A Look at the Wealth Gap in Arkansas & The Actions You Can Play for ALICE

On August 24, 2023, the AR Asset Funders Network hosted a briefing, A Look at the Wealth Gap in Arkansas & The Actions You Can Play for ALICE. Moderated by Karen Murrell, the event explored the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau debt findings for philanthropy, nonprofits, elected officials, and financial institutions.

U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Desmond Brown and Diane Standaert and Arlo Washington of PEOPLE TRUST Community Loan Fund offered expertise and insight on how to remove barriers to wealth and mobility in Arkansas. Speakers showcased new information on consumer experiences in Arkansas, particularly in rural communities and communities of color. This event amplified the impact of medical debt, elevated trends and gaps in mortgage lending, and showcased opportunities to create transparency in small business lending.

A few key highlights:

✅ Arkansas boasts the lowest percentage of unbanked rural households in the region, at just 2%, compared to the national average of 6%.

✅ Nearly 30% of rural Arkansas consumers carry medical collections—surpassing the national average of 17%.

✅ Medical debt hinders rural households’ access to credit, compounding other financial responsibilities like mortgages and auto loans. Despite 38% of Arkansans residing in rural counties, only 26% of home purchase loans in 2021 went to these areas.

AR Asset Funders Network aims to catalyze grantmakers to invest in systemic change and more responsive programs and policies that consider the multiple barriers faced by consumers in Arkansas. Further, AR AFN desires to empower and inspire stakeholders to work collaboratively to take action on behalf of Arkansans – specifically ALICE Arkansans (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed).

SPEAKERS
Matuschka L. Briggs, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Diane Standaert, U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Desmond Brown, U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Arlo Washington, People Trust Community Loan Fund & Federal Credit Union
Karen Murrell, Asset Funders Network

RESOURCES

• CFPB Releases Reports on Banking Access and Consumer Finance in Southern States

• CFPB’s Slides

• AR Mortgage Chart

• Majoring in Debt: Why Student Loan Debt is Growing the Racial Wealth Gap and How Philanthropy Can Help

• Set up to Fail: Fines, Fees & Financial Insecurity

• Medical Debt and its Impact on Health and Wealth:  What Philanthropy can do to Help

• We’re Still Hurting! From the ER to the Courtroom: How Medical Bills and Court Costs Trap People in Debt Cycles

• Justice out of Balance – Profit Making through Debt Collection in the Courts: How Funders Can Help Restore Balance

• Louisiana – Financial Capability Services in the time of COVID

• North and South Carolina – Financial Capability Services in the time of COVID