David Reiling: We Need a Revolution in Small Dollar Lending

Ford Foundation Equals Change Blog
Monday, April 4, 2016

In a piece for the Ford Foundation’s Equals Change Blog, Sunrise Banks CEO David Reiling writes that before banks can displace predatory lenders, they will need to consider the perspective of unbanked customers: “Why do consumers go to high-interest payday lenders to get small-dollar loans— and in the process rack up hundreds or thousands of dollars in debt—rather than to banks or credit unions? The answer is that most banks and credit unions simply don't offer small dollar loans... And while traditional checking and savings products are good and well tested, they are simply not ideal for people in every financial situation. We also know that customers consider accessibility, convenience and ease of use to be much more important than price—that’s why payday loans are so popular.”