The 4th Annual Underbanked Financial Services Forum
June 1st-3rd, 2009, the Westin Galleria, Dallas, TX, USA
The 4th Annual Underbanked Financial Services Forum is co-sponsored by the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI), a nonprofit financial services consultancy specializing in serving unbanked and underbanked consumers, and SourceMedia, a business-to-business publishing company. The event features approximately 50 speakers and presenters including CEOs, general managers, analysts, and researchers, attracting around 500 senior level executives from the banking, payments, retail, regulatory, nonprofit, credit union, and private equity sectors. Early Registration is available at: http://www.sourcemediaconferences.com/CFSI09/reginfo.html
Prices for registration are as follows:
Attendee Type |
Early Bird I |
Early Bird II |
Standard |
Banks & Financial Institutions |
$1095 |
$1195 |
$1295 |
Credit Unions |
$595 |
$695 |
$795 |
Government Rate |
$595 |
$695 |
$795 |
Non-Profit |
$595 |
$695 |
$795 |
All Others |
$1395 |
$1495 |
$1595 |
Expires: 03/27/09 |
Expires: 05/01/09 |
|
Attendees get the latest information from industry experts as well as on-the-ground case studies from across the globe, revealing best practices and solutions to achieve profitable growth and long-term success. The Forum also offers an exhibit hall focused on solutions for the underbanked, in addition to a variety of networking formats. Moreover, this year’s forum has developed a panel on international microfinance entitled, “International Microfinance as a Model for Underbanked Innovation.”
The Center for Financial Services Innovation grew out of a research project conducted in 2002 by a division of ShoreBank, America’s first community development and environmental bank holding company, on behalf of the Ford Foundation. The project examined the gap between supply and demand of financial services for low-income consumers, as well as potential strategies to close it. Since then, CFSI has become a non-profit affiliate of ShoreBank, and continues to receive support from the Ford Foundation as well as other non-profit organizations. At the same time, it also obtains revenue from some of its programs and activities, in keeping with its belief that entrepreneurs and industry play a vital role in growing financial services access for underbanked consumers.
Headquartered in Chicago, ShoreBank is a 2.4 billion USD holding company with banks and nonprofits in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Ilwaco, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and Michigan’s Upper Penninsula, with consulting services around the world. Shareholders of ShoreBank include financial institutions, foundations, insurance companies, major corporations, and individuals. In November 3, 2008, MicroCapital reported on President Barack Obama’s support of ShoreBank’s loan program to Kenyan microfinance bank K-Rep during his trip to Kenya in 2006. In two other stories in February 2008, MicroCapital profiled founders of ShoreBank Ron Grzywinski and Mary Houghton.
By Yanni Hao
Additional Resources:
Center for Financial Services Innovation: “Home”
Ford Foundation: “Home”
MicroCapital Story: February 17, 2008, “PIONEERS IN MICROFINANCE: Ron Grzywinski and Mary Houghton of ShoreBank”
MicroCapital Story: February 18, 2008, “PIONEERS IN MICROFINANCE: Ron Grzywinski and Mary Houghton of ShoreBank – Part II”
SourceMedia: “Home“
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