Thank you 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 getti

"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