Nearly 90 million people in the United States have no bank account or rely on expensive financial services from check-cashing services, payday loan companies, or pawnshops. To help address this situation, the U.S. Postal Service is considering a program to provide financial services to the population that is underserved by traditional banks.
The USPS, which already offers money orders to customers, plans an expanded product line that would include reloadable prepaid debit cards, mobile transactions, domestic and international money transfers, a Bitcoin exchange, and possibly, small loans. As a result of their size, USPS loan rates would be lower than pawnshops or payday loan enterprises. Post office branches in low-income neighborhoods could provide services to customers in areas no longer served by traditional banks.
Opposition to this action will occur from the banking industry. However, compelling evidence is offered that many Americans lack trust in or access to banks.
While going to the post office for financial services may seem strange in the United States, about one billion people in 50 countries bank through postal system offices. These include India, Pakistan, Japan, Brazil, Malawi, and Kenya.
For additional information on banking at the post office, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/opinion/the-post-office-banks-on-the-poor.html?_r=0
Click to access rarc-wp-14-007.pdf
Teaching Suggestions
- Have students research the banking services offered by postal services in other countries.
- Have students create interview questions that they might ask someone who does not use a traditional bank.
Discussion Questions
- What factors would influence the need for the postal service to consider offering financial services?
- Describe possible benefits and concerns associated with the U.S. Postal Service offering financial services.
- Other than the postal service, how might underserved and unserved banking consumers obtain financial services?
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