I always thought we should give every SSN/EIN an account at a state-ran bank, structurally obliged to serve all legal uses. This would ensure everyone had acce

I always thought we should give every SSN/EIN an account at a state-ran bank, structurally obliged to serve all legal uses. This would ensure everyone had access to direct-deposit payment (eliminating most of the case behind the "it's almost a real bank account" prepaid-card products with exploitative fees) and create a single huge audience to target for "over the top" services to develop. Perhaps it could be put together as a "portable" service-- you can link your state-bank account with your preferred brick-and-mortar to handle cash and in-person services. There would be phone-number style portability, to encourage them to compete for most features/lowest fee/subsidy requirements.