Account Standards
Working closely with our Bank On National Advisory Board and other key stakeholders, the CFE Fund has released these Bank On National Account Standards. These standards provide local programs with a benchmark for account partnerships with financial institutions, and include both core and recommended features. The Standards were inspired by the 2012 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Model Safe Accounts Template. View the Spanish language version of the Bank On National Account Standards here.
Coalition Playbook
The CFE Fund supports local Bank On coalitions through best practices found in our Bank On Coalition Playbook. Chapters cover a range of topics; newly-released chapters include best practices for Programmatic Banking Access Integration, a handout for financial institutions on the benefits of Bank On National Account Certification, guidelines for Launching or Relaunching a Coalition, local Strategies for Navigating Financial Institution Partnerships and Account Certification, a Bank On Coalition Logic Model, and a guide for using local Bank On data from the Bank On National Data Hub.
Have an idea for an important chapter? Get in touch!
Bank On Funding
The CFE Fund has a number of funding opportunities to support banking access efforts:
Startup Grant:
The CFE Fund’s Bank On Startup Grant supports new or newly re-launched Bank On Coalitions in laying the foundation and developing the necessary infrastructure for coalition success. These capacity building grants will support local coalitions in the adoption of the Bank On National Account Standards and in launching or relaunching local Bank On initiatives. The CFE Fund is accepting applications on a rolling basis; please follow the instructions on the “Bank On Funding Pre-Application” form to apply for this grant.
Capacity Grant:
The CFE Fund’s Bank On Capacity Grant aims to assist leadership of local Bank On coalitions in expanding banking access by providing capacity support for an existing Bank On coalition that has, or envisions, coalition leadership that is at least half time of that person’s portfolio. These capacity building grants support local coalitions in the adoption of the Bank On National Account Standards and for the ongoing operations of local Bank On efforts. Please follow the instructions on the “Bank On Funding Pre-Application” form at the link to apply for this grant.
Integration Grant:
The CFE Fund’s Bank On Integration Grant supports the development of replicable, large-scale programs that connect underserved populations to certified accounts to enable households to preserve their earnings and build assets through programming that makes regular payments (e.g. wages, cash benefits, payments, stipends). The CFE Fund is accepting applications on a rolling basis; please follow the instructions on the “Bank On Funding Pre-Application” form at the link to apply for this grant.
Banking Connect Pilot Initiatives
Building off the successes of the national Bank On and Summer Jobs Connect initiatives, the CFE Fund is testing different ways to integrate banking access into existing municipal and community programs; for example, the CFE Fund is supporting local partnerships that link high school age youth and their families to the financial mainstream through safe and affordable bank accounts, as well as innovative programmatic approaches to helping unbanked people open safe and affordable accounts when they start a new job.
Pilot partners identify ways to integrate banking access into existing youth and workforce development programs, and have established local connections with financial institutions to offer bank accounts certified as meeting the Bank On National Account Standards or the Youth Account Priorities. The goal of these pilots is to learn more about how existing programs can leverage payment touchpoints to support account opening for program participants.
Bank On Fellowship
The CFE Fund’s Bank On Fellowship Program provides match funding of up to $45,000 per year for two years to Bank On coalitions to support a full-time staff position (a “Fellow”) to lead their coalition’s activities. As part of this multi-city cohort of local leaders, the CFE Fund provides intensive technical assistance support, training, and resources both individually and to the group.