Guest Blog: The 2012 Assets and Opportunities Scorecard: Oklahoma Ranks 33rd for Financial Stability of Residents

As part of a new project at CAP, each month we will be featuring a guest blogger from across the agency.  Amy Amatucci, Senior Fund Development Specialist, is our sixth blogger. Last month the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) and OK Policy co-released the 2012 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard, which shows that more than one in four [...]

Read Full Post »

2012 CAP Free Tax Prep Information

It is that time of year again!  CAP’s free tax preparation program is in full swing at three sites across Tulsa.  Families who make $50,000 or less are eligible for free tax preparation with our IRS-certified volunteers.  In addition to free tax preparation services two sites, Exchange Center and Pine & Lewis BOK, have checking and savings account enrollment available, which will help you receive [...]

Read Full Post »

Guest Blog: Budgeting…It’s Personal and for Everyone

As part of a new project at CAP, each month we will be featuring a guest blogger from across the agency.  These guest posts will cover a myriad of topics chosen by the guest blogger.  I am excited to see what everyone produces.  Pat Douthitt, Financial Analyst in CAP’s Accounting Department, is our first guest [...]

Read Full Post »

Rent Payments to be Included in Credit Files!

 Lack of access to affordable credit is one difficulty faced by low-income Americans.  Of course, there are those who lack access because of poor financial decision-making and poor credit history, but many others are denied access because they do not have enough credit history.  These people are described as having a thin credit file.  A [...]

Read Full Post »

Fighting the Good Fight

I am sure you have all seen the poverty data released by the US Census Bureau last week.  While the median household income did not change in 2009, the poverty rate rose from 13.2% to 14.3%.  This represents the second statistically significant increase since 2004.  This rate is also at its highest since 1991, but [...]

Read Full Post »

Broke, USA

As I mentioned last week, I am currently looking at approaches to serve the underbanked.  Part of this research is looking at the services that are currently available to individuals without bank accounts.  Many turn to alternative financial services, which is an umbrella term for payday lenders, check cashers, pawn shops, and other similar businesses.  [...]

Read Full Post »

Nuestro Barrio…A Financial Education Telenovela

Yes, you read the title correctly, and no, I am not making this up.  Over the past couple of weeks, I have been up to my ears in research on innovative approaches to serving underbanked communities.  One of those innovative approaches is using sources of entertainment such as video games and television shows to deliver [...]

Read Full Post »