Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bank on Savannah?
Who is participating in Bank on Savannah?
Why Bank On Savannah?
What are the goals of the program?
What might a customer ask for when they come to my branch?
Bank on Savannah is an initiative to connect people without bank
accounts to affordable mainstream financial services. We want
to provide people with alternatives to paying more than they
need to for financial services. It is modeled on a similar,
successful effort in San Francisco and Seattle.
Over 10 banks are participating in the first year of Bank On
Savannah. The City of Savannah also supports these efforts.
Planning and implementation of the program has been
completed by the Banking Taskforce, part of Step Up Savannah’s
poverty reduction initiative. Numerous public and non-profit
organizations are providing financial education and outreach.
There are an estimated 10,000 households in the areas of
Savannah identified as having the most people living in poverty
with no checking or savings account. This means families must
pay more to cash checks and pay bills, have no way to save for
the future, and have no safe place to keep their money.
The initial goal of this initiative is to bank 1,000 unbanked
residents in the first year of the program. The goal is that 80% of
the new customers will successfully maintain or upgrade their
accounts for at least one year. We also intend for a substantial
number of customers to complete financial education.
Clients may refer to many things instead of just Bank on
Savannah. Potential customers will include those who heard
about the program and were referred to your branch by calling
2-1-1. Be alert to customers asking for a “free” bank account.
Also, be sure to offer an account to anyone who currently does
not have an account at any institution who may come in to your
What features should I offer a client who asks for a Bank on
Savannah account?
What happens if we cannot help a customer?
institution for other services, such as to cash a check or buy a
money order.
Bank on Savannah banks and have agreed to offer the following:
 Help clients to open a no cost checking account. All
financial institutions have agreed to an opening deposit
of less than $100 or $0 with direct deposit. No monthly
minimum balance will be required. Participating financial
institutions are offering accounts with no monthly fees.
 Offer free ATM or debit card
 Offer a savings account
 Open accounts for people on ChexSystems if the activity
is more than six months old [Refer to your internal fraud
and restitution policies] .
 Open accounts for people on ChexSystems if the activity
is less than six months old, if possible, or refer them to a
Bank on Savannah institution that will accept them.
 Open accounts for people using the Mexican Matricula
card as primary ID; accept an ITIN in lieu of a social
security number
 Waive one set of NSF/Overdraft fees and offer an
additional feature or service that will help customers
avoid NSF/OD.
 Clearly disclose and explain all fees to clients at the time
of account using the provided Bank On Savannah/FDIC
checklist.
 Refer any client unable to open an account with your
bank to another financial institution, or back to the Bank
on Savannah program, for help. You will be provided with
product specifics from the other participating banks to
help you as well as contact information for Bank On
Savannah.
 Encourage clients to take financial education classes
offered by a Bank on Savannah partner.
 Offer any programs that encourage savings
 Offer free online banking, if available
 Encourage direct deposit
If you are unable to help a client (for example, if they owe money
Is financial training available?
to another institution, if they have had an issue with fraud, etc)
you can refer them yourself (see website), or ask them to call 21-1 to be referred to a more appropriate bank or credit union.
You will also have a referral card that can be used to make the
referral and give the customer the details they need, whether to
another bank or to financial education.
Financial training is available to all Bank on Savannah customers.
If interested, they should call 2-1-1 for details, or visit
www.stepupsavannah.org.
What do I need to do to make sure this account is tracked as part [Provide staff information on how this account should be
of the Bank on Savannah?
“flagged” for tracking]
What if I have questions or comments?
You should call your key contact for Bank on Savannah for help
at your branch/financial institution:
Name: [Insert your internal contact information]
Phone number:
E-mail:
OR
Contact Bank On Savannah:
Name: Christy Edwards
Phone Number: 912-232-6747
E-mail: bankonsavannah@gmail.com
How do I order branch materials?
What other financial institutions are involved?
Contact Bank On Savannah:
Name: Christy Edwards
Phone Number: 912-232-6747
E-mail: bankonsavannah@gmail.com
 Carver State Bank
 First Chatham Bank
 Sea Island Bank
 SunTrust Bank
 Wachovia Bank
 The Savannah Bank
 United Community Bank
 Atlantic Bank & Trust
 BB&T Bank
 Georgia’s Own Credit Union
 Capitol City Bank