WASHINGTON – The U.S. Postal Service has a big problem, one that it wants to solve by expanding financial services for customers, the Washington Post reports. The USPS has been struggling for years to become financial solvent, as its traditional means of revenue have plummeted and its pension obligations have skyrocketed.

This week, the USPS inspector general recommended that the beleaguered agency offer more financial services, such as prepaid debit cards and small loans. The USPS would target the 68 million Americans who lack access to traditional banking services. Researchers predict that such an expansion could generate $8.9 billion annually for the agency.

The challenge would be to convince Congress that such a move would be prudent and profitable. The USPS has been providing limited financial services, such as money orders and international money transfers, for years. The agency tried prepaid debit cards in the 1990s, but consumers weren’t interested.

However, now prepaid, reloadable debit cards are more popular, with U.S. consumers putting $192 billion on prepaid cards two years ago, a threefold increase since 2007. While big banks and merchants have offered prepaid debit cards for years, the USPS, with its 32,000 locations, could have an advantage.

“The physical presence is already there to serve the needs of Americans,” said Charles Crum, an economist in the inspector general’s office. “Also, the Postal Service is not beholden to shareholders to maximize profits,” so fees could be lower than at banks or retailers. The agency has yet to commit to the inspector general’s report.