Access to mainstream financial services, like a bank account, is critical to financial health and provides people with a safe way to store money, transact, pay bills, and build savings. But, being “banked” remains a financial health challenge for many. In 2019, according to the FDIC, more than 5% of U.S. households – 7 million […]

For the nearly 600,000 Americans who return to their communities from incarceration each year, reestablishing financial stability and access to safe financial products is key to improving financial health. For many returning citizens, lack of ID can limit employment and housing opportunities. There are several reasons returning citizens may leave incarceration without ID: They may […]

To help lower barriers to financial health and improve employment outcomes for returning citizens, the Financial Solutions Lab has awarded grants to five nonprofit and fintech partnerships working across the United States as part of our 2021 Exchange cohort.

People who are arrested, detained, and/or incarcerated often have interactions with the criminal justice system that lead to short-term financial crises and long-term financial instability for themselves and their families. In many cases, families forgo basic needs because of loss of income  following their loved one’s incarceration. Punitive fines and fees create a cycle of […]

There are more than 44,000 federal, state, and local restrictions that block access to public benefits, employment opportunities, and other crucial services that returning citizens need to establish stability and build their financial health.

By Josh Sledge, Senior Director and Arjun Kaushal, Associate, Financial Health Network The tragic murder of George Floyd at the hands of police has once again brought the inequities of the criminal justice system into focus. The violence captured on film has rightfully drawn a passionate response, as protestors demand justice for Floyd and an…