Introduction:
After serving 4 years in prison, I walked out into the streets of Philadelphia with a plastic bag, old shoes, and no clue how to start over.
No job. No home. No ID.
But I had one thing — the will to never go back.
I just didn’t know where to begin… until someone said,
“First thing you need? A bank account.”
That step, that small advice — gave me back my life.
Chapter 1: Locked Out of the System — Again
I tried to get a job.
They said: “Direct deposit only.”
I tried to get a phone.
They said: “Need a debit or credit card.”
I tried to rent a room.
They said: “Do you have a bank statement?”
I realized: without a bank account, I was still in prison — just without the bars.
Chapter 2: The Day I Got My Name Back
A local non-profit helped me apply for:
- A state ID
- A job at a car wash
- And an appointment at a credit union that helps ex-offenders
They opened a Second Chance Account for me:
- No minimum balance
- Debit card with limits
- Alerts for every transaction
- Access to financial mentoring
When I saw my name on that debit card…
I cried in the parking lot.
Chapter 3: First Paycheck, First Budget, First Breath
My first $320 came in.
I didn’t blow it. I split it:
✅ $100 — savings
✅ $150 — living expenses
✅ $70 — child support
Using the banking app, I:
📲 Tracked every penny
📊 Set up saving goals
🧠 Took a free budgeting course offered by the bank
This time, I wasn’t just earning — I was building.
Chapter 4: Breaking the Cycle With Credit
I applied for a secured credit card.
Used it for:
- Groceries
- Gas
- Bus fare
Paid it off every month. Slowly, my credit score climbed.
Today I have:
- A credit score over 700
- A full-time job
- An apartment in my name
- My daughter’s photo taped inside my wallet
And yes — I still use the same bank.
Chapter 5: Helping the Next Guy Out
Now I volunteer in a prison reentry program.
Every time someone asks,
“Where do I even start?”
I say,
“Open a bank account. Track your money. Build your name again — dollar by dollar.”
I teach them how to:
- Avoid payday loans
- Use mobile banking
- Stay away from scams
- Trust themselves with money again
Because if I could do it… so can they.
Conclusion: Banking Isn’t Just for the Rich — It’s for the Rebuilt
Coming out of prison doesn’t mean you’re done.
It means you’re starting over.
And banking — the right kind of banking — can give you:
✅ Structure
✅ Discipline
✅ Access
✅ Power
Whether you’re in Los Angeles or Leeds, it’s never too late to take your name back.
Call to Action:
If you’ve been incarcerated and want a fresh start:
🔹 Find a bank or credit union with Second Chance Accounts
🔹 Ask about secured credit cards
🔹 Use apps to track spending & savings
🔹 Take free financial literacy courses
🔹 Build slow, steady, strong
You are not your past — you are your next deposit, your next decision, your next chapter.
