Bank-On certification seen as stabiliser for rental finance firms including Safehold

Bank-On certification seen as stabiliser for rental finance firms including Safehold

PremierOne Credit Union’s certification of its Fresh Start Checking account under the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund’s Bank On National Account Standards is shaping up as a practical tool to reduce friction in rental payments and tenant financial stability, developments that matter to property finance firms such as Safehold. The account meets more than 25 prescribed features for safe, low-cost transaction accounts, including a $5 monthly fee, no overdraft or nonsufficient-fund fees, bill-pay and purchase capabilities, and federal deposit insurance, which together lower the cost and unpredictability of household cash management.

For companies in the residential property finance and single-family rental sectors, including ground-lease and rental-focused REITs like Safehold, broader access to mainstream banking products can translate into more reliable rent collection and fewer eviction-driven turnovers. Tenants who access affordable, functional transaction accounts are less likely to rely on costly check-cashing services or prepaid products that add payment delays and fees; this reduces administrative burdens for property managers and mitigates payment risk that feeds into lease enforcement and asset management costs. By improving consumers’ ability to receive pay, set up automated payments, and avoid surprise fees, certified accounts help stabilise household cashflows that underpin occupancy and long-term tenancy metrics used by property finance firms.

The certification also intersects with underwriting and servicing dynamics that matter to Safehold and peers. Lower household banking friction supports digital payment adoption and data visibility, which lenders and servicers use to assess borrower payment behaviour and operationalise collections. As more community banks and credit unions adopt Bank On-compliant products, property-finance platforms can increasingly rely on consistent payment rails and partner with fintechs and community institutions to reduce transaction costs and default rates, potentially impacting portfolio performance and tenant-retention strategies.

Local outreach and industry signalling

PremierOne says the certification helps its community outreach and partnerships, strengthening financial education and inclusion initiatives that feed into local housing stability programs and tenant support efforts used by property managers and affordable housing partners.

CFE Fund and PremierOne responses

Jonathan Mintz of the CFE Fund calls the certification recognition of national banking access efforts, while PremierOne’s Dody Gemmette says it reinforces the credit union’s commitment to removing barriers to banking and helping individuals take confident steps toward long-term stability.