Our Research
Commonwealth conducts original qualitative and quantitative research with financially vulnerable people—including Black, Latinx, and women-led households who disproportionately experience financial insecurity. We also interview industry experts and academics. We take what we learn and translate findings into actionable insights and practical solutions designed to change systems to work better for financially vulnerable people. We work with community groups, employers, financial services firms, fintechs, policymakers, and workplace solution providers to design and test real-world, practical solutions that not only work for individuals and families, but are also scalable and address the business needs of our partners.
We share the results of our work to provide you with innovative ideas, practical insights, and the tools you need to act. Explore our publications below.
WINcentive Savings 2016 Report
This report analyzes the performance of WINcentive Savings accounts throughout 2016, as well as data from a Commonwealth survey administered to WINcentive account holders by their respective credit unions. With the WINcentive survey, Commonwealth aims to understand who holds WINcentive accounts,…
Prizes Facilitate Saving by Youth
In the summer of 2015, we worked with the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to design and pilot a Payroll Savings Program for around 50,000 youth participating in their summer youth employment program. The goal…
Commonwealth 2016 Accomplishments
In 2016, we developed new ideas, tested innovative solutions, and worked with partners to improve the lives of financially vulnerable Americans at scale.
Building Financial Security Through Integrated Financial Solutions
People’s financial lives are more deeply interconnected than traditional financial products suggest: income impacts expenses; expenses impact savings; savings impacts borrowing; borrowing impacts expenses; and uncertainty impacts everything. Products that fail to acknowledge these interdependencies optimize one financial function at…
Our Approach: Innovation Pipeline
At Commonwealth, we discover new financial challenges and explore new innovative solutions through research, listening, and talking with people. We take the most promising of these new solutions and design real world pilots to see if they work. We then…
Increasing Access to U.S. Savings Bonds: Recommendations for Bond Innovation
U.S. Savings Bonds fill a market gap for safe, no-fee, general purpose savings products with low minimum balances and a trusted brand. The Treasury Department can not only preserve bonds as they are currently available—including through the Tax Time Saving…
Bite Club Trailer
In Bite Club, users manage a vampire nightclub to learn how to plan for retirement, understand the value of paying off debt, and manage spending patterns. Watch the trailer below, and check out the Financial Entertainment site to learn more…
Ramp it Up Trailer
Ramp It Up is a gamified college readiness mobile app that seeks to empower high school students to make positive financial decisions related to paying for college. Watch the trailer below, or learn more about Ramp it Up. Want to try…
Gamification: Making Financial Security Fun
Gamification provides a way to turn tasks into fun and engaging activities that lead to real world action. Commonwealth collaborates with employers, non-profits, financial services firms, and more to design, create, pilot, and scale gamified apps.
Commonwealth Brand Story
Watch this video about the CommonWealth brand.