
What We Do / Research
Compass Principles
A Framework for Quality
The U.S. financial services industry faces several challenges, including increasing regulation, a fragmented marketplace, and the financially precarious state of many American consumers. Millions of Americans don’t have access to financial products and services that enable them to manage their money for today or build assets for tomorrow. To address these and other challenges, CFSI – in partnership with a cross-section of industry participants – created the Compass Principles.
CFSI’s Compass Principles serve as a framework to assess quality in financial products and innovations. They are guidelines that define how the industry can design and deliver the basic tools that people use to manage their day-to-day finances and improve their financial health over time. As we help providers design and implement products and programs through our Consulting Services, we have the opportunity to leverage the Compass Principles framework.

Embrace Inclusion
Responsibly expand access.

Build Trust
Develop mutually beneficial products that deliver clear and consistent value.

Promote Success
Drive positive consumer behavior through smart design and communication.

Create Opportunity
Provide options for upward mobility.
Compass Principles
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Compass Principles: Transaction Product Examples
This one-pager gives examples of applying the Compass Principles to transaction products.
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The Compass Guide to Payroll Cards
The Compass Guide to Payroll Cards defines industry-wide best practices for the design and delivery of payroll cards.
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One-Page Overview of the Compass Principles
To help the industry take the lead in addressing these challenges and build trust with the public, the Center for Financial Services Innovation, in partnership with a cross-section of...
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Compass Principles – Guiding Excellence in Financial Services
The Compass Principles are guidelines for the U.S. financial services industry.
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The Compass Guide to Small-Dollar Credit
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Prepaid Industry Scorecard: Assessing Quality in the Prepaid Industry with CFSI’s Compass Principles
Over the past decade, millions of American households have turned to prepaid cards to spend, save, and manage their money.
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The Compass Guide to Prepaid
The Compass Guide to Prepaid defines industry-wide best practices for the design and delivery of GPR prepaid card accounts.
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Infographic: Compass Guide to Prepaid
Discover the Compass Guide to Prepaid through this informative infographic.
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Compass Principles: Savings Products Examples
This one-page document has examples of applying each of the four Compass Principles to savings products.
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Infographic: Compass Principles
Discover the Compass Principles through this informative infographic.
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