The impact of poverty on the location of financial establishments: evidence from across-county data

The location of bank branches is an important issue for consumer advocates and other groups that monitor access to financial services for low- and moderate income people. The proximity of banks and their branches to the places where people live and work is one basic element of mainstream financial access. The ability of people to choose from an array of financial products, especially those offered through the banking system, is fundamentally related to the economic well-being of a community.