Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation’s banking system.
The FDIC insures deposits at the nation’s banks and savings associations, 6,058 as of June 30, 2016. It promotes the safety and
soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no
federal tax dollars—insured financial institutions fund its operations.
FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically
(go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC’s Public Information Center
(877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-93-2016
October 20, 2016 Media contact:
Barbara Hagenbaugh
(202) 898-6993
bhagenbaugh@fdic.gov
Share of U.S. Households without a Bank Account Drops
Unbanked Rate Declines to 7 Percent in 2015
The number of U.S. households without a bank account fell significantly in 2015, according to the
National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households released by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) on Thursday.
Seven percent of U.S. households were unbanked in 2015. That was the lowest share in the
survey’s history and a decrease from 7.7 percent in 2013 and 8.2 percent in 2011. While improving
economic conditions during the two years through the 2015 survey account for part of the drop in the
unbanked rate, the rate fell further than expected based on economic factors alone.
The decline in the share of unbanked households was broad based. Unbanked rates among black
and Hispanic households, for example, fell about 10 percent. The unbanked rate for black
households dropped from 20.6 percent to 18.2 percent, and for Hispanic households it fell from 17.9
percent to 16.2 percent. Households with very low incomes (i.e., less than $15,000 per year) and
households headed by individuals without any college education also saw their unbanked rates fall
significantly.
Still, not all demographic groups saw decreases. Notably, unbanked rates for Asian households
increased during the two-year period from 2.2 percent to 4 percent.
“Developing a relationship with a bank helps consumers build assets and create wealth, makes them
less susceptible to discriminatory or predatory lending practices, and can provide a financial safety
net against unforeseen circumstances,” FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg said. “The decline in the
share of households who do not have a banking relationship is a positive development, and the FDIC
will continue working to help ensure households have access to safe, secure, and affordable banking
services.”
The survey results illustrate the consequences of being unbanked in the United States. More
than one-fifth of unbanked households reported saving for unexpected expenses or
emergencies in the past 12 months. Of those who were unbanked and saved, 67.8 percent
reported keeping emergency savings in the home, or with family or friends. This contrasts
sharply with the 88.2 percent of fully banked households that deposited their emergency
The FDIC insures deposits at the nation’s banks and savings associations, 6,058 as of June 30, 2016. It promotes the safety and
soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no
federal tax dollars—insured financial institutions fund its operations.
FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically
(go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC’s Public Information Center
(877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-93-2016
October 20, 2016 Media contact:
Barbara Hagenbaugh
(202) 898-6993
bhagenbaugh@fdic.gov
Share of U.S. Households without a Bank Account Drops
Unbanked Rate Declines to 7 Percent in 2015
The number of U.S. households without a bank account fell significantly in 2015, according to the
National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households released by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) on Thursday.
Seven percent of U.S. households were unbanked in 2015. That was the lowest share in the
survey’s history and a decrease from 7.7 percent in 2013 and 8.2 percent in 2011. While improving
economic conditions during the two years through the 2015 survey account for part of the drop in the
unbanked rate, the rate fell further than expected based on economic factors alone.
The decline in the share of unbanked households was broad based. Unbanked rates among black
and Hispanic households, for example, fell about 10 percent. The unbanked rate for black
households dropped from 20.6 percent to 18.2 percent, and for Hispanic households it fell from 17.9
percent to 16.2 percent. Households with very low incomes (i.e., less than $15,000 per year) and
households headed by individuals without any college education also saw their unbanked rates fall
significantly.
Still, not all demographic groups saw decreases. Notably, unbanked rates for Asian households
increased during the two-year period from 2.2 percent to 4 percent.
“Developing a relationship with a bank helps consumers build assets and create wealth, makes them
less susceptible to discriminatory or predatory lending practices, and can provide a financial safety
net against unforeseen circumstances,” FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg said. “The decline in the
share of households who do not have a banking relationship is a positive development, and the FDIC
will continue working to help ensure households have access to safe, secure, and affordable banking
services.”
The survey results illustrate the consequences of being unbanked in the United States. More
than one-fifth of unbanked households reported saving for unexpected expenses or
emergencies in the past 12 months. Of those who were unbanked and saved, 67.8 percent
reported keeping emergency savings in the home, or with family or friends. This contrasts
sharply with the 88.2 percent of fully banked households that deposited their emergency
savings in a bank account, where the funds are secure, guaranteed against loss, have the
potential to generate earnings, and may be used for other purposes, such as securing access to
mainstream credit.
The FDIC survey began in 2009 and is conducted every other year in partnership with the U.S.
Census Bureau. It provides detailed national, state, and local data to inform understanding of access
to banking and to support economic inclusion efforts. The survey measures the share of households
that are unbanked, meaning no one in the household has a bank account. It also measures how
many households are underbanked, meaning they have a bank account but look outside the banking
system to meet transaction or credit needs.
Taken together, 27 percent of U.S. households were unbanked or underbanked last year.
Use of online and mobile banking to access accounts increased substantially from 2013 to 2015.
Some 36.9 percent reported online banking as their primary method for accessing a bank account
compared to 28.2 percent relying on bank tellers. Although teller use decreased between 2013 and
2015, it remains a popular mode of access, particularly among segments of the population that had
higher unbanked and underbanked rates. Use of bank tellers was especially prevalent for lower-
income households, less-educated households, older households, and households located in rural
areas.
Use of smartphones to engage in banking activities continues to grow at a rapid pace. Some 9.5
percent of households reported relying on mobile banking as their primary method for accessing a
bank account, up sharply from 5.7 percent in 2013. Consistent with the 2013 survey, this growth
presents promising opportunities to increase economic inclusion.
For the first time, the survey provides insight into the challenges facing households with incomes that
varied greatly from month to month. These households were more likely to be unbanked and more
likely to use alternative financial services, taking into account household income and other factors.
Other key findings in the survey include:
• Overall, 56.3 percent of households saved; that is, they set aside money in the previous 12
months that could be used for unexpected expenses or emergencies, even if the funds were
later spent.
• Examining consumer credit use in the past 12 months, including credit cards, personal loans,
and personal lines of credit, the survey reveals that 63.8 percent of households held credit
only from bank sources, 4.1 percent held credit only from non-bank sources, 4 percent held
credit from both bank and non-bank sources, and 28 percent had no credit from any source.
• Some 13.7 percent of households exhibited potential demand for consumer credit from
banks, and half of these households indicated that they had stayed current on bills in the prior
12 months. Households that applied for, but were denied, bank credit; refrained from
applying for credit because they thought they might not qualify; or relied on alternative
financial service providers for credit were considered to have potential demand for bank
credit. This is the first time this information was collected in the survey.
potential to generate earnings, and may be used for other purposes, such as securing access to
mainstream credit.
The FDIC survey began in 2009 and is conducted every other year in partnership with the U.S.
Census Bureau. It provides detailed national, state, and local data to inform understanding of access
to banking and to support economic inclusion efforts. The survey measures the share of households
that are unbanked, meaning no one in the household has a bank account. It also measures how
many households are underbanked, meaning they have a bank account but look outside the banking
system to meet transaction or credit needs.
Taken together, 27 percent of U.S. households were unbanked or underbanked last year.
Use of online and mobile banking to access accounts increased substantially from 2013 to 2015.
Some 36.9 percent reported online banking as their primary method for accessing a bank account
compared to 28.2 percent relying on bank tellers. Although teller use decreased between 2013 and
2015, it remains a popular mode of access, particularly among segments of the population that had
higher unbanked and underbanked rates. Use of bank tellers was especially prevalent for lower-
income households, less-educated households, older households, and households located in rural
areas.
Use of smartphones to engage in banking activities continues to grow at a rapid pace. Some 9.5
percent of households reported relying on mobile banking as their primary method for accessing a
bank account, up sharply from 5.7 percent in 2013. Consistent with the 2013 survey, this growth
presents promising opportunities to increase economic inclusion.
For the first time, the survey provides insight into the challenges facing households with incomes that
varied greatly from month to month. These households were more likely to be unbanked and more
likely to use alternative financial services, taking into account household income and other factors.
Other key findings in the survey include:
• Overall, 56.3 percent of households saved; that is, they set aside money in the previous 12
months that could be used for unexpected expenses or emergencies, even if the funds were
later spent.
• Examining consumer credit use in the past 12 months, including credit cards, personal loans,
and personal lines of credit, the survey reveals that 63.8 percent of households held credit
only from bank sources, 4.1 percent held credit only from non-bank sources, 4 percent held
credit from both bank and non-bank sources, and 28 percent had no credit from any source.
• Some 13.7 percent of households exhibited potential demand for consumer credit from
banks, and half of these households indicated that they had stayed current on bills in the prior
12 months. Households that applied for, but were denied, bank credit; refrained from
applying for credit because they thought they might not qualify; or relied on alternative
financial service providers for credit were considered to have potential demand for bank
credit. This is the first time this information was collected in the survey.