Access to Mainstream Financial Services

Mainstream financial services refers to the features such as checking and savings accounts offered by traditional banks. Many low-income households also rely on alternative financial services provided by check cashing stores, payday lenders, rent-to-own stores and paid tax preparers. Households are considered “unbanked” if they do not have a checking or savings account; "underbanked" households may have a traditional bank account but also rely on alternative financial services for some transactions. Estimates for the number of financial accounts is provided by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) through financial survey data collected GfK MRI in a nationally representative survey of U.S. households.

Neighborhood Indicator Value Ranksort ascending
Industrial Center 6.9% 99
Gate City 10.4% 98
Tuxedo 14.1% 97
Tarpley City 15.0% 96
East Avondale 15.2% 95
Harriman Park 17.3% 94
Oak Ridge 17.6% 93
Southside 17.8% 92
Grasselli Heights 18.5% 91
North Titusville 18.8% 90
Fairmont 19.3% 89
Kingston 19.8% 88
Collegeville 20.1% 87
North East Lake 20.6% 85
South Woodlawn 20.6% 85
Wahouma 20.9% 83
Evergreen 20.9% 83
Riley 22.8% 82
Central Pratt 23.3% 81
Germania Park 23.8% 80
Graymont 23.9% 79
Airport Highlands 24.3% 78
Brown Springs 24.5% 77
Thomas 24.7% 75
Wylam 24.7% 75
Ensley 25.7% 74
West Goldwire 25.9% 73
Inglenook 26.7% 72
Ensley Highlands 26.8% 71
South Pratt 27.5% 70
Enon Ridge 27.9% 66
Fairview 27.9% 66
Jones Valley 27.9% 66
Arlington - West End 27.9% 66
West Brownville 28.0% 65
Roosevelt 28.1% 63
Woodlawn 28.1% 63
North Avondale 28.2% 61
College Hills 28.2% 61
Zion City 29.8% 60
East Brownville 30.0% 59
North Birmingham 30.1% 58
East Lake 30.2% 57
North Pratt 30.3% 55
Powderly 30.3% 55
Rising - West Princeton 30.9% 54
Maple Grove 32.2% 53
Acipco-Finley 32.9% 52
Norwood 33.2% 51
Sandusky 33.6% 50
Smithfield 33.8% 48
Oakwood Place 33.8% 48
Penfield Park 34.3% 47
Oak Ridge Park 34.8% 46
Woodland Park 35.1% 45
Green Acres 35.2% 43
Central Park 35.2% 43
Druid Hills 35.7% 42
Bridlewood 35.9% 41
Garden Highlands 36.4% 40
South East Lake 36.5% 39
East Birmingham 36.7% 38
Liberty Highlands 37.3% 37
Roebuck 37.5% 36
South Titusville 37.7% 35
Mason City 37.8% 34
East Thomas 38.4% 32
Echo Highlands 38.4% 32
Pine Knoll Vista 38.8% 31
Fountain Heights 38.9% 30
Huffman 40.0% 29
Belview Heights 40.8% 28
West End Manor 41.0% 27
Brownsville Heights 41.1% 26
Spring Lake 41.9% 25
Glen Iris 43.2% 24
Sun Valley 44.5% 23
Sherman Heights 44.9% 22
Bush Hills 45.0% 21
Central City 45.7% 20
Eastwood 45.9% 19
Killough Springs 46.6% 18
Redmont Park 47.9% 17
Smithfield Estates 48.6% 16
Crestwood North 48.7% 15
Hillman 49.2% 14
Roebuck Springs 52.4% 13
Crestline 52.6% 12
Hillman Park 53.1% 11
Forest Park 53.4% 10
Highland Park 53.9% 9
Dolomite 54.1% 8
Hooper City 60.1% 7
Oxmoor 61.4% 6
Crestwood South 62.5% 5
Five Points South 63.3% 4
Brummitt Heights 63.9% 3
Apple Valley 66.3% 2
Overton 99.0% 1

Key Citations:

  1. Rhine, S. and Greene, W. (2012). Factors That Contribute to Becoming Unbanked. The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 47.1, 27-45.
  2. Klawitter, M. and Fletschner, G. (2006). Banked or Unbanked? Individual and family access to savings and checking accounts. Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs.
  3. Kutty, Nadinee K. (2008). Using the Making Connections Survey Data to Analyze Housing Mobility and Child Outcomes among Low-Income Families. Report submitted to the Center for Housing Policy.
  4. 2011 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households. (2012).

    5. Additional Resources:
    FDIC Research and Publications