Chicago Appleseed - Fund for Justice

Financial Education and Access

Chicago Appleseed's financial access and education program works with the Appleseed Network and other community organizations to develop a multi-faceted approach to improving disadvantaged populations' access to financial education and services.

Research and Advocacy

By studying how disadvantaged groups use financial services, and how services can be made more readily available to them, Chicago Appleseed can recommend and advocate for smart solutions, giving minority and low-income populations a better chance to achieve financial success. Chicago Appleseed continues to work on behalf of low-income and minority residents locally by reaching out to community groups and individuals with education materials designed for disenfranchised populations.

Publications

• Banking In A Global Market

• Banking In A Global Market - Executive Summary

• Financial Services for Immigrant and Low-Income Populations: A Survey of Chicago- Area Banks

• Access to Mainstream Financial Services for Immigrant Communities: Positive Practices and Emerging Opportunities from the Latin American Immigrant Experience

• Creating a Fair Playing Field for Consumers: The Need for Transparency in the U.S.- Mexico Remittance Market

• Banking Immigrant Communities-A Tool Kit for Banks and Financial Institutions

• Consumer Rights in Illinois ( English | Spanish )

News

• Appleseed and Chicago Appleseed Release Report Detailing the "Fair Exchange" Pilot Program

• Chicago Appleseed and Appleseed Foundation Release Report Calling for Transparency in the United States-Mexico Remittance Market

• Comments on the Proposed Changes to the Regulation of the Community Reinvestment Act

• Appleseed Testifies Before House Financial Services Committee

Resources

The Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice has joined with the Appleseed Foundation and Appleseed affiliates in Nebraska and Texas to develop and distribute a series of full color brochures aimed at increasing awareness and access to financial institutions. The release of these brochures is the latest in a series of efforts undertaken by Chicago Appleseed to engage low and moderate income populations to utilize the American financial system -- and to avoid being exploited while doing so. The series of nine brochures are available in both English and Spanish and cover topics such as:

• How to Open a Checking or Savings Account ( English | Spanish )

• Reduce Your Taxes ( English | Spanish )

• Credit, Debit and ATM Cards ( English | Spanish )

• Avoiding Dangerous Loans ( English | Spanish )

• Using Credit Cards ( English | Spanish )

• Home Ownership ( English | Spanish )

• Car Loans ( English | Spanish )

• Sending Money Back Home ( English | Spanish )

• Identification Needed for an Account ( English | Spanish )

• Scams and Swindles: An Educational Guide to Avoiding Investment Fraud ( English | Spanish )
  The guide, a National Futures Association publication, describes common characteristics of investment scams and outlines steps individuals can take to avoid investment fraud. The Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice partnered with National Futures Association to offer a Spanish version of the brochure.

• Consumer Rights in Illinois ( English | Spanish )