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

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