Presidential Election

Why Bernie Sanders Wants Post Offices To Offer Banking

Bernie Sanders' plan for post offices to provide banking services aims to boost low-income neighborhoods' options, but how much would it help?

Why Bernie Sanders Wants Post Offices To Offer Banking
Getty Images / Spencer Platt

Bernie Sanders wants post offices to serve as banks. 

"I think that the postal service, in fact, can play an important role in providing modest types of banking service to folks who need it," Sanders told Fusion.  

Banks sometimes avoid poor areas, causing "banking deserts."

"If you are a low-income person, it is, depending upon where you live, very difficult to find normal banking. And what people are forced to do is go to payday lenders. You go to check-cashing places that rip you off," Sanders added.

The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General supports the idea, and the USPS has floated a 25 percent interest rate on loans. While that's a little high, it's still lower than the 400 percent payday loans can carry annually. (Video via United States Postal Service)

This video includes images from Getty Images, A McLin / CC BY 2.0 and Tabor Andrew Bain / CC BY 2.0.