In our nation's capital, too many live in poverty. And too few individuals, businesses, and organizations in low-income areas have access to the capital they need for a better life.
With great poverty and underbanked residents in many distressed neighborhoods in Washington, DC, there exists a great need for cash-on-hand deposits to increase community investment.
As it is now, many mainstream commercial banks refuse to serve low and moderate neighborhoods because of high finance costs and concerns that having too many poor people taking loans on bank balance sheets is too financially risky. Many underbanked low-income residents turn to predatory check-cashing services, payday loans, rent-to-own agreements and pawn shops to finance everyday expenses. Without access to stable financial services, it is often excessively difficult for residents buy homes, start businesses or invest in their children’s education.