CLEVELAND — Nearly 6 million U.S. households were “unbanked” in 2021, according to data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

What You Need To Know

  • PNC has set up a mobile bank branch in Cleveland for people in under-banked areas 

  • People can receive financial guidance from the mobile branch 

  • Cleveland is one of nearly a dozen cities with a mobile branch 

That means no one in those households had either a checking or savings account.

But one bank is now going the extra mile to help change that.

Elaine Withers has lived in Cleveland her whole life, but until recently, she never had a bank account.

“I signed up like a month or so ago and I’ve been pleasantly surprised ever since. They’re always here,” Withers said.

Withers is referring to the PNC mobile branch. This bank on wheels has become a life-changer for many people in the city.

“I come here all the time. They’re a blessing. This branch, the mobile branch, they gave me a card right off the bat,” Withers said.

The mobile branch serves the unbanked and under-banked communities of Cleveland. 

It stops at primarily nonprofit organizations, making banking easier and more accessible. 

“When we set up, I mean we really promote financial literacy, financial education. For us, it’s all about meaningful conversations, and what a meaningful conversation is moving someone forward financially,” said Erica Ressler, Cleveland Mobile Branch Manager for PNC Bank.

Ressler said it offers a wide range of services, including checking accounts, financial guidance and the opportunity to apply for loans, credit and debit cards and even a mortgage.

“It was so easy. They made it so convenient. I just came in and asked them about it and they said sure why not, signed me up, gave me a card right on the spot and I love that I got the card right there I was going around telling everybody look what I got,” Withers said.

Besides being convenient, Ressler believes the mobile bank can be less intimidating for customers compared to normal branches.

“Where when we approach them, and we build that rapport, and we get to know them, we’re working with them and we’re giving them hope. We’re saying you don’t have to have all this money and be an affluent person to get the same level of client experience,” Ressler said.

“The people make it more personable. When you walk into a bank, most of the time you have people, but they’re not as friendly,” Withers said.

Ressler said she has been in banking for nearly two decades and this is by far her favorite role being able to provide financial education to people who need help. 

“There has not been a day where I have not leaped out of bed at 5 o’clock and was like I gotta get to the truck. We got to hit the road, we got to get out here, we have to because we are helping people and giving them hope and that’s the most amazing thing in the world,” Ressler said.