Bank On and Reaching the Unbanked in Our Communities

Bank On and Reaching the Unbanked in Our Communities

May 13, 2026 · 58 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the challenges and strategies for reaching unbanked households through the Bank On program.

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), approximately 5.6 million households are without a checking or savings account – otherwise known as "unbanked." Unbanked households lack a secure and safe place to store their money and can miss out on interest gains and credit-building opportunities. This Connecting Communities webinar featured leaders from organizations focused on advancing banking access for households through safe and affordable accounts via the Bank On program. Panelists also explored findings from the most recent Bank On National Data (BOND) Hub, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This interactive conversation highlighted the benefits of having a bank account, lessons learned in reaching unbanked and underbanked households, strategies for building strong partnerships between financial institutions, local governments, and nonprofit organizations, and how data can inform access to banking. Whether you're a financial institution, policymaker, nonprofit leader, researcher, or advocate, this session will provide practical insights to advancing financial access in your community. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the…

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Organizations: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Bank On, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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