There are a number of frequently used words and phrases across this website and within the household survey.
Alternative financial services (AFS) is a term often used to describe the array of financial services offered by providers that operate outside of federally insured banks and thrifts. Check-cashing outlets, money transmitters, payday lenders, pawnshops, and rent-to-own stores are all considered AFS providers.
The Office of Management and Budget has defined 366 MSAs across the US, 71 of which are featured in the 2011 National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households. MSAs have at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties.
Refers to the owner or renter of the home.
A family household is a household that includes two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together, along with any unrelated people who may be residing there. Detailed definitions regarding household types can be found in the Current Population Survey (CPS) Glossary.
If the householder was identified as Black, the household was classified "Black" regardless of whether the householder was identified as Hispanic or any other race. If the householder was not identified as Black and is identified as Hispanic the household was classified as "Hispanic Non-Black." If the householder is identified as white and not any other race and non-Hispanic then the household was classified as "White". All remaining households are classified as "Other." However in some national summary tables the Other category is further disaggregated into "Asian" if the householder is identified as Asian; "American Indian/Alaskan" if the householder is identified as American Indian/Alaskan and not Asian; and "Hawaiian/Pacific Islander" if the householder is identified as Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and not Asian or American Indian/Alaskan. In these tables, "Other" consists of the few remaining households in which the householder cannot be classified into any of the preceding groups.
Prepaid debit cards that are loaded with funds and branded with a payment network logo. Funds can be added to the cards as needed, and they can be used wherever the payment network brand is accepted.
Prepaid cards onto which employers deposit salary payments instead of providing check or cash to employees.
The U.S. Census Bureau classifies the United States into four regions. The Northeast region comprises Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; the Midwest region comprises Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; the South region comprises Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; the West region is composed of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
For a set of PDF tables summarizing results specifically formatted to be accessible for the visually-impaired, please email householdsurvey@fdic.gov or call 202-898-3668.
2012 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
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