Events

Past Events

Financial Access for Immigrants: Emerging Market Opportunities

The Mark of the Quad Cities
1201 River Drive
Moline, IL
June 21, 2007

The Consumer and Community Affairs division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, together with The Latino Connection and Black Hawk College, held a conference entitled, Financial Access for Immigrants: Emerging Market Opportunities. This conference explored the experience of the many immigrants to the Quad Cities area in accessing and obtaining financial services, including: savings and checking accounts, loans, business credit, credit cards and remittance services, as well as other issues surrounding the financial access of immigrants, such as employment, housing, education and social services. The speakers for this event will be area bankers, academics, regulatory specialists, immigrant leaders and business representatives.

Into the Mainstream: As Hispanic Immigrants Flow Into the Region, How Can Banks and Communities Join Forces to Provide the Right Financial Services?

Louisville, KY
September 23, 2005

Across the nation, community-based organizations and banks were developing innovative partnerships to increase the number of Hispanic immigrants who use banking services and products. A recurrent theme throughout this summit meeting was the importance of building and maintaining trust when reaching new Hispanic immigrant customers. The event was designed for representatives of financial institutions, community-based organizations and government agencies as well as immigrant and housing advocates.

Financial Access for Immigrants: The Quad Cities Story

September 8, 2005
Moline, IL

The Consumer and Community Affairs division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago hosted a conference entitled, Financial Access for Immigrants – The Quad Cities Story. This conference, co-sponsored by The Quad City Development Group and the Bi-State Regional Planning Commission explored the experience of the many immigrants to the Quad Cities area in accessing and obtaining financial services, including: savings and checking accounts, loans, business credit, credit cards, remittance services, as well as other issues surrounding the financial access of immigrants, such as employment, housing, education and social services.

This event geared toward employers of immigrant workers, researchers and academics interested in immigrant and working-poor issues, public and private agencies serving immigrants and low income workers and CEOs, compliance, CRA and other officers of financial institutions who are involved in serving the immigrant population in the area.

Financial Access for Southeast Asian Immigrants and Refugees

Appleton, WI
December 9, 2004

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Consumer and Community Affairs division, and the Wisconsin United Coalition of Mutual Assistance Associations co-hosted this event.

Participants gained valuable insights from experts who addressed issues and opportunities surrounding financial access for immigrants. Charles Vang was the keynote speaker and shared his experiences as a successful business owner, president of the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, radio personality, and leader in the community to provide a valuable perspective regarding Hmong access to business credit.

Other forum topics included:

Demographic and historical background and interpretation of Wisconsin's growing Lao-Hmong immigrant and refugee population;
Consumer banking laws and regulations that impact immigrants;
A panel discussion highlighting best banking practices for reaching immigrants; and
Home purchase and small business loan programs targeted to immigrants.

Payments in the Americas

Atlanta, GA
October 7 – 8, 2004

This conference, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, focused on the burgeoning remittance market and the policy objective of facilitating electronic payments and reducing costs to consumers. Conference attendees, including policymakers, financial sector leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere, and payment system specialists, discussed experiences with automated clearinghouse (ACH) and other electronic payment media and how they could be more broadly applied.

Financial Access for Immigrants: The Local Story

Muscatine, IA
September 29, 2004

The Consumer and Community Affairs Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Diversity Service Center of Iowa sponsored a special conference that addressed issues and opportunities surrounding the financial assimilation of immigrants.

Topics discussed during the one-day conference were legal, documentation and social matters, use of the matricula card and employment and housing concerns.

The event also inlcuded a special panel of experts on various topics affecting immigrants and their ability to obtain full and fair access to the U.S. financial system. The panel featured Rosa Mendoza, The Diversity Service Center of Iowa; Marco Laviada, immigrant entrepreneur and small business owner, Muscatine, IA; Marco Adasme, New Iowan Center, Muscatine, IA; and other bankers and government officials in the Muscatine, IA area.

Visit the conference Web page for event information.

The Business of Immigrant Markets: Providing Access to Financial Services

Dallas, TX
September 29 – 30, 2004

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas held The Business of Immigrant Markets: Providing Access to Financial Services, a conference exploring emerging ways to provide banking and community development services to immigrant populations.

The conference highlighted the latest research on the role immigrants play in the U.S. economy and identified business opportunities presented by this dynamic market. Bankers, community development professionals and academics discussed products and marketing strategies designed specifically to reach immigrant markets.

The Business of Immigrant Markets also spotlighted successful community development partnerships providing financial services, affordable housing and business development services to immigrants as well as to low- and moderate-income communities.

Financial Access for Immigrants: Exploring Best Practices

Lisle, IL
July 21, 2004

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce-Chicago hosted this forum that included topics such as:

Demographic background and interpretation of Illinois' growing immigrant population;
Social and economic participation issues confronting newly arrived immigrants;
A panel discussion regarding best practices for banking immigrants;
A panel discussion regarding documentation and identification issues confronting immigrants, including the USA PATRIOT Act;
Views of the Mexican government regarding Mexican nationals, remittances and the Consular Identification Card; and
Programs targeted to small businesses, including surety bonding.

Agenda including speaker presentations and biographies.

Expanding Banking Opportunities in the Hispanic Market

Bowling Green, KY
April 28, 2004

Sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, this program informed bankers about the tools and resources available to help unbanked Hispanic immigrants enter the financial services mainstream.

Financial Access for Immigrants: Learning from Diverse Perspectives

Chicago, IL
April 15 – 16, 2004

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago hosted a timely and informative two-day conference entitled Financial Access for Immigrants: Learning from Diverse Perspectives. The conference featured new research on the most effective practices for overcoming barriers to immigrant financial market participation. The conference discussion encouraged sharing of ideas with presentation from academics and practitioners on a broad range of topics including traditional banking, housing and homeownership, entrepreneurship, small business lending, and remittances.

Conference Information

An Informed Discussion of Financial Access for Immigrants

Springfield, IL
March 12, 2004

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Consumer and Community Affairs division, and the Central Illinois Chapter, National Image, Inc. hosted "An Informed Discussion of Financial Access for Immigrants" forum in Springfield, Illinois on March 12, 2004.

Participants gained valuable insights from experts who addressed issues and opportunities surrounding financial access for immigrants.

Topics included:

Demographic background and interpretation of Illinois' growing immigrant population
Social and economic participation issues confronting newly arrived immigrants
Workforce development and matters facing employers of immigrants
A panel discussion regarding best practices for banking immigrants
A panel discussion regarding documentation and identification issues confronting immigrants, including the USA PATRIOT Act
Views of the Mexican government regarding Mexican nationals, remittances and the Consular Identification Card
Research evidence from international migrants in the U.S.

An Informed Discussion of Financial Access for Immigrants

Indianapolis, IN
December 17, 2003

This event was sponsored by the Consumer and Community Affairs Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (ISHCC). More...

An Informed Discussion of Financial Access for Immigrants

Milwaukee, WI
October 30, 2003

This event was held at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A panel of experts addressed issues and opportunities surrounding the financial access of immigrants. Topics included: serving the financial needs of immigrant populations, USA Patriot Act impact on immigrant issues, legal services to immigrants, documentation issues surrounding the IRS, the matricula card and financial access as a tool to stem poverty and welfare dependence.