. 

Institution Target Population Initiative 

Bangor Savings Bank 

(Bangor, ME) 

Low- to moderate-income 

individuals in primarily rural 

areas 

Mitigates geographic barriers and improves accessibility of 

banking services by offering extended service hours, 

account access via Web and telephone, and full refunds on 

surcharges incurred when using any bank’s ATM 

Citizens Union Bank of 

Shelbyville 

(Shelbyville, KY) 

Hispanic community in 

Kentucky MSAs 

Opened Hispanic-focused branch, Nuestro Banco, which 

accommodates customers by employing bilingual staff, 

operating during non-traditional hours, and adopting a 

more casual and culturally-sensitive environment 

Ridgewood Savings Bank 

(Ridgewood, NY) 

Diverse immigrant and retiree 

populations in Queens and 

Bronx boroughs of New York 

City 

Hires bilingual staff, publishes bilingual marketing 

materials, and advertises in local ethnic newspapers 

according to demographics of each branch’s market area; 

provides full range of banking services in mobile branch 

that regularly visits elderly communities and other 

locations with limited access to branches 

Second Federal Savings 

(Chicago, IL) 

Mexican immigrant and 

Mexican-American population 

in Chicago’s South Side 

Helps undocumented individuals obtain identification 

required to open accounts by sponsoring visits by the 

Mexican Consulate to issue Matrícula Consular cards at the 

bank and by becoming an Individual Taxpayer 

Identification Number (ITIN) acceptance agent 

Common Lessons Learned 

 Banks must recognize changes in customer demographics. They must also assess obstacles in their market area and 

address them accordingly. 

 Offering banking services in a less formal setting or more convenient location can help the unbanked and 

underbanked feel more comfortable with financial institutions. 

 Providing greater and more varied means of access (e.g. extended hours, web/phone access) also encourages 

unbanked and underbanked individuals to become customers. 

 Bank employees play an important role in welcoming unbanked customers and making them feel at ease by 

assuaging misperceptions about banks, showing sensitivity to their needs, and communicating in their native 

languages. 
 13 Study Summary 

III.Banks’ Efforts to Provide Products and 

Services

Objective 3: Identify innovative efforts depository institutions use to serve unbanked and/or underbanked 

customers, including small dollar loans, basic banking accounts, remittances, and other low cost accounts, products, and 

services used by these groups (Products and Services; Chapters 8-11) 

Successful efforts to bring unbanked and/or underbanked individuals into the mainstream banking 

system include accounts and products that are carefully developed to address the needs of these 

individuals. Chapters 8 through 11 of the survey examine bank policies and products offered for 

deposit, savings, payment, and credit products and services, and particularly innovative products and 

services that unbanked and/or underbanked customers can understand and manage to avoid fees 

and account closures. 

Survey results show that while most banks offer basic deposit, savings, and transaction accounts to 

qualified customers, significant opportunities exist for banks to expand their products and services 

to unbanked and/or underbanked individuals. For example, few banks offer entry-level transaction 

accounts designed to help build credit, “second chance” accounts designed to retain and attract 

customers who may have blemished credit, workplace-based programs, individual development 

accounts (IDAs), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) 

programs, rapid access to deposited funds, and affordable small dollar loans. 

Identify and quantify the extent to 

which insured depository 

institutions outreach, serve, and 

meet the banking needs of the 

unbanked and underbanked. 

Identify challenges affecting 

the ability of insured 

depository institutions to 

serve the unbanked and 

underbanked, including but 

not limited to cultural, 

language, identification 

issues, and spatial/location 

issues. 

Identify innovative efforts 

depository institutions use to 

serve the un/underbanked, 

including small dollar loans, 

basic banking accounts, 

remittances, and other low 

cost accounts, products and 

services used by the 

un/underbanked. 

• Retail Branch Information 

• Services Provided to NonCustomers 

• Account Opening & 

Onboarding 

• Deposit Products 

• Savings Accounts 

• Payment Products 

• Credit Products 

Objective 1 – Chapter 4

Education and Outreach 

Objective 2 – Chapters 5-7

Obstacles and Access 

Objective 3 – Chapters 8-11

Products and Services 

Case Study 

Examples 

Case Study 

Examples 

Case Study 

Examples 
 14 Study Summary 

A. Deposit Products (Chapter 8) 

Deposit accounts are the foundation on which banks offer other products and services to unbanked 

and/or underbanked individuals. With a simple checking account, previously unbanked consumers 

are able to make payments more easily and cash checks more affordably. Deposit accounts help 

individuals become familiar with additional banking products and services. Low fees and low to no 

minimum balance requirements, along with appropriate education, can help attract and sustain 

unbanked and/or underbanked individuals as customers. 

 Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of banks do not require a minimum balance for their most basic 

checking account. An additional 8 percent of banks will waive the minimum balance if 

customers use direct deposit. 

— The median (and mode) minimum balance for accounts with direct deposit is $100.00, 

which is the same for accounts that do not have direct deposit, for all banks. 

 Ninety percent of banks offer free check writing for their most basic transaction account. 

— Online bill payment is the most common bank product with a fee (22 percent); however, 

the majority of banks (65 percent) include online bill payment at no cost on their most 

basic checking account. 

 When a fee is charged, it typically is under $5.00 per month and about $0.35 per 

transaction (median). 

 Fourteen percent of banks do not offer online bill payment. 

Virtually all banks (99 percent) charge NSF fees on their most basic transaction account. Only five 

banks responded that they do not charge an NSF fee. 

 NSF fees range from $8.00 to $38.00, with a median of $25.00. The lowest fees are found at 

banks in Tier 3. 

 59 percent of banks that charge insufficient funds (NSF) fees will waive the fee under certain 

circumstances. 

B. Savings Accounts (Chapter 9) 

Most banks offer basic savings accounts but do not offer savings account products, such as IDAs 

and IRS VITA occasion-based accounts, that specifically target unbanked and/or underbanked 

individuals. Banks attempt to promote savings products at schools to reach potential customers at a 

young age but often face difficulty in targeting unbanked and/or underbanked consumers. 

 The majority of banks offer basic savings accounts (97 percent) and money market deposit 

accounts (MMA) (70 percent). A much smaller percentage (8 percent) offer IDAs. 

 The average interest rate for a savings account is 0.80 percent; for an MMA, the average interest 

rate is 1.07 percent. 
 15 Study Summary 

Less than one-quarter (22 percent) of banks partner with other organizations to promote the use of 

saving account products. However, these banks indicate that partnering provides a number of 

benefits. Some banks partner with schools to build relationships with potential customers at a young 

age, while others try to bring in more business by partnering with local businesses and making 

presentations to employees. By partnering with a trusted source, such as an employer, banks work to 

improve their accessibility among unbanked and/or underbanked employees. 

 Of the 194 banks that reported partnering with organizations to promote savings products, 176 

described the organizations with which they partner. Of these, two-thirds partner with 

educational institutions, ranging from elementary schools to colleges. They report using a 

number of programs, including the American Bankers Association’s Teach Children to Save 

Day, Junior Achievement, Saving Makes Cents, FDIC Money Smart, and Bank at School 

programs. 

 The second most common type of partner reported in the sample was local employers. 

C. Payment Products (Chapter 10) 

An important issue for unbanked and/or underbanked individuals is the speed at which they can 

access their deposited funds. Although funds availability policies are more favorable for established 

customers, banks generally do not make funds available immediately for checks that are not drawn 

on their own institution. This reduces the attractiveness of bank deposit products to unbanked 

and/or underbanked individuals since they can obtain immediate access to their funds at alternative 

financial institutions, such as check cashers and payday lenders. 

 Banks tend to provide funds the most quickly for “on-us” checks, or checks drawn on the bank 

itself. Sixty-three percent of banks have same-day availability for on-us business checks 

deposited by established customers, and another 36 percent have next-day availability. 

 Checks drawn on other local (in-state) banks tend to have next-business-day availability for 

established customers. For example, only 32 percent have same-business-day availability for instate payroll checks, while 50 percent of banks have next-day availability and about 17 percent 

have second-day availability. 

ES Figure 4. How soon are funds ordinarily available for an established customer who presents the 

following items? 

24%

27%

28%

32%

50%

63%

64%

35%

47%

48%

50%

48%

36%

36%

8%

21%

21%

17%

1%

1%

1%

33%

5%

3%

2%

1%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Double Endorsed Check

Personal Check Not Drawn on the Bank

Business Check Not Drawn on the Bank

Payroll Check

Government Check

Business Check Drawn on the Bank

Personal Check Drawn on the Bank

Current Day Next Day Second Day Three or More Days
 16 Study Summary 

D. Credit Products (Chapter 11) 

Banks offer several types of credit products that are targeted to unbanked and/or underbanked 

individuals, such as tax refund anticipation loans, secured credit cards, and advances on funds that 

are due to arrive, though these offerings are limited. 

 Nearly all (97 percent) banks can originate an unsecured personal loan in less than 48 hours. 

— Eighty percent of banks are able to originate an unsecured loan in less than 24 hours, and 

more than 24 percent can do so in less than 30 minutes. 

 Sixty-nine percent of banks offer closed-end unsecured personal loans for amounts up to 

$5,000. 

 Thirty-six percent of banks offer consumer credit cards issued by the bank or a third party. 

— Among banks that offer credit cards, only 25 percent offer secured credit cards to 

customers who do not qualify for a traditional credit card. 

— Of the banks that offer a secured credit card, more than 96 percent allow cardholders to 

“graduate” to a traditional credit card. 

 Less than 6 percent of banks provide an advance on funds that are due to arrive by direct 

deposit or check. 

 Relatively few banks offer tax refund anticipation loans. 
 17 Study Summary 

E. Case Studies Highlights: Products 

Banks offer targeted products to unbanked and underbanked customers as a way to transition them 

into the economic mainstream, particularly when individuals do not qualify for standard accounts. 

The case studies below highlight some of the ways that banks successfully attract and serve 

unbanked and/or underbanked customers with targeted, innovative entry-level accounts and 

“stepping stone” services. These products help to establish banking relationships and are often 

accompanied by a focus on education and encouragement of sound financial management practices. 

Institution Target Population Products 

Artisans’ Bank 

(Wilmington, DE) 

Low- to moderate-income 

individuals in their area with 

poor credit history or past 

experience with financial 

mismanagement 

 Credit Builder Program provides a 12-month loan while 

customers place proceeds in deposit account held as 

collateral and replay loan from cash flow. 

 Delawareans Save IDA helps customers set and achieve 

monthly savings goals over three-year period and 

provide up to a 3:1 match if savings targets are met. 

Bancorp South 

(Tupelo, MS) 

African-American and 

Hispanic-American 

communities of urban and 

rural markets in the South 

 Second Chance Checking restricts access (check writing 

and debit cards) for customers ineligible for standard 

checking product. 

 Smart Saver IDA combines a mortgage and a savings 

product with eight hours of financial education to 

provide resources toward purchase of home. 

Carver State Bank 

(Savannah, GA) 

Multi-cultural community in 

Savannah, including African 

Americans, Hispanics, 

Iranians, and Chinese 

 Small Business IDA provides 4:1 match to local 

entrepreneurs and requires applicants to take classes and 

develop business plan to qualify. 

 Credit Rebuilder Loan pairs loan of $1,000 to $10,000 

with CD; approval based on debt to income ratio rather 

than credit history. 

Central Bank 

of Kansas City 

(Kansas City, MO) 

Diverse immigrant and 

minority population, including 

African Americans, 

Vietnamese, Sudanese, and 

Mexicans 

 Payroll Cards allow low- to moderate-income employees 

to receive income without needing to cash checks or 

access to direct deposit while preventing them from 

overdrawing on account and incurring NSF or merchant 

fees. 

KeyBank 

(Cleveland, OH) 

Low- to moderate-income 

populations, including African 

Americans, Hispanic 

Americans, working poor, and 

urban residents 

 Low-cost (1.5% up to $22.50) check cashing services for 

non-depository clients bring unbanked into branches 

and create opportunities to transition them to deposit 

accounts; biometric technology verifies customer 

identity, lowering cost and increasing efficiency. 

Common Lessons Learned 

 Entry-level products provide valuable opportunities for unbanked individuals to re-establish credit-worthiness and 

re-enter the economic mainstream while increasing control and reducing risk to banks. 

 Rather than closing accounts due to mismanagement, second chance accounts help banks retain existing customers. 

 Certain banking products can be advantageous to unbanked individuals and can provide more benefits than those 

offered by alternative service providers. 

 Banks can better serve unbanked and underbanked consumers by developing debit card-based accounts and 

prepaid cards to meet their needs. 
 18 Study Summary 

Terms & Definitions 

Term Definition 

Bank An FDIC-insured financial institution (bank or thrift) 

Bank Footprint Census tracts in the bank’s current CRA evaluation area 

BSA/AML The Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 requires U.S. financial institutions to 

assist U.S. government agencies to detect and prevent money 

laundering. Specifically, the Act requires financial institutions to keep 

records of cash purchases of negotiable instruments of $3,000 or 

more and to report suspicious activity that might signify money 

laundering, tax evasion, or other criminal activities. The BSA is 

sometimes referred to as “anti-money laundering” law (AML) or 

jointly as “BSA/AML.” Several anti-money laundering acts, including 

provisions in Title III of the USA Patriot Act, have been enacted to 

amend the BSA..

Conventional Checking 

Account 

Checking, NOW, DDA, MMDA 

Debit Card Card linked to a transaction account 

Earned Income Tax 

Credit (EITC) 

A refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working 

individuals and families. To qualify, taxpayers must meet certain 

requirements and file a tax return. 

Established Customer An individual who has had a deposit account for more than 30 days 

Full-Service (Brick and 

Mortar) Offices 

SOD office service type code 11 (not reported in the Branch Office 

Survey (OTS-supervised institutions); see 

fdic.gov/sod/pdf/SOD_2007_Instructions.pdf) 

Full-Service Retail (In 

store) Offices 

SOD office service type code 12 (not reported in the Branch Office 

Survey (OTS-supervised institutions); see 

fdic.gov/sod/pdf/SOD_2007_Instructions.pdf) 

Individual Development 

Account (IDA) 

Matched savings accounts that enable low-income individuals to save, 

build assets, and enter the financial mainstream. IDAs reward 

monthly savings of individuals who are building toward purchasing an 

asset (most commonly their first home), paying for post-secondary 

education, or starting a small business. 
 19 Study Summary 

Individual Taxpayer 

Identification Number 

(ITIN) 

A tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to 

individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification 

number but who do not have and are not eligible to obtain a Social 

Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration 

(SSA). ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status because both 

resident and nonresident aliens may have U.S. tax return and payment 

responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code. 

Limited Service Offices SOD office service type codes 22, 23, and 29 (not reported in the 

Branch Office Survey (OTS-supervised institutions); see 

fdic.gov/sod/pdf/SOD_2007_Instructions.pdf) 

Low and Moderate 

Income (LMI) 

Low income: Income equal to or less than 50 percent of the median 

income of the local metropolitan area (MSA) or appropriately defined 

rural area 

Moderate income: Income from 50 percent to 80 percent of the 

median income of the local metropolitan area (MSA) or appropriately 

defined rural area 

Matrícula Consular A photo identification card issued to Mexican citizens by the Mexican 

Government to prove that the bearer is of Mexican nationality and is 

living outside of Mexico. Local offices of the Consulate General of 

Mexico facilitate this service in the United States. 

Non-Customer An individual who does not have a deposit account or credit 

relationship with your bank 

Number of Deposit 

Branches 

As of June 30, 2007, as reported in the Summary of Deposits (SOD) 

submitted to the FDIC or in the Branch Office Survey (reported to 

the OTS by OTS-supervised institutions) 

OFAC List The Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), part of the U.S. 

Department of the Treasury, administers and enforces economic and 

trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security 

goals against targeted foreign states, organizations, and individuals. 

OFAC manages and maintains lists of individuals and organizations 

that U.S. individuals and business are prohibited from doing business 

with and from whom they should not accept funds. 

Other offices reported 

on the Summary of 

Deposits 

SOD office service type codes 13, 21, and 30 (not reported in the 

Branch Office Survey (OTS-supervised institutions); see 

fdic.gov/sod/pdf/SOD_2007_Instructions.pdf) 

Patriot Act The Patriot Act was signed into law on October 25, 2001. Title III of 

the Act requires banks to establish a Customer Identification 

Program.
 20 Study Summary 

Prepaid Debit Card Not linked to a transaction account. Money can be loaded onto the 

card and payments made through networks like Visa, MasterCard. 

Excludes closed-loop retailer gift cards 

Savings Account Statement savings, Passbook, Certificates of Deposit, etc. 

SOD Summary of Deposits reports 

Unbanked Individuals or families who do not have an account with a depository 

institution (a commercial bank, savings institution or credit union) or 

a transaction account with a money market mutual fund or brokerage 

firm 

Underbanked Individuals or families who have a deposit account but also rely on 

alternative non-bank financial service providers (such as check 

cashing firms or payday lenders) for transaction or credit services 

Volunteer Income Tax 

Assistance Program 

(VITA) 

Offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income individuals who 

cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored 

by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax 

returns in communities across the country.