To me, the obvious solution here is to have a government-run, cash-free payment system that's explicitly designed to be accessible to all citizens. Let people deposit money at the DMV or some such, and provide debit cards to be used against their balance. Just provide what's strictly necessary—the goal isn't to replace private banks.
Sadly, I don't see any possibility of this happening in the current political climate.
I agree. Most Americans are proposing this as "Postal Banking", as in a default government-run non-profit bank built into every USPS Post Office, that accepts all citizens.
> In the United States, the United States Postal Savings System was established in 1911 under the Act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 814). It was discontinued by the Act of March 28, 1966 (80 Stat. 92).
Oh, wonderful, so we had it but we got rid of it. :\
They do something similar to this now with social security and other gov payouts. Someone I know has an AMEX blue card or something like that where money is deposited to.
Sadly, I don't see any possibility of this happening in the current political climate.