Investment is a critical part of any healthy, growing economy, and plays a key role in rural economic development.

During this seminar presented by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond on June 25, 2026, experts discussed the barriers to community investment in smaller towns and rural communities.

The seminar featured insights from the Richmond Fed's Rural Investment Collaborative as well as research on factors that support community investment.

During this Connecting Communities webinar, researchers from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors shared key findings from the annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED), which was fielded in October 2025 and released on May 13, 2026. The survey is a key tool for measuring the economic well-being of U.S. households and identifying potential risks to their finances.

In addition to monitoring household financial circumstances, each year the survey explores a range of related topics. In 2025, it introduced new questions about the use of generative Artificial Intelligence at work, alongside expanded modules on family finances, employment, and economic hardships. The survey also continues to track other financial topics such as access to credit, housing affordability, savings and investments, child care costs, and banking.

Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the panelists during a live Q&A session, gaining deeper context and clarity on the findings.

Related resources:

• Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025
• Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking Interactive Charts
• Codebook for the 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (PDF)

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), approximately 5.6 million households are without a checking or savings account – otherwise known as "unbanked." Unbanked households lack a secure and safe place to store their money and can miss out on interest gains and credit-building opportunities.

This Connecting Communities webinar featured leaders from organizations focused on advancing banking access for households through safe and affordable accounts via the Bank On program. Panelists also explored findings from the most recent Bank On National Data (BOND) Hub, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

This interactive conversation highlighted

• the benefits of having a bank account,
• lessons learned in reaching unbanked and underbanked households,
• strategies for building strong partnerships between financial institutions, local governments, and nonprofit organizations, and
• how data can inform access to banking.

Whether you're a financial institution, policymaker, nonprofit leader, researcher, or advocate, this session will provide practical insights to advancing financial access in your community.

Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the panelists during a live Q&A session, which provided deeper context and clarity to the findings.