Financial empowerment
We work to empower low-income and economically vulnerable consumers to make informed financial decisions by providing them with tools and information and by promoting a more inclusive and fair financial marketplace.
We work closely with social service providers, financial educators, and community-based organizations, to reach low- to moderate-income consumers where they are and get them information when they need it most.
2016 Your Money, Your Goals Second Cohort Announced
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is providing Your Money, Your Goals toolkits, training, and technical assistance to an additional 30 entities across the country that are committed to helping financially empower the populations they serve. Our first 2016 cohort of 20 entities was announced in April. We are working with entities that serve low-income and other vulnerable populations. These include public and private social service, faith-based, legal aid, volunteer, and worker-focused organizations. Read the announcement to learn more.
HELPING YOU HELP OTHERS
Financial empowerment tools and resources
Community training resources
We offer specialized web-based trainings, toolkits, and other materials for community members, front-line social service providers, legal aid attorneys and staff, community volunteers and worker organizations to help the people they work with identify financial hurdles and the means to overcome them.
Download the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit
Learn more about community financial education resources for libraries
Empowering youth
We provide materials to help groups working with youth—such as those who are seeking employment, in foster care, or at-risk—navigate the financial marketplace. We also collaborate with strategic partners to remove barriers and expand access to financial services for these populations.
Tax-time savings
A tax refund may be the single biggest check some consumers receive all year—it’s a huge opportunity for individuals to set aside savings to help reach their financial goals. Saving money from a tax refund can be done easily and automatically while filing a tax return—service providers can learn more about tax-time saving options to better help those they serve.
Increasing saving at tax time and promising practices for the field
REACHING PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
Embedding financial empowerment services
Financial coaching
We’re working with direct service providers across the country to bring one-on-one financial coaching services to economically vulnerable consumers and transitioning veterans.
Financial security for people with disabilities
People with disabilities may face challenges navigating the financial marketplace. Our ROADS to Financial Independence: Reach Outcomes. Achieve Dreams. Succeed. initiative aims to support the financial capability of individuals with disabilities as they transition into the workforce by helping them improve credit, reduce debt, gain access to appropriate financial services, and increase savings
Read more about our ROADS to Financial Independence initiative
Review the financial rights of those receiving Social Security Disability income
Partnerships with other federal agencies
We’re teaming up with other federal agencies to increase the financial knowledge and skills of people getting trained or placed in jobs, and those receiving federally funded services and public benefits by integrating financial capability tools and services into existing programs.
BUILDING A FOUNDATION OF FINANCIAL CAPABILITY
Learning and sharing what works
Measuring impact
Enhancing the ability of organizations to fund and evaluate the effectiveness of financial capability programs serving low-income and economically vulnerable consumers.
Read our report from a national convening on financial empowerment
Promoting savings habits
As part of Project Catalyst, we’re working with financial service providers to promote regular saving habits among low- and moderate-income consumers to help them improve their long-term financial well-being.
Read more about our work evaluating saving habits among prepaid card users with American Express
Learn about our work with H&R Block to encourage tax-time saving
Opening the door to better financial services
We’re committed to helping people improve their ability to access financial products and services, including appropriate transaction accounts and credit products.
Explore how consumers are affected by checking account screening policies and practices
Learn about opening and managing a checking account
Read our consumer guides on selecting a lower-risk account , managing your checking account , and checking account denials
If you or someone you’re helping has been denied a checking account, read our factsheet
RELATED BUREAU RESOURCES
Our office is always monitoring consumer financial policy areas that affect financially vulnerable populations
Reports and publications
Read our report on financial well-being: The goal of financial education
Bureau policy studies
Read our study of overdraft programs and what they mean for consumers
Read about our work to promote safety and transparency in the growing pre-paid card market
More community resources
Submit a complaint about a consumer financial product or service
Browse the consumer complaint database
Get answers to common financial questions at AskCFPB
Get help with decisions on paying for college
Use our tools to help navigate the home buying process
Review a mortgage servicing guide
Have a question for the Office of Financial Empowerment? Send us an email: empowerment@consumerfinance.gov