Consumer Financial Services

Research confirms that low-and moderate-income families can save, manage debt, build wealth and move up the economic ladder when given access to fair and affordable products, services and information. Abusive and predatory financial practices can undermine their efforts, draining the assets they do accumulate or propelling them into a cycle of chronic borrowing.

The UNC Center for Community Capital conducts research and analysis to understand what products, services and conditions promote and inhibit wealth creation and economic mobility among low-wealth families and communities.

Center experts examine not only how but why consumers act, unlocking the keys to developing solutions and policies that work.

The center’s consumer financial services team focuses its research and analysis on five key areas:

• Evaluating programs that promote wealth creation and economic mobility.
• Analyzing financial products and services available to low- and moderate-income consumers.
• Assessing the impact of predatory and abusive financial services.
• Promoting sound, evidence-based policies and practices that promote economic security and mobility for low-and moderate income families and underserved families and communities.

For more information, contact Kim Manturuk, senior research associate in financial services, (919) 843-5441 or manturuk@email.unc.edu.