So after more than a decade of unsuccessful efforts to "Bank the Unbanked," more and more consumers are eschewing "mainstream" financial institutions and patronizing so-called alternative financial service providers. (For these consumers, there is nothing "alternative" about these businesses.) Given that most of these non-bank providers register with the same state and federal agencies that oversee financial institutions it is puzzling that regulators, legislators, and self-appointed consumer activists continue to ignore the potential for achieving universal access to safe, reliable, regulated financial services by incorporating non-bank providers into a nation-wide strategy. Much as the Reserve Bank of India is doing with banking agents and correspondents.