Borrowers without alternatives fall prey to predatory lenders

EL PASO, Texas — Payday lending seems to be the only recourse for many people with no credit or damaged credit needing financial assistance in this rough economy. Many people find it hard to pay all their bills when their work hours are cut and they find themselves without cash. They have to turn to payday lenders. People with good credit normally just go to the local bank and ask for a routine signature loan. However, even for them, getting a loan is not easy anymore.

Downtown El Paso as seen from the Paseo del Norte International Bridge. (Sergio Chapa/Borderzine.com)

Downtowners Express Their Hopes for El Paso

EL PASO— A taxi driver, a shopper and merchants from downtown El Paso share their perspectives of the city’s history and their hopes for its future. The following video, audio and slideshow presentations were produced by the following participants in of the Dow Jones Multimedia Training Academy held recently at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP): Jessica Retis, Bradford Owen, Mark Albertson and instructor Doug Mitchell. Downtown El Paso Merchants Tell Their Story