The United States is founded on the premise of equal protection. Equal protection is the scheme of legislated equality which encompasses notions of fairness, goodness, fraternity and social justice. It’s about maintaining a social stratification system which encourages any person to achieve their fullest potential by preventing the worst forms of social distinctions to arise. For years, members of our society, our elected officials and governing bodies have fought vigorously to implement programs and laws that promote this idea. In just our recent history, we have seen the passage of the Fair Housing Act, Title VII and The American’s with Disabilities Act. However, little has been done to combat the social inequalities that our financial institutions have created by the painstaking road blocks they have constructed to gain access to mainstream financial services. These hurdles have prevented valuable members of our society from gaining admittance to a world driven by ecommerce. They have been disallowed from reaping the myriad benefits that savings accounts and electronic banking afford to more financially endowed individuals. That was, until the Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA) and NetSpend Corporation took it upon themselves to collaborate and create The All-Access NetSpend National Savings Program.[1] [More]

I. INTRODUCTION

The nationwide credit crisis has made the “American Dream” unattainable to most citizens. With lenders instituting rigorous requirements making qualifying for mortgages nearly impossible. The record breaking foreclosures and unemployment have added fuel to the fire, putting pressure on homeowners to reduce their asking prices. Many owners have been forced to sell at far below market value, accepting a large loss on properties that when purchased had high potential for profitability. However, the resurgence of lease-option agreements, especially in areas where foreclosure rates are high, has sparked hope for many sellers and buyers. [1] [More]