Unbanked in Baltimore

Authors

Cassandra Jones Havard, University of Baltimore School of LawFollow
Sheilah Kast, WYPR
Maureen Harvie, WYPR

Document Type

Podcast

Journal Title

Midday

Publication Date

2-10-2016

Abstract

If you had no bank account, how would you deposit your paycheck? If you had no credit history, how would you rent an apartment or buy a car? The agency that insures banks, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) says about 40 percent of Baltimore households are unbanked or underbanked. That means they use check-cashing outlets, money orders, and payday or auto title loans, instead of formal banking services. These alternative services can come with high fees and a reputation for predatory practices. This hour, University of Baltimore law professor Cassandra Jones Havard tells us why so many people are excluded from formal financial institutions, and why brick-and-mortar banks are vital to communities.

Comments

This interview was originally broadcast on WYPR's "Midday." WYPR is Baltimore's local NPR station.

Recommended Citation

Midday: Unbanked in Baltimore, WYPR (Feb. 10, 2016)(available at http://wypr.org/post/unbanked-baltimore).