Cook County residents see slight gains in financial well-being — but inequities persist
Cook County residents are faring slightly better financially since 2022, but "entrenched" inequities along racial lines still mean minorities are not as financially stable as white families in the Chicago area, according to a new report.
2025 Financial Health Pulse® Chicago Trends Report Reveals Cook County Residents See Modest Gains in Financial Health, but Stark Regional Gaps Persist
The new report underscores geographic and demographic differences in financial well-being in the Chicago region.
Financial Health Pulse® 2025 Chicago Trends Report
The 2025 Chicago Trends Report finds that financial vulnerability in Chicago has declined slightly since 2022, signaling resilience amid ongoing economic pressure. This place-based analysis shows that while stark neighborhood disparities persist across wealth, homeownership, and financial stability, targeted solutions can build on pockets of resilience.
Bank of America: Playing the Long Game Through Responsible Growth
One of the nation’s largest banks partnered with the Financial Health Network as it built a new enterprise strategy with customers at the core.
Overdraft fee income is on the rise at these big banks
Several large U.S. banks collected more overdraft-fee revenue during the first three quarters of 2025 than in the same period a year ago.
The penny’s dead. Your credit card might cost more. What now?
The penny is history, and retailers across the country are trying to figure out how to adapt. Meanwhile, a settlement between credit card companies and merchants could mean new fees, or even declined cards, at the checkout.
Are U.S. Households Finally Catching A Break?
Having weathered a difficult five years, U.S households have modestly improved their financial situation in the short term; their long-term prognosis is murkier.
The $455B Reality of Financial Health – Fintech Takes
Welcome back to the Fintech Takes podcast. I’m Alex Johnson, joined by Jennifer Tescher, founder and CEO of the Financial Health Network.
Americans Spent $455B on Financial Services Fees in 2024; ‘Deep Inequities Strain Households,’ Report Finds
As outlined below, the study breaks out financial services spending by credit cards, checking accounts/overdrafts, student loans, BNPL.