In Underbanked Areas, Credit Unions Pick Up the Slack

If you're tired of Chase or Citibank branches as ubiquitous as Starbucks, don't be. In some low-income communities, banks are few and far between. Unless they want to take their chances with payday lenders and the like, credit unions can be residents' only option. 

Often, Oscar Perry Abello writes, "In neighborhoods that other institutions largely neglect, religious congregations cobble resources together to provide access to child care, education, healthcare, workforce development and even financial services." Credit unions can be one of those services.

In an uncertain federal climate, entities like the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund are still making it easier for credit unions serving low-income populations to get certified. As community development financial institutions (CDFIs), credit unions can better support small business lending. The CDFI ecosystem also includes banks, venture funds, and loan funds, which often back affordable housing.

Abello writes, "The CDFI Fund's grant programs can often support for hiring new staff or training staff to expand product offerings. Public sector support is often the only way such credit unions can finance expanded product offerings."