“Once you get into the credit economy … you start getting exposed to hidden fees, penalties, identity theft, and it also induces overbuying,” says Ralph Nader.

The government agency that supervises banking institutions defines “unbanked” households as ones where no one has a checking or savings account. Here’s why there are fewer of them now.

Over 7 million Americans don’t have bank accounts. One big incentive to opening one: direct deposit of federal relief payments.

It’s making a bet that people will want to bank where they already get their groceries, pet care and prescriptions.

A higher unemployment rate and economic turmoil means the number of unbanked households could rise again.

Mastercard has a new plan to make digital banking more accessible.

Jose Quiñonez, head of the Mission Asset Fund, says hope for an economic turnaround is also helping 'forgotten' Americans survive.

The Obama Treasury Department made financial inclusion a priority. Will Trump?

Last May, Louisiana made financial literacy a mandatory topic in state public schools.

At Chase, a program aims to back startups creating banking services for the poor.