Atlanticus Holdings Corporation announced the launch of Aspire(R) Banking platform: a first-of-its-kind banking program that puts the financially underserved on a clear path to being granted credit. Geared towards the nearly 44 million Americans whom the FDIC estimates are unbanked or underbanked and overdrafting, Aspire(R) Banking provides customers with a bank account, debit card, and a prescribed list of activities intended to help consumers build positive financial habits. Upon completion of these activities, which can be done in as little as 90 days, customers are presented with an Aspire(R) Credit Card offer.

Designed to establish good banking behaviors, these activities include meeting minimum criteria for making deposits, maintaining a balance, and making purchases, each for three consecutive months. Aspire(R) Banking's path to credit provides an alternative to secured card products that carry deposit requirements most unbanked and underbanked consumers cannot afford. "Atlanticus is committed to making a real impact on real people.