FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households ■ December 2009 152

FDIC Form No. 6494/03 (12-08)

Supplement Survey Instrument

OMB No. 3064-0167

Expiration Date: 12/31/2011

FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households

1. Do you or does anyone in your household currently have a checking or savings account? 

Yes

No

DK/Refused (TERMINATE)

1b. Which of the following best describes your household’s finances? (Read responses 1 through 3)

The adults have shared finances (CONTINUE)

The adults have some shared finances and some separate finances (CONTINUE)

The adults have separate finances even though we share living space (IF Q1 YES, 

SKIP TO Q14, IF Q1 IS No, SKIP TO Q3)

I am the only adult in the household (Volunteered) (IF Q1 YES, 

SKIP TO Q14, IF Q1 IS No, SKIP TO Q3)

DK/Refused (CONTINUE)

2. How much do you participate in making financial decisions for your household, a lot, some or not at all?

A lot (CONTINUE)

Some (CONTINUE)

Not at all (TERMINATE)

DK/Refused (TERMINATE)
FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households ■ December 2009 153

FDIC Form No. 6494/03 (12-08)

3. Have you or anyone in your household ever had a checking or savings account?

Yes (CONTINUE)

No (SKIP TO INTRO Q7B)

DK/Refused (SKIP TO INTRO Q7B)

Q4-Q6 and Q7a, Q8a, Q9a, and Q10a are asked to those households that were previously banked, but closed their deposit 

account with a mainstream financial institution. 

4. When was the last time you or anyone in your household had a checking or savings account, was it – within the last 

year or more than 1 year ago?

Within the last year (CONTINUE)

More than 1 year ago (CONTINUE)

DK/Refused (CONTINUE)

5. Are you or anyone else in your household in the process of opening a new checking or savings account within the 

next few weeks?

Yes (GO TO Q14)

No (CONTINUE)

DK/Refused (CONTINUE)

6. Who made the decision to close the account?

I, or someone in my household, closed the account (CONTINUE)

The bank closed the account (SKIP TO Q11)

DK/Refused (SKIP TO Q11)

7a. Some people close their bank accounts mostly for reasons relating to customer service. Are any of the following 

reasons why the account was closed? 

(Read responses 1 through 6) (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

The bank had inconvenient hours 

The bank was too far from home or work

There was a language barrier at the bank 

The bank did not feel welcoming or comfortable 

The bank did not offer needed basic services like check cashing, OR 

Was there some other reason? (Specify)

None of the preceding reasons (Volunteered)

DK/Refused

8a. Some people close their bank accounts mostly for financial reasons. Was the account closed for any of the following 

reasons? 

(Read responses 1 through 6) (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

The minimum balance requirement of the bank account was too high

The service charges of the bank account were too high

Did not have enough money to need a bank account

Bounced too many checks or had too many overdrafts

The bank took too long to clear checks, OR

Was there some other reason? (Specify) 

None of the preceding reasons (Volunteered)

DK/Refused

9a. Some people close their checking or savings accounts for other reasons. Was the account closed for any of the 

following reasons? 
FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households ■ December 2009 154

FDIC Form No. 6494/03 (12-08)

(Read responses 1 through 5) (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

Did not write enough checks to make it worthwhile to have a bank account 

Could not manage or balance the bank account

Did not need or want a bank account

Didn’t trust banks, OR

Was there some other reason?(Specify)

None of the preceding reasons (Volunteered)

DK/Refused

10a. You said that the main reasons for closing the bank account were __________ (Insert response for Q7a, Q8a and 

Q9a). Which of these was the number one reason for closing the account? (ALL RESPONDENTS SKIP TO Q11 

AFTER ANSWERING Q10A)

The bank had inconvenient hours 

The bank was too far from home or work

There was a language barrier at the bank 

Didn’t trust banks

The bank did not feel comfortable or welcoming 

The minimum balance requirement of the bank account was too high

The service charges of the bank account were too high

Did not have enough money to need a bank account

Bounced too many checks or had too many overdrafts

The bank took too long to clear checks

Did not write enough checks to make it worthwhile to have a bank account 

Could not manage or balance the bank account

Did not need or want a bank account

The bank did not offer needed basic services like check cashing

None of these

Could not pick a single reason

DK/Refused

Q7b, Q8b, Q9b, and Q10b relate to reasons why the household has never had an account in a mainstream financial 

institution. 

7b. Some people do not have a bank account for reasons relating to customer service. Are any of the following reasons 

why no one in your household has a bank account? 

(Read responses 1 through 6) (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

Banks have inconvenient hours 

There is no bank near home or work

There are language barriers at banks 

Banks do not feel comfortable or welcoming 

Banks do not offer needed basic services like check cashing, OR

Was there some other reason? (Specify)

None of the preceding reasons (Volunteered)

DK/Refused
FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households ■ December 2009 155

FDIC Form No. 6494/03 (12-08)

8b. Some people do not have a bank account for financial reasons. Are any of the following reasons why neither you or 

anyone in your household has a bank account? 

(Read responses 1 through 7) (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

The minimum balance requirement of bank accounts is too high

The service charges of bank accounts are too high

Bounced too many checks or had too many overdrafts

Banks take too long to clear checks

Do not have enough money to need a bank account

Credit problems, OR

Was there some other reason?(Specify)

None of the preceding reasons (Volunteered)

DK/Refused

9b. Some people do not have checking or savings accounts for other reasons. Are any of the following reasons why 

neither you or anyone in your household has a bank account? 

(Read responses 1 through 7) (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

Do not write enough checks to make it worthwhile to have a bank account

Could not manage or balance a bank account

Do not trust banks

Do not have the proper documents to open a bank account 

Do not know how to open a bank account

Do not see the value of having a bank account, OR

Was there some other reason? (Specify)

None of the preceding reasons (Volunteered)

DK/Refused

10b. You said that the main reasons for not having a bank account are __________ (Insert response for Q7b, Q8b and 

Q9b). Which of these was the number one reason for not having an account? 

The banks have inconvenient hours 

There is no bank near home or work

There are language barriers at banks 

Do not trust banks

Banks do not feel comfortable or welcoming 

The minimum balance requirement of bank accounts is too high

The service charges of bank accounts are too high

Do not have enough money to need a bank account

Do not write enough checks to make it worthwhile to have a bank account

Could not manage or balance a bank account

Do not have the proper documents to open a bank account 

Do not know how to open a bank account

Banks do not offer needed basic services like check cashing

Credit problems

Do not see the value of having a bank account

Bounced too many checks or had too many overdrafts

Banks take too long to clear checks

None of these

Could not pick a single reason

DK/Refused
FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households ■ December 2009 156

FDIC Form No. 6494/03 (12-08)

Q11-Q13 apply to all unbanked households.

11. How likely is it that you or anyone in your household will open a bank account in the future – very likely, somewhat 

likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?

Very likely (CONTINUE)

Somewhat likely (SKIP TO Q14)

Not too likely (SKIP TO Q14)

Not likely at all (SKIP TO Q14)

DK/Refused (SKIP TO Q14)

12. What is the main reason why you or someone in your household plan to open a bank account? 

(Read responses 1 through 6)

To secure money

To be able to write checks and pay bills

To be able to apply for a loan or mortgage

To save money for the future

To take advantage of direct deposit of paychecks

To send money to family and friends

Other (Specify)

DK/Refused

13. When is this planed to occur – within the next year or a year or more from now?

Within the next year

A year or more from now

DK/Refused

Q14- Q31 apply to all households, regardless of their banking status.

14. Have you or anyone in your household ever gone to a place other than a bank, a savings and loan or a credit union 

to cash a check that was received from someone else?

Yes (CONTINUE)

No (SKIP TO Q17)

DK/Refused (SKIP TO Q17)

15. How often do you or anyone in your household cash a check received from someone else at a place other than a 

bank? (Read responses 1 through 3)

At least a few times a year

Once or twice a year

Almost never

DK/Refused

16. What is the main reason for cashing a check received from someone else at a place other than a bank? (Read 

responses 1 through 6)

Don’t have a bank account

To get money faster

The place is more convenient 

A bank charges more to cash checks

The place to cash checks asks for fewer id’s

Feel more comfortable than at a bank

Other (Specify)

DK/Refused
FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households ■ December 2009 157

FDIC Form No. 6494/03 (12-08)

17. Have you or anyone in your household ever purchased a money order at a place other than a bank, a savings and 

loan or a credit union?

Yes (CONTINUE)

No (SKIP TO Q20)

DK/Refused (SKIP TO Q20)

18. How often do you or anyone else in your household purchase money orders at a place other than a bank, a savings 

and loan or a credit union? (Read responses 1 through 3)

At least a few times a year

Once or twice a year

Almost never

DK/Refused

19. What is the main reason for purchasing money orders at a place other than a bank? (Read responses 1 through 4)

Banks do not sell money orders

The place to purchase money orders is more convenient than a bank

Banks charge more for money orders

The place feels more comfortable than a bank

Other (Specify)

DK/Refused

20. Have you or anyone in your household ever used payday loan or payday advance services?

Yes (CONTINUE)

No (SKIP TO Q23)

I haven’t but I’m unsure about others in the household (Volunteered) (SKIP TO Q23)

DK/Refused (SKIP TO Q23)

21. How many times in the last 12 months did you or anyone in your household use payday loan or payday advance 

services? In answering this question, please count a rollover of a payday loan as a new loan and also count using a new 

payday loan to pay off an old one, as a separate new loan.

 (Input actual number)

__________times in a year

DK/Refused

22. What is the main reason for using payday loan or payday advance services rather than a bank? (Read responses 1 

through 4)

The payday loan service is more convenient 

It is easier to get a payday loan than to qualify for a bank loan 

A payday loan service feels more comfortable than using a bank

Don’t qualify for a bank loan

Other (Specify)

DK/Refused
FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households ■ December 2009 158

FDIC Form No. 6494/03 (12-08)

23. Have you or anyone in your household ever sold items at a pawn shop?

Yes (CONTINUE)

No (SKIP TO Q26)

I haven’t but I’m unsure about others in the household (Volunteered) (SKIP TO Q26)

DK/Refused (SKIP TO Q26)

24. How often do you or anyone in your household sell items at pawn shops? (Read responses 1 through 3)

At least a few times a year

Once or twice a year

Almost never

DK/Refused

25. What is the main reason for doing business at pawn shops as opposed to a bank, a savings and loan or a credit union? 

(Read responses 1 through 5)

Banks don’t have small loans

The pawn shop service is more convenient 

It is easier to get money from a pawn shop than to qualify for a bank loan 

More comfortable at a pawn shop than at a bank

Don’t qualify for a bank loan

Other (Specify)

DK/Refused

26. In the past five years, have you or anyone in your household taken out a tax refund anticipation loan?

Yes

No

I haven’t but I’m unsure about others in the household (Volunteered) 

DK/Refused

27. Have you or anyone in your household ever rented or leased anything from a rent-to-own store because it couldn’t 

be financed any other way?

Yes

No (SKIP TO Q29)

I haven’t but I’m unsure about others in the household (Volunteered) (SKIP TO Q29)

DK/Refused (SKIP TO Q29)

28. How many times did you or anyone in your household do business at a rent-to-own store? (Read responses 1-3)

At least a few times a year

Once or twice a year

Almost never

DK/Refused
FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households ■ December 2009 159

FDIC Form No. 6494/03 (12-08)

Q29 is only asked if respondent answered yes to Q20, Q23, Q26 or Q27

29. Thinking about the past 12 months, what was the MAIN reason you or anyone in your household needed a payday 

loan, tax refund anticipation loan, a rent-to–own credit agreement or visited a pawn shop? Was it: 

(Read responses 1 through 7)

To make up for lost income

For basic living expenses 

For house repairs or to buy an appliance

For medical expenses

For car repairs

For school or childcare expenses

For special gifts or luxuries

Other (Volunteered, Specify)

Offered multiple reasons – would not pick 1 main reason (Volunteered)

DK/Refused

30. Do you or anyone in your household receive payment for wages by having the employer deposit the salary onto a 

payroll card instead of paying via cash or check?

Yes

No

DK/Refused

31. Now I have a question about pre-paid debit cards that may have logos such as MasterCard, VISA, Discover or 

American Express. You can keep adding money onto this card and use it to make purchases and pay bills anywhere 

credit cards are accepted or withdraw the cash from an ATM. We are not talking about phone cards, gift cards for a 

particular store or service or cards that you cannot add more funds onto.  

Have you or anyone in your household ever used pre-paid cards such as those we have described?

Yes

No

DK/Refused

<END>
FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households ■ December 2009 160

FDIC Form No. 6494/03 (12-08)

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