Ideas to Improve Financial Lives, From the Treasurer’s Office
Treasurers for state and local governments are expanding their roles in experimental policies aimed at helping low- and moderate-income families. San Francisco treasurer Jose Cisneros' Bank On initiative gives poor people low-cost bank accounts and has been replicated in more than 100 cities, helping people on the financial fringes access financial services and develop credit histories. In 2010, Cisneros also started Kindergarten to College, an initiative that automatically opened a bank account with $50 for every kindergartner in public schools, a program later emulated in Nevada by Treasurer Kate Marshall. The city pays for the administration and initial deposits, while corporate, foundation and private donations provide matching money to encourage saving.