Being Unbanked, Part 1
Note from Katie Porter: This guest post is from Jennifer Song, senior staff attorney at the California Monitor Program. Jennifer pitched in and attended this workshop, and I hope Credit Slips readers will enjoy hearing about her experiences in a short series of posts.
Last week, I, Jennifer Song, had the opportunity to join FinX/LA 2014: Connecting to the Consumer Financial Experience. Hosted by the Center for Financial Services Innovation as part of their three-day conference on consumer financial services, FinX was an “in-the-field activity” that promised to give participants a “deeper understanding of the complexity of consumers’ financial lives in accessing financial services.”
Upon arriving at the conference, we were placed into groups of four and given worksheets. The tasks to complete included cashing a personal check, cashing a pay check, purchasing a general purpose reloadable card and reloading the card, purchasing a money order, inquiring about auto title loans, etc. We were given a little over two hours to complete these tasks in lower income areas throughout Los Angeles. With only a quick slideshow of interesting facts and a pep talk, we set off on our journey.
While I will share my experience and how it shaped my thinking on low-income banking, I want to start by identifying factors that may have prevented me from fully experiencing and understanding the challenges facing the under banked and unbanked. First, we were traveled in groups of four; most people using these services do not travel in packs or with an entourage, and are not able to consult each other about transactions. Second, while we were told to “dress down” in order to “blend in” while performing these transactions, I do not believe we were fooling anyone at the shops we visited. Third, and perhaps the most glaring contrast, was that we were chauffeured around Los Angeles in a town car to perform these transactions. While I assume there is access to public transportation in or around these financial centers, Los Angeles is notorious for being difficult to navigate via the public transportation system (did you even know it has a subway?) Many of the financial centers were clustered together but major banking institutions were noticeably absent in these areas.
Hopefully that isn't your bar tab you are holding in that photo.
Just kidding Jennifer.
I eagerly await ...the rest of the story. From personal and professional experience I know that this segment of the population in the USA's new "service economy" are no more than convenient marks for those who are ready to prey upon their unsophisticated, predicament-like circumstances. Taking advantage of the underprivileged = growth industry, now that greed is good.
Anyone who may shed light on the plight of the desperate in our society is doing great work. Thank you!
Posted by: chris m | June 17, 2014 at 01:46 PM
Very interesting! I'm curious whether you thought the spartan offices and barriers were good or bad. Typically, I feel like people are upset that payday lending stores are too nice...that the workers are too friendly and too connected to the customers. It seems like you had the opposite experience.
Posted by: Jim Hawkins | June 18, 2014 at 08:07 AM
I was never aware of these problems before I read your post. Thank you for sharing your experience!!
Posted by: Gloria H. | June 18, 2014 at 01:59 PM
chris m - Thanks for your comment, and thank goodness that is not a bar tab!
Jim Hawkins - You'll be seeing more of that discussion in my next post. The clerk at the payday store was, indeed, very nice. The spartan offices and barriers contrasted with the interiors and "barriers" in a bigger more traditional banking institution.
Gloria H. - Thanks for reading!
Posted by: Jennifer S | June 18, 2014 at 07:56 PM