Houston City Controller Annise Parker has taken another major step toward helping unbanked Houstonians begin climbing the ladder of financial independence, launching a Spanish version of the Bank on Houston Web site.   “A lot of the calls coming in to the Bank on Houston hotline are from Spanish speaking residents,” said Controller Parker.  “This is good news because it indicates our marketing effort, including advertising on local Spanish television stations, is having an impact.  Those calls are being referred to a Spanish speaking member of my executive staff.  Now they also have the added convenience of going to the Bank on Houston Web site at and clicking the En Espanol link at the top of the page.

Bank on Houston is a collaborative program involving the controller's office; local banks and credit unions; numerous local non-profits and community organizations; the FDIC; the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch and the National League of Cities.  Woodforest National Bank and Shared Resources Credit Union are the latest financial institutions to join the effort, bringing to 22 the number of participating banks and credit unions.  The program has a goal of opening a minimum of 10,000 new accounts in 2009.   A report on first quarter results is due in the next couple of weeks. 

The following key features are being offered by the banks and credit unions participating in Bank on Houston :

• A no, or low, cost checking account,

• No minimum balance requirement,

• Acceptance of the Mexican Matricula Card as one form of identification,

• An ATM or debit card,

• At least one additional feature such as second chance checking accounts for people with histories of bounced checks or overdraft fees, remittances, waiver of overdraft fees, free checks or free online banking.

According to local studies, about 51 percent of households in Houston 's minority-dominated neighborhoods have no banking relationships.  In addition, 7 out of 10 Katrina evacuees arriving in Houston did not have bank accounts.  Their money washed away in the floodwaters.  “People without bank accounts are more likely to be targets for crime, tend not to save and face the risk of losing their money in the event of a disaster,” said Parker.

Bank on Houston is funded through the generous donations of the participating financial institutions.

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