Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer helps poor cash in at city banks

Working with major banks, nonprofits and federal agencies, Stringer hopes to get 10,000 people bank accounts that don't have killer overdraft fees, minimum balances and high monthly fees.

Bus ads are touting the program, as are Spanish and English posters plastered on the walls of bodegas.

"We've announced a number of initiatives and invariably everyone says, 'Well, this is good politically, right?'" Stringer said. "But good government turns into good politics if you're doing it for the right reason."

Stringer is starting the Bank On Manhattan program, modeled on a similar program in San Francisco, after learning that 13% of Manhattanites - 95,000 households - have no bank accounts.

Without banks, they're forced to pay the higher fees at check-cashing stores or carry bundles of cash.