|
|
Immigrant Financial Integration - Survey Briefs
Over the course of several months, MAF conducted numerous community presentations, surveyed 250 community members, and held 7 focus groups to learn how Latina/o immigrants thought about money, what experience they had with financial institutions, and how they manage their finances today. And what did we find? We found that "hidden and excessive fees" drive people out of the financial mainstream; that a "healthy dose of mistrust" can go a long way to protect consumers against predatory financial establishments; and that "cultural assets" are key to immigrant financial integration. To learn more about these and other insights from the wealth of data we collected, follow the links below and download copies of MAF's Immigrant Financial Integration Survey Briefs, the first three in a series of papers that explore the nuances of immigrants' financial attitudes and behaviors. Survey Brief #1: Recent vs Established Immigrants Survey Brief #2: Latina Immigrants Survey Brief #3: Unbanked vs Banked Immigrants Survey Brief #1 explores the differences between recent and established immigrants and of the tremendous challenges they have to become a part of the financial mainstream. Survey Brief #2 looks closer at Latinas' mistrust of banks and their creative ways of using cultural assets to save and manage money. And Survey Brief #3 analyzes how excessive bank fees derail many immigrants from their path to financial security. In the coming months, we will publish a working paper with a full analysis of the survey and focus group data detailing key insights, public policy and financial product recommendations that can better facilitate the immigrant financial integration process. We also plan to promote this research by presenting our findings to community organizations, policy makers, and state and national partners interested in developing an agenda for immigrant integration. If you are interested in learning or supporting this exciting work, please contact Rhea Serna for more information.
|  |
MAF in the News U.S. migrant money pools thrive in the recession Immigrant Lending Circles Banking the Unbanked
Alternative financial services attract immigrants Cestas Populares: Taking a traditional lending practice up a notch to create greater and long-lasting impact Credit Building Groundbreaking program in SF offers loans to needy residents Local program in San Francisco helps low-income families save Traditional lending goes mainstream Nonprofit Turns Latin Custom Into a U.S. Savings Account Opening financial doors for residents Con el ITIN puede pagar sus impuestos |
MAF is possible with the generous support from: Annie E. Casey Foundation • Bank of America • Citibank • Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco • Friedman Family Foundation • Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund • Levi Strauss Foundation • San Francisco Foundation • SF Mayor’s Office of Community Development • United Way of the Bay Area • Walter and Elise Haas Fund | |
The Mission Asset Fund - with the generous support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation - recently completed an extensive study on the financial attitudes and behaviors of Latina/o immigrants who live or work in San Francisco's Mission District.