As this year’s Forum made clear, the underbanked financial services industry is in a period of progress.

The Financial Health Network has conducted an investigation into the amounts that prepaid cardholders spend each month to conduct essential financial transactions, and compared that to the amounts that they would spend if they remained underbanked or used checking accounts for the majority of their transactions instead.

Millions of lower-income consumers lack access to high-quality financial products and services that simultaneously meet their short-term needs and prepare them for long-term financial success.

This resource identifies market size data and preferences among eight unique segments of the underbanked market, including "The Strivers," "Middle of the Road," and "Almost There."

This research paper describes some of the strategies that three major banks are using to supplement current disclosure practices, including working directly with the legal disclosures to improve readability and clarity.

Discover likely affinities among underbanked consumers and explore how financial products could be marketed to these consumers through community-based nonprofits and nonprofits offering advocacy and social services.