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Lending

A New Equilibrium
Report

A New Equilibrium

Research from Pew confirms that consumer credit cards have become safer and more transparent while rates and fees have stabilized since the CARD Act of 2009.
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Lending News & Resources

Fees and the Unbanked

Report Oct 26, 2011

The Pew Health Group’s Safe Checking in the Electronic Age Project investigated checking accounts offered by the ten largest U.S. banks, which held nearly 60 percent of the nation’s deposit volume.

View an interactive graphic presenting a state-by-state overview of Underbanked or Unbanked households.

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''Fees Help Drive Working Poor From Banks''

Media Coverage Oct 21, 2011 Safe Banking Opportunities Project

"'Hidden or unexpected' fees are the No. 1 reason given by the working poor for closing bank accounts, a recent study found. The study by the Safe Banking Opportunities Project, a project of the Pew Health Group, surveyed 2,000 predominantly low-income, Hispanic households in the Los Angeles area in a two-phase study. Study participants were screened and recruited through a door-to-door, interviewer-administered survey."

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''Gotcha’ Fees Force Customers to Quit Banks''

Media Coverage Oct 21, 2011 Safe Banking Opportunities Project

"Hidden bank fees are pushing the working poor out of mainstream banking and into riskier, more expensive alternatives to managing their personal finances. A new study released by the Pew Charitable Trusts provides a stark snapshot of how banks’ embrace of sneaky fees hurt the most vulnerable consumers."

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Los Cargos Ocultos O Inesperados Son Mencionados Como La Razón Principal Por La Cual Los Trabajadores Pobres Cierran Cuentas de Banco

Press Release Oct 18, 2011 Safe Banking Opportunities Project

Los "cargos ocultos o inesperados" fueron mencionados como la razón principal por la cual los trabajadores pobres del Gran Los Ángeles, aquellos que tienen empleo pero que incluso así permanecen en pobreza relativa, cerraron cuentas de banco el pasado año, por encima de razones como la pérdida del empleo o la falta de dinero, según una encuesta en hogares predominantemente hispanos y de bajos ingresos dada a conocer por el Safe Banking Opportunities Project (Proyecto Oportunidades para Banca Segura) del Pew Health Group.

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Hidden or Unexpected Fees Cited as Top Reason Working Poor Close Bank Accounts

Press Release Oct 18, 2011 Safe Banking Opportunities Project

“Hidden or unexpected fees” were cited as the number one reason Greater Los Angeles’ working poor – those who are employed yet remain in relative poverty– closed bank accounts in the past year, surpassing job loss or lack of money, according to a survey of predominately Hispanic, low-income households released by the Pew Health Group’s Safe Banking Opportunities Project.

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Slipping Behind

"Hidden or unexpected fees” were cited as the number one reason Greater Los Angeles’ working poor, those who are employed yet remain in relative poverty, closed bank accounts in the past year, surpassing job loss or lack of money, according to a survey of predominately Hispanic, low-income households.

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Regulatory Comment: Defining Larger Participants in Certain Consumer Financial Products and Services Markets

Issue Brief Aug 15, 2011
This regulatory comment discusses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed rule on defining larger participants in certain markets related to related to consumer financial products and services. Based on work at the Pew Health Group by the Safe Small Dollar Loans Research Project and The Safe Checking in the Electronic Age Project on small dollar loans and checking accounts, we urge the CFPB to issue an initial rule broadly covering nondepository markets. The rule should permit comprehensive supervision by the CFPB. The CFPB's supervisory authority must be broader than its rulemaking authority because examination of the market informs rulemaking needs. More

''Consumers Hold High Hopes for New Bureau''

Media Coverage Jul 22, 2011 Safe Credit Cards Project

''If you've ever thought someone was playing fast and lose with the rules on your credit cards, credit score or mortgage, but you had no idea where to go with your complaint, you now have a place to turn.''

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''To Bank Or Not To Bank''

Media Coverage Aug 24, 2010 Safe Banking Opportunities Project

"A new study from the Pew Health Group shows a growing number of low income and minority families are using alternative financial services instead of the traditional banking system."

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''Many shun bank accounts but pay more for financial services''

Media Coverage Aug 10, 2010 Safe Banking Opportunities Project

"Unbanked and underbanked consumers are also less likely to save, says Eleni Constantine, director of the Pew Health Group's Financial Services Portfolio. In a survey of low-income Los Angeles households, Pew found that more than twice as many consumers who had bank accounts said they were earning enough to pay their bills and save for the future than those who didn't have bank accounts."

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