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There’s a term economists use for a pattern most people have felt without ever naming it: the poverty premium. It’s the finding that low-income households often pay more, not less, for the exact same essential services — banking, credit, insurance — that higher-income households get access to more cheaply, or for free. It isn’t one

If you’ve scrolled through back-to-school headlines this summer, you’ve probably noticed the numbers don’t agree with each other. One survey says families are spending $557 per K-12 student. Another says $489. A third puts the number at $922. None of these researchers made a mistake — they’re just measuring different things, for different families, in

If you’ve ever been turned away from a bank, hit with surprise overdraft fees, or felt like the whole system just wasn’t built for you — you’re not alone. And there’s something in Maryland specifically designed to fix that. It’s called Bank On Maryland, and it’s changing how thousands of people access basic financial services.

Financial scams are becoming more sophisticated, more personal, and more expensive. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from the prior year. Imposter scams were one of the largest categories, with 845,806 reports and $2.95 billion in financial losses. One of the

For many households, a tax refund can feel like a financial reset. It may be one of the largest single payments someone receives all year, and it often arrives at a moment when there are already many demands on that money. Catching up on bills, covering everyday expenses, or addressing unexpected costs can make a