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.

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

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