Kudos to the Wall Street Journal for bringing much needed attention to the systemic banking issues many current and formerly incarcerated individuals face. In its October 31, 2020 article, "Ex-Inmates Struggle in a Banking System Not Made for Them," the WSJ took an insightful look at these overwhelming challenges, including identity theft, the inability to obtain a driver's license due to unpaid court debts, and the difficulty in opening a basic checking account and getting a

"One way to lower the U.S. incarceration rate could be to give inmates financial knowledge they need to get by upon reentry." --- Center for Financial Inclusion In a recent study, incarcerated individuals cited several barriers to financial services that contribute to their lack of financial knowledge, including high overdraft fees, checking account minimum balance requirements, and a general mistrust of banks. Incarcerated people were less likely to have ever had a checking