Overcoming Language Barriers in Banking

In the United States, language barriers can make it difficult for non-English speakers to access banking services, so paying bills and saving money can be more challenging.

About one in 12 people in the U.S. speak limited English, and many are unbanked. Today, however, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and community banks are taking steps to close the language gap so that more people can get access to the banking services they need.

Let’s look at the impact of language barriers in banking and how they are being addressed.

Language Barriers in Banking

Language barriers can impact people’s access to financial services. About 5% people in the U.S. were unbanked, or did not have a bank account, in 2020. But the rate for communities where English is not the first language is much higher. For example, among Hispanic households, where Spanish is often the primary language, 12.2% are unbanked, according to 2019 Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) data.

Nearly 22% of the U.S. population speaks a language other than English at home—that’s 67.3 million people. Many of these people are fluent in English, but many aren’t. More than one in 12 people over the age 5 are limited English proficient (LEP), meaning that they speak English less than very well.

People and communities not proficient in English can find it difficult to access banking services in the U.S. Even if banks offer basic account information or customer services in a range of languages, financial disclosures and written documents may not be available in languages other than English. In addition, immigrants may struggle to understand how bank accounts, investments, and other financial products work in the U.S.

The Costs of Being Unbanked

It can be costly for a language barrier to leave you unbanked or underbanked, meaning you have a bank account but also use alternative financial services.

People who are not well served by mainstream banks often rely on more more expensive financial services. For example, check cashing services can charge fees ranging from 1% to 12% of the check amount. That can mean paying $10 to $120 to cash a $1,000 check. Banks may cash checks for noncustomers, but this can still entail paying a fee of $5 to $10. For people who get paid by check because they don’t have a bank account, these fees can amount to thousands of dollars per year.

Borrowing money can also be expensive if you rely on alternative banking services. Options like payday loans or car title loans have significantly higher interest rates than traditional personal loans. Payday loans, often with annual percentage rates (APRs) of 300% or higher, can create a cycle of debt that is difficult to escape.

Overcoming Language Barriers in Banking

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the impact of language barriers on access to banking and financial health. Both financial services companies and federal agencies are trying to address this problem.

For example, Mitchell Bank in Milwaukee is among the banks opening branches in underserved areas. It has a branch called Cardinal Bank in a Milwaukee high school with a 70% Hispanic immigrant population. Cardinal Bank offers financial literacy programs, helps customers without Social Security numbers apply for Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), and uses the FDIC Money Smart program to help develop money skills for students and their parents.

People with limited English proficiency can also turn to government programs for help with banking services. Many states and large cities have local immigrant advocacy organizations that can direct people to local banks that offer services, education, and outreach in other languages.

Finally, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) offers support for people with limited English proficiency. You can call (855) 411-2372 to get assistance in more than 180 languages. The CFPB also provides free educational materials on banking in dozens of languages.

The Bottom Line

Language barriers can make it more difficult for people to get the banking services or products that they need, but steps are being taken to address this problem in the U.S. As the banking industry becomes more inclusive, people with limited English proficiency may find it easier to open bank accounts, apply for loans, and manage their financial health without paying high fees in the process.