Tens of millions of Americans don't have bank accounts. Some are leery of banks, some live check-to-check, and other need cash advances in the middle of the month. These "unbanked" people are increasingly turning to check cashing and payday loan centers to cash checks, buy money orders and apply for same day loans. Critics say these centers, like Cash Express and Money Mart, take advantage of lower income communities by charging high fees, much higher than a customer at a bank would pay. In California, where more than 5 million "unbanked" people live, the check cashing industry pulls in more than $5.7 billion every year. Yet a study by the California Reinvestment Coalition found that major banks, themselves, are behind the growth of many national check cashing chains. KALW News reporter Rose Aguilar takes a closer look in this feature on the check cashing industry.

Tens of millions of Americans don't have bank accounts. Some are leery of banks, some live check-to-check, and other need cash advances in the middle of the month. These "unbanked" people are increasingly turning to check cashing and payday loan centers to cash checks, buy money orders and apply for same day loans. Critics say these centers, like Cash Express and Money Mart, take advantage of lower income communities by charging high fees, much higher than a customer at a bank would pay. In California, where more than 5 million "unbanked" people live, the check cashing industry pulls in more than $5.7 billion every year. Yet a study by the California Reinvestment Coalition found that major banks, themselves, are behind the growth of many national check cashing chains. KALW News reporter Rose Aguilar takes a closer look in this feature on the check cashing industry.