Banks and credit unions play a vital role in the financial lives of countless Americans. From checking accounts to mortgages and auto loans, financial institutions provide many services that make life much more manageable.Unfortunately, finding a great financial institution hasn’t always been easy for everyone, as the history of banking services in America is littered with racial discrimination and redlining. Less than a century ago, government financial policies were blatantly designed to promote racial segregation and fuel the wealth gap between whites and minorities.