Financial inclusion

CDFIs plug tech holes to close wealth gaps

11/19/20

Community development financial institutions, which tend to be less digitally savvy than traditional banks and credit unions, are developing online-lending platforms and automating backroom processes with investments and technical assistance from big banks, high-tech firms and other sources.

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Gene Ludwig's plan for saving the American Dream

10/26/20

Ludwig, an ex-banking regulator and CEO of Promontory Financial Group, describes how economic conditions for middle- and low-income Americans have declined and advocates a living wage, investment in infrastructure, smart regulation and other solutions.

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To end lending bias, banks need to use the right tech

10/26/20

Traditional lenders must embrace fintech underwriting tools that would help women- and monitory-owned businesses get loans they are too often denied.

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A Biden win could boost long-stalled efforts to help the unbanked

10/23/20

The Democratic nominee has not gone as far as some progressives in support of financial inclusion, but ideas such as postal banking, a government-run credit reporting system and universal bank accounts would likely gain traction under a Biden administration.

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New pressure on banks to offer affordable consumer accounts

10/19/20

Both the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the American Bankers Association are encouraging the industry to offer basic products that could bring more unbanked households into the financial mainstream.

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NCUA chief unveils plan to tackle 'the civil rights issue of our time'

10/19/20

In an exclusive interview announcing the regulator's new financial inclusion program, NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood explains why the time was right to double down on the agency's efforts to expand access for marginalized communities.

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NCUA awards $75K in mentoring grants

09/10/20

A trio of small credit unions designated as minority depository institutions have been matched with larger institutions to improve outreach to low-income and underserved consumers.

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Black recruitment tops agenda for African-American CU Coalition's new chair

09/03/20

Larry Sewell has also pledged to continue a series of industrywide conversations on race relations.

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Postal banking is a solution, but to which problem?

08/26/20

With the USPS emerging as an election-year flashpoint, postal banking is an idea that could gain steam. But a number of proposals are out there, and they have wildly varying implications for financial inclusion.

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Coronavirus crisis plays to the strengths of secured credit cards

07/13/20

With the COVID-19 health pandemic wreaking havoc on jobs, investments, consumer debt and lending, secured credit cards can address a vital need for people who may not have considered the product in the past.

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