Banks accounts help to reduce reoffending

A project which furnishes prisoners with bank accounts has been shown to reduce reoffending rates. Staff at Forest Bank private prison in Manchester worked with the Cooperative bank, enabling prisoners to open bank accounts while serving their terms. For 60%  prisoners, this was the first time they had held a bank account and participants reported increased feelings of self respect in addition to the practical benefits when finding employment or accomodation. The first report of the follow up of prisoners (2008) showed reconviction rates reduced by around 50% of the national average, and the 2009 follow up of the original group continues to show the same rate of success. See Guardian, 3 December online.