Affinity Plus’s Dora Everyday Checking Earns National Bank On Certification

The national safe account standards, co-created by consumer advocates, leading national nonprofit organizations, civic leaders, and other financial institutions, designate both core and strongly recommended features that ensure low cost, high functionality, and consumer safety.

“At Affinity Plus, we are continuously focused on breaking down financial barriers for our members. Our intention is to always put them at the forefront and help them move forward toward a better financial future,” said Dave Larson, President and CEO of Affinity Plus. “We are proud of our partnership and investment in Dora Financial to help meet the needs of underserved people.  Receiving the Bank On certification for our Dora Everyday Checking is a testament to our commitment. We recognize that Dora helps reduce racial and economic disparities in banking access, and it’s our commitment to inspire confidence and put more members in a position to thrive.”

The nation’s first credit union-based neo-bank strategy app, Bank Dora Financial (Dora) was founded in August 2021 to serve the 50 million Americans currently not participating in mainstream banking. Dedicated to financial inclusion, it includes a fully bilingual digital banking experience that supports low-moderate income individuals. It currently is sponsored by four regional credit unions: Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union (Affinity Plus) headquartered in St. Paul, Minn.; Digital Federal Credit Union in Marlborough, Mass.; Service Federal Credit Union in Portsmouth, N.H.; USALLIANCE Financial in Rye, N.Y. Visit www.bankdora.com.

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union Dora Everyday Checking offers no-minimum-balance checking accounts, no monthly maintenance fees, direct deposit paid two days early, bill pay and a surcharge-free network of 30,000 ATMs nationwide. The name is inspired by credit union pioneer Dora Maxwell, who chartered hundreds of U.S. credit unions.

“The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund is delighted to award its national Bank On account certification to Affinity Plus,” said Jonathan Mintz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union Dora Everyday Checking offers Minnesota residents who are looking to improve their finances a safe, affordable, and truly useful mainstream banking product– this is especially important during COVID-19, as consumers need to access and manage their money both affordably and safely. Affinity Plus’s offering of this terrific account brings them into the forefront of national banking access efforts, and we thank them.”

The goal of Bank On is to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable financial products and services. The Bank On National Account Standards identify critical product features for appropriate bank or credit union accounts, making it easier for local coalitions across the country to connect consumers to accounts that meet their needs.

The CFE Fund leads the national Bank On movement, supporting 90 local coalitions working to connect individuals and families to the financial mainstream through partnerships between governments, financial institutions, and community organizations. Learn more about Bank On and the National Account Standards or follow the conversation on Twitter @CFEfund #BankOn.

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About the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)

The CFE Fund supports municipal efforts to improve the financial stability of households by leveraging opportunities unique to local government. By translating cutting edge experience with large scale programs, research, and policy in cities of all sizes, the CFE Fund assists mayors and other local leaders to identify, develop, fund, implement, and research pilots and programs that help families build assets and make the most of their financial resources. The CFE Fund is currently working in over 100 cities and counties, and has disbursed over $55 million to local governments and their partners to support these efforts. For more information, please visit www.cfefund.org or follow us on Twitter at @CFEFund.

About Bank On

Bank On coalitions are locally-led partnerships between local public officials; city, state, and federal government agencies; financial institutions; and community organizations that work together to help improve the financial stability of unbanked and underbanked individuals and families in their communities. The Bank On national initiative builds on a grassroots movement of over 90 coalitions in cities across the country, offering national account standards, capacity grant support, pilot funding, and a learning community. In addition to connecting unbanked individuals to accounts, Bank On programs raise public awareness, target outreach to the unbanked, and expand access to financial education. Visit www.cfefund.org/bankon for more information, or follow the conversation on Twitter @CFEFund #BankOn.