Indepth analysis of persistant problems in the field of community development. Woodstock's research reports contribute to the body of knowledge used by policymakers and community development practitioners.
Bounce protection, a product that is regularly offered to many bank customers as a convenience, has turned into an excessively priced loan program, key features of which are hidden from consumers. This report analyzes the fee structure of bounce protection products offered by several major Chicago region banks.
The purpose of this guide is to help community organizations enable their members to join a mainstream credit union and begin building modest assets. Many credit unions offer financial products and services tailored to the needs of low-income people, but mainstream credit unions have not historically reached this population. Partnering with community organizations expands a credit union's membership while giving community organizations the tools to help their members build assets.
New evidence indicates the largest Chicago area banks have not expanded
into lower income and minority markets, despite the substantial
purchasing power and concentration of potential deposits available in
these communities.
Dan Immergluck, Grand Valley State University
Geoff Smith, Woodstock Institute
Examines the impact of foreclosures of single-family mortgages – both conventional and government guaranteed – on levels of violent and property crime at the neighborhood level.
