Abstract
Offering prepaid cards as an option on federal tax forms could help connect unbanked adults to the financial mainstream. The Treasury Department tested card features through a pilot that offered low-income adults prepaid cards for electronic delivery of tax refunds and everyday financial transactions. Key findings through the second year of the evaluation include: unbanked adults were 2.5 times more likely to directly deposit a tax refund into the card; repeat use of the card for tax refund deposits was substantial; a quarter of people who directly deposited a tax refund in 2011 did so again in 2012; and card cost matters for card take-up and use.
Research Area:
Centers
Cross-Center Initiative
Cross-Center Initiative:
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