Newsroom

As the NCUA works to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the credit union industry, the agency is hosting two upcoming events focused on these issues: A Minority Depository Institution (MDI) Forum March 3-4, and a financial inclusion webinar March 11.

MDI Forum

Tuesday's session will take place at the Treasury Department from 3 to 5 p.m. Eastern and feature a conversation with National Urban League CFO Calvin Harris, industry stakeholders, and MDI attendees. Wednesday, an MDI training session at NCUA's headquarters will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern.

Space will be limited, so credit unions interested in attending are encouraged to email MDIForum@NCUA.gov with the contact information of all the individuals who plan to attend.

Last year, the NCUA launched a new pilot program to establish mentoring programs for MDI-designated credit unions. The goal of the program is for larger MDI credit unions to provide guidance to smaller credit unions related to serving low-income and underserved populations. Three credit unions were selected for the first round of grants; they are provided through the NCUA's Community Development Revolving Loan Fund (CDRLF).

A NAFCU witness in October testified before a House Financial Services subcommittee on the important role MDIs have in serving diverse and underserved communities and also recommended ways to allow credit unions to serve even more communities in need.

Financial Inclusion Webinar

March 11, NCUA's Office of Credit Union Resources and Expansion is holding a webinar to share ways credit unions can expand access to affordable financial services. Representatives from the NCUA and CFPB will discuss:

• the current landscape of financial inclusion in the U.S.;
• barriers and challenges to low-income populations for financial inclusion; and
• innovations in financial inclusion.

Register for the webinar here; it is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Eastern. Attendees can submit questions throughout the webinar via Twitter (@TheNCUA) or in advance by emailing WebinarQuestions@ncua.gov.

In November, the NCUA hosted its first Credit Union Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit at which NAFCU Director of Regulatory Affairs Ann Kossachev led a think-tank exercise to generate conversation and solutions to existing and emerging challenges related to advancing DEI.