Skip to main content
Back to Show
PBS News Hour

Left behind by banks, poor Americans pay more to borrow

It’s expensive to be poor. Unable to maintain a minimum balance or provide the necessary ID to open a bank account, many low-income Americans rely on fringe financial services like check cashing stores and payday lenders, which charge interest rates that can reach the triple digits. Hari Sreenivasan learns more from Mehrsa Baradaran, author of "How the Other Half Banks."

Support Provided By
Season
July 15, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
July 15, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
July 14, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
July 14, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
July 13, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
July 13, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
July 10, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
July 10, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
July 9, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
July 9, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
July 8, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:45
July 8, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
July 7, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
July 7, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
July 6, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
July 6, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
August 31, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:45
August 31, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
April 5, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:45
April 5, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
January 12, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:44
January 12, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
January 11, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:45
January 11, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
Active loading indicator