While for many people in the U.S., seeing a bank—or several—is a daily occurrence, a lack of access to financial services is unfortunately a familiar story for underserved communities, especially communities of color. Last year, the Cherry Hill neighborhood of South Baltimore celebrated the opening of a 5,000-square-foot Chase bank branch, marking an important milestone: it was the first national bank to ever open in this historically Black community. Presented by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

by Marisa Walster, Senior Director Recent history has certainly been eventful for the financial services industry. From the Great Recession of 2008 to the rise of smartphones, the industry has been confronted by global catalysts that have changed the face of consumer banking in the U.S. As we face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic…

By Chandni Ohri, Director, Financial Health Network The financial services industry has been trying to regain the trust and rebuild the relationship with their customers after the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis. In their efforts to regain trust and engage with customers, financial institutions are launching new initiatives focused on financial health and wellness….

By Corey Stone, Entrepreneur in Residence, Financial Health Network My last post described the surprising cost — and inexplicability — of chronic overdrafting in the lives of households who struggle at the ends of the month. The small amounts and short periods of borrowing that overdrafts constituted led me to wonder why these consumers weren’t better able to avoid…

By Jennifer Tescher, Financial Health Network Last week’s headlines gave the impression that America is suffering from a lack of basic financial access, particularly for lower-income consumers. The fact is, consumers have more access to high-quality, low- or no-cost transaction accounts than they have had in at least a decade, thanks to dramatic changes in…