Overview
The Americas Center Consumer Banking Conference, hosted by the Florida International University School of Business, explored how banking the unbanked and underbanked helps stabilize and strengthen financial industries and economies in the United States and Latin America. The conference also delved into how access to mainstream banking services stabilizes communities and how growth in consumer banking markets can occur safely and soundly through financial education, regulation, and product innovation. Speakers discussed how successful partnerships support the continued progress in banking the unbanked.
For further information about the conference, contact Ana Cruz-Taura at 305-597-6850.
Agenda
Opening Remarks
Pat Barron, First Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Setting the Stage: Emerging Market Profiles
Participants discuss success stories in creating and implementing effective business development models that are reaching unbanked market segments, with an emphasis on why mainstream banking provides a means for financial stability to individuals and economies.
Moderator
Emmanuel Roussakis, Florida International University
Panelists
Manuel Orozco, Inter-American Dialogue [Presentation 
]
Manuel Alegre, ShoreBank International [Presentation ]
Susan Rico, Wells Fargo Bank [Presentation ]
The Role of Financial Education
Practitioners share their experiences in converting the unbanked and underbanked into "bankable" individuals, utilizing consumer education to create a safer and more transparent marketplace. Discussions will cover a variety of financial education models and include how effective collaborations can be sustained.
Moderator
Rudy Araujo, Director, Asociación de Supervisores
Bancarios de las Américas (ASBA)
Panelists
Louisa Quittman, U.S. Department of the Treasury [Presentation ]
Annie Carrillo, Mexican Instituto de los Mexicanos
en el Exterior (IME) [Presentation ]
Maru Cortazar, Appleseed Foundation [Presentation ]
Liliana Grip, BBVA Compass [Presentation ]
Product Innovation: Consumer Protection versus Consumer Empowerment
Regulators discuss how products and services can evolve to meet the changing needs of underbanked and emerging markets, consistent with safe and sound practices. Topics will include how marketing and education can work together to help promote new products and promote long-term financial stability.
Moderator
Edward Skelton, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Panelists
Elena Whisler, Retail Payments Office, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta [Presentation ]
Luke Reynolds, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [Presentation ]
Scott Graham, FINCA International [Presentation ]
Business Development Models and Products
Bankers discuss how to implement successful outreach initiatives, what models or products work best to reach the underbanked market segments, and how global economic conditions affect business development strategies.
Moderator
Peter McDougal, consultant
Panelists
Andrea Pinotti Cordeiro, Itaú Bank [Presentation ]
Enrique Carrillo, Chevy Chase Bank
Pedro Uribe, Banco Davivienda [Presentation ]
Identifying Gaps and How to Address Them
In putting it all together, the final panel of experts discuss what has worked for specific markets in Latin America and various regions of the United States, the effects of policies and regulations on outreach efforts and the development of new products, where emerging market development is running into roadblocks, and how entities can work together better.
Moderator
Robert Schenk, Senior Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Panelists
Tova Maria Solo, World Bank [Presentation ]
Ana Alvarez Boyd, Federal Reserve Board [Presentation ]
Ellen Seidman, New America Foundation [Presentation ]
Closing Remarks
Robert Schenck, Vice President, Supervision and Regulation, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta