This issue of Banking and Community Perspectives explores the features and limitations of two of the existing products and services for the financially underserved--prepaid cards and small-dollar loans.

Access to mainstream financial services is on the horizon for unbanked and underbanked consumers in Houston through Get Checking(TM), a national initiative sponsored by eFunds Corp. and the University of Wisconsin Extension.

Exceptionally high numbers of unbanked Houston residents are experiencing the advantages of having a bank account as the Bank on Houston program wraps up its second quarter of operation.