Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco: Pacific Exchanges Podcast

Grovetta Gardineer Reflects upon Inclusion Challenges in the United States

Cindy Li and Linda True — Thu, 13 May 2021 08:47:56 -0700

In episode nine of Financial Inclusion & Beyond, we spoke with Grovetta Gardineer, the Senior Deputy Comptroller for Bank Supervision Policy at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. We discussed lessons learned from the COVID crisis, financial inclusion challenges here in the United States, as well as the role public policy and regulation should play.

Tracy Basinger on Shifting the Regulator Mindset to Encourage Inclusive Innovation

Sean Creehan and Cindy Li — Mon, 10 May 2021 08:01:24 -0700

In episode eight of Financial Inclusion & Beyond, we spoke with Tracy Basinger, the recently retired head of supervision at the San Francisco Fed. We get into examples of innovations promoting inclusion and challenges for regulators and who want to minimize risks while not getting in the way of positive change. And we talk about shifting from a historical mindset focused on preventing exclusion to one that thinks about promoting financial health and wellbeing.

Matt Homer on the Importance of Getting Digital Identity Right

Sean Creehan and Kaitlin Asrow — Thu, 06 May 2021 08:27:30 -0700

In episode seven of Financial Inclusion & Beyond, we spoke with Matt Homer, Deputy Commissioner of the Research and Innovation division of the New York State Department of Financial Services. We get into the benefits of inclusive technology, but also the potential for digitization to exclude some vulnerable populations and the unexpected challenges policymakers and firms face in delivering new financial services to people that previously lacked access.

Chris Calabia on the Role of Public Policy and Regulation in Improving Access to Finance

Sean Creehan and Cindy Li — Mon, 03 May 2021 08:48:48 -0700

In episode six of Financial Inclusion & Beyond, we spoke with Chris Calabia, the Senior Advisor for Supervisory and Regulatory Policy, Financial Services for the Poor, at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We sat down to discuss how to drive financial health for the world's poor by improving access to essential financial services through better public policy and regulation.

Ting Jiang on How Better Financial Products Can Conquer Our Inner Homer Simpson

Sean Creehan and Cindy Li — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 08:01:51 -0700

In episode five of Financial Inclusion & Beyond, we spoke with Ting Jiang, a behavioral economist who researches and designs products for behavioral change. At the time of this recording, which took place before the pandemic, Ting was associated with Duke University's Center for Advanced Hindsight. We sat down to discuss the way behavioral scientists and product designers work together to build better financial products that help people take action to improve their financial health.

José Quiñonez on Seeing the Credit Invisible

Paul Tierno and Linda True — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 08:26:31 -0700

In episode four of our series Financial Inclusion & Beyond, we spoke with José Quiñonez, the founding chief executive officer of Mission Asset Fund (MAF). José talked to us about how MAF is helping those that have typically been left out get integrated into the formal financial system. MAF is drawing on the rich tradition of lending circles to help the low-income and immigrant communities develop a credit history and join the financial system.

Arjuna Costa on Designing Financial Products for the Unincluded

Sean Creehan and Cindy Li — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 08:53:11 -0700

In episode three of Financial Inclusion & Beyond, we spoke with Arjuna Costa, managing partner of Flourish Ventures, a leading social impact fund focused on financial health. Arjuna invests in entrepreneurs around the world to catalyze innovations that help people achieve financial health. We sat down to discuss the way entrepreneurs are harnessing the power of behavioral economics and customer-centric design to meet the everyday financial challenges of low income populations.

Greta Bull Puts Financial Inclusion Into Context

Paul Tierno and Linda True — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 08:52:57 -0700

In episode two of our series Financial Inclusion & Beyond, we spoke with Greta Bull, the chief executive officer of CGAP, an expert in development finance, primarily focused on small and medium enterprise finance, microfinance, and digital financial services. We discuss the history of financial inclusion efforts around the world and the evolution of the financial inclusion movement, the micro and macro effects of inclusion, and lessons learned from various efforts around the globe.

Mary Daly on Why the Fed Cares about Financial Inclusion

Sean Creehan and Paul Tierno — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 08:30:26 -0700

Today we begin a new series, Financial Inclusion & Beyond, an exploration of what we can learn from global efforts to build a more inclusive financial system. We begin with San Francisco Fed president Mary Daly and talk about why the Fed cares about financial health and inclusion, how we're engaging and learning from a community of subject matter experts and the general public, and the significant work ahead of us.

Financial Inclusion & Beyond Coming April 15

Trevor — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 08:33:04 -0700

We are thrilled to announce a new season, Financial Inclusion & Beyond, launching on April 15. This 9-episode series is an exploration of insights from around the world in the use of technology and public policy to promote financial health and inclusion. Here is a preview.