Training, Workshops & Events

Join us – attend a workshop! The Financial Empowerment Network offers 10-12 free, virtual training workshops each year. These workshops are geared towards any professional working to increase the financial well-being of their clients or community members, no matter their level of comfort with personal finance. You don’t have to be a financial professional to join us – everyone is welcome!

Upcoming Events

Join us the 4th Wednesday of each month 2-3:30 pm!

 

Sign up here to receive the calendar invite for the full year and financial coaching news & announcements!

2025 Schedule:

2024 Schedule:

 

What is the WA Financial Coaching Network?

The Washington Financial Coaching Network is an initiative of the Financial Empowerment Network (FEN). The group was formed to connect the financial coaching community across Washington State and provide opportunities for coaches to gather on a regular basis to network with one another, share best practices, learn from, and support each other. We welcome financial coaches, counselors, educators, or anyone who is working on financial wellness with their clients or community members. 

 

Who should participate?  

  • Anyone in Washington State providing 1:1 or group financial coaching, counseling, mentoring, or financial education
  • Coaches who are brand new to the field as well as coaches with decades of experience are welcome
  • Not sure if you should attend? If you are providing case management, resource navigation, or advocacy and approach personal finance topics (budgeting, credit, savings, etc.) with a client-centered, strengths-based mindset, this group is for you!

 

Monthly Meetings

Date/Time:  4th Wednesday of each month, 2:00-3:30 pm
Location:  Zoom 

 

Questions? 

This initiative is co-chaired by Abby McCutcheon of Workforce Snohomish, Miladys Garcia of Financial Education Public-Private Partnership and Daniel Jean-Baptiste of Beneficial State Bank with the support of Abby Oakhart of the Financial Empowerment Network.

Thursday, May 22, 1:00 - 2:30 PM

Register here!

In these challenging and uncertain times, both clients and coaches face difficulties. How can we best help our clients who are experiencing a crisis? How do we help when we might also be experiencing a hard time? This workshop is designed to empower individuals with tools and support to serve their clients effectively. The session will feature an insightful panel discussion with seasoned financial coaches, who will share their experiences, best practices, and practical advice for guiding clients through turbulent times. Bring your questions for the panelists! We will also engage in a guided activity to introduce a framework helps us understand our mindset when we are working with clients.  

Past FEN Workshops

Supporting the Financial Wellbeing of the Immigrant and Refugee Communities

Tuesday, April 22, 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Presented by the Appleseed Network and the WA Commission on Hispanic Affairs. 

Join us for a workshop designed to equip you with the tools to support immigrant and refugee communities facing fear and uncertainty in today's climate. With rising misinformation and the threat of deportation, it's crucial to have access to trustworthy resources. In this session, you'll learn how to confidently address these challenges, help individuals create actionable plans, and combat misinformation with vetted information. Walk away with practical resources and the knowledge to better support your community in these difficult times.

Taxes 101: Tax Basics for Financial Empowerment 

Wednesday, February 12th, 1 – 2:30pm 

Taxes 101 Presentation | Facts about ITIN Presentation | Workshop Recording

It was great to get back to basics and hear an overview of income taxes and facts about the individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). We learned about the new resources including the website My Free Taxes WA where you can find free tax prep resources and United Ways of Pacific Northwest's Benefit Kitchen. Make sure you check them out!

Presented by Tasha Dalstra with United Way of King County, Elizabeth Escobar with Express Credit Union, and Jim Cooper with United Ways of the Pacific Northwest.

Driving Consumer Protection and Financial Empowerment in Washington State 

January 14, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm, January 15, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Day 2 Workshop Recording

A two-day event focused on the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau's Your Money, Your Goals Toolkit and a Focus on Reentry Companion Guide. Together we grew our confidence navigating these resources, learned from innovative practices happening in WA, and explored financial empowerment resources for people who are justice impacted. Day 2 was the only day recorded.

Presented by ICF and the CFPB.

Policy Advocacy 101

Tuesday, November 12th 2-3:30p 

Presentation Materials | Workshop Recording 

A collaborative conversation on how we can advocate for our community members and engage in economic justice at the policy level. In this workshop, you'll learn:

  • How Washington’s legislative process works 
  • How to influence lawmakers at every stage of the process 
  • How to join a statewide community of advocates and fight for change! 

Presented by Molly Gallagher, Statewide Poverty Action Network

Coaching Mindsets in Tough Money Conversation - In partnership with HUD

Thursday, September 19 - 11a-12:30p PT 

Presentation & Financial Wheel of Life Resource

Watch the recording here!

Working with people who are experiencing resource scarcity can involve a lot of tough conversations. This gets harder when clients share their experiences of trauma or when we as practitioners aren’t sure how to balance the relationship with the program goals and deadlines. To make this process easier and more productive, we invite you to join us as we discuss ways to maintain a mindset that will help turn tough conversations into an opportunity to build trust and support clients in their journey.  

By the end of this workshop attendees will: 

  • Develop expertise in building trust with clients to strengthen the coaching relationship. 
  • Learn strategies to remain authentic while receiving traumatic stories in an open and curious manner. 
  • Explore how incorporating coaching mindsets can improve program outcomes and support client goals. 
  • Learn how client values shape their long-term financial decisions. 

Presented by 

Facilitated by  

Fraud & Consumer Protection Series

July 11th, 18th, & 25th

The random text from an unknown number. The person pretending to be a loved one. The link that opens your account to be taken over by an unknown user. Fraud and scams are a constant challenge when interacting with our world, both online and offline. Join us for three quick, interactive Lunch & Learn sessions on ways that scammers are worming their way into our lives and how to protect ourselves and our loved ones. 

July 11: Imposter Scams & Identity Protection 

July 18: Targeting the Generations  

July 25: FinTech  

Presented by 

Credit Building Resources

June 26th, 2024

Improving credit can be a long road. A good credit building strategy will cover paying down past debt while also providing pathways to establish new, healthy credit history. Join us for an interactive discussion on resources that can provide access to safe, affordable credit building and can accelerate positive credit history. Participants will have a chance to learn and collaborate to flush out potential referral sources for their clients.

Facilitated by

Workshop Recording

King County Financial Empowerment Partners' Network Meeting

June 6th, 2024

The first in person King County Financial Empowerment Partners Network (FEPN) meeting. Workshop conducted by Devin Stubblefield. Additional resources located down below.

Guardians of the Wallet is an immersive workshop designed to equip financial practitioners with the tools and insights needed to guide their clients toward lasting financial well-being. In an era defined by AI, FinTech, and new emerging online apps, this workshop serves as a beacon of knowledge and empowerment for those committed to safeguarding their clients' financial futures.   

Key Topics: 

  • Recent Insights on Buy Now, Pay Later 
  • Navigating Risks and Opportunities 
  • Protecting Clients in the Digital Age 
  • Advanced Coaching Approaches for Sustainable Financial Well-Being  

Presenters: 

Devin Stubblefield, Faith Finance Center

Resources from the Workshop:

Budget Conversations & Decisions

April 11, 2024

The process of building a monthly budget can be a big lift for many people. Not only are financial pictures often complicated, how we allocate our spending says a lot about our values. Navigating the budget-building process with clients can be challenging and rewarding if done well. Join us to hear about ways that we can make that conversation a little easier and reach decisions that are informed by financial values.

Facilitated by

Workshop Recording

Budget & Money Management Resources

Financial Wellness Part 2: Trauma & Financial Experiences

March 7, 2024

Money is not simply dollars and cents to be spent. Money comes with a lifetime of experiences and memories that shape how people feel when having money conversations. As financial coaches, we meet people where they are in their journey and sometimes that means talking about past or ongoing trauma as it relates to their finances. Being able to honor those experiences in a trauma-informed way is a skill that can turn an uncomfortable topic into significant progress. Join us as we share resources to strengthen financial conversations with clients who have experienced trauma.

  • Diana Alvarez, YWCA
  • Charnell Morud, Verity CU
  • Janet Torres-Garcia, El Centro de la Raza 

Facilitated by

  • Minda Michelle Mattox, WSECU

Workshop Recording

Financial Wellness Part 1: The Power of Relational Coaching

February 14, 2024

People often have a unique relationship with money which is based on their experiences growing up and tied to how they view the world. As coaches, counselors, and people who have conversations about money with clients it’s important that we are able to empathize with the different ways our brains make sense of financial topics. Join Minda Michelle Mattox and Devin Stubblefield as they discuss how they’ve arrived at a coaching practice that reinforces, validates, and recognizes coaches' lived experiences and informal training that help them be the wonderful "people people" that they are.

  • Devin Stubblefield, Faith Finance Center
  • Minda Michelle Mattox, WSECU

Workshop Recording

Taxes in Washington

January 10, 2024

Tax season is an important time of year and getting the most out of tax returns can be a daunting task for families looking to kickstart savings, reduce debt, or reach their financial goals. Access to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and the Washington Working Families Tax Credit are incredible resources to take the next step towards stability and beyond. Join us to learn about updates to the WFTC and ways to connect community members with free tax filing!

Workshop Recording

Workshop Materials

Paying for College

December 2023

Paying for college can be complex and confusing, both for prospective students and for those who already have student loan debt. Join us to hear from programs with the WA Student Achievement Council and how they can help Washingtonians navigate these confusing systems and pay for college!

Workshop Recording

Materials

Trauma-Informed Financial Conversations

September 2023

Presented by Abby Buter.

We all carry our own stories and history with us wherever we go. Not only do we bring our own experiences into working with clients, but they bring theirs. Most people have experienced some kind of trauma and adversity that impact an individual’s journey through life.

This workshop will lay the foundation for how to engage with clients in a trauma informed way. We will discuss how trauma affects people and the signs of trauma. We will learn tools with which to respond, and how to safeguard against re-traumatization. 

In this workshop we’ll answer the following questions:

  • What does it mean to be trauma informed?
  • What’s going on in our body when we’re activated (aka triggered)?
  • What are tools that we can use when ourselves or a client is feeling activated?
  • How does being trauma informed strengthen financial conversations with our clients and community?

Workshop recording

Materials 

Navigating Benefits Cliffs

August 2023

Public benefits are available as an important financial foundation to support low-income and marginalized community members. As people increase their income and assets, the systems can be a confusing maze with opaque rules that limit folks ability to achieve financial wellbeing. 

This workshop helps providers understand the rules, learn about resources, and hear from folks who are actively/successfully helping their clients navigate benefits cliffs for programs such as Social Security, TANF, Medicare & Medicaid, SNAP, Childcare, LIHEAP, and Public Housing:

This is a common challenge and we don’t have all the answers. Together we will explore how to build a bridge that spans from surviving to thriving, so that folks can get across and land safely on the other side.

Workshop recording

Materials 

Preventing Fraud & Avoiding Scams

July 2023

As quickly as we work to identify and evade fraudsters and scammers, their tactics are evolving. Join us to hear from the WA Attorney General’s Office about avoiding fraud and scams. During this “train-the-trainer” workshop, you’ll learn:

  1. Resources available to educate your community on avoiding falling prey to fraud and scams
  2. How to identify the signs of someone who may have experienced fraud/scam
  3. Strategies to support victims of fraud, including - how and where to refer them and what resources might be available

Gain knowledge about current tricks and schemes, learn about the vast resources available, and get comfortable in having these conversations with your clients and community.

Workshop recording

Materials 

Making Homeownership Accessible: Spotlights on Opportunities & Resources to Get Ready

June 2023

Homeownership can seem daunting in this current housing market; the challenges to home buyers are unprecedented. But we know that homeownership is a key to building lasting, generational wealth. Learn more about bridging the housing gap - hear about tools, resources, and creative solutions that can make buying a home more accessible, equitable and affordable for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. 

This workshop covers: 

  • Various models for housing access, including community land trusts and self-help housing 
  • Resources that support homeowners like pre-purchase housing counseling and education, down payment assistance, home repair support, and foreclosure prevention options 
  • Work happening to increase homeownership for Black Washingtonians, with the goal of reducing generational wealth inequities 

Listen in to learn from providers across the state about how they are supporting home buyers throughout the ownership cycle: 

Learn about resources available to support your community, and walk away with information you may be able to use yourself as well!

Workshop recording

Materials 

More resources

Increasing the Financial Wellbeing of Immigrant and Refugee Communities

May 2023

Washington State has a history of welcoming immigrants and refugees from all over the world, with incredible ethnic and language diversity. How do we ensure that we are equitably serving all people with dignity and respect for their lived experience? How do we bridge differences in understanding of financial systems, English language ability, and cultural values around money?

Hear from:

Learn from folx across sectors who have been working to increase the financial well-being of immigrant and refugee communities through financial education, financial coaching, and access to financial systems. They cover the role of cultural humility and the coaching mindset, the importance of high quality language access, how immigration status can affect the resources and services available, and some specific ways we can better serve our immigrant or refugee community members. 

Workshop recording

Materials

Resources

Credit Reports & Scores

April 2023

Presented by Becky House with American Financial Solutions

Do you work with folks who are struggling to make ends meet or have credit challenges? Does their credit score affect their ability to move forward in life - with housing, work, or finances? Are you looking for ways to support your clients or community members with their financial wellness? This workshop is for you!

Gain the knowledge and skills to manage, protect, and build or rebuild credit, plus learn how to support your clients and community members as they bring their credit questions to you.

Workshop recording

Materials

Racial Economic Equity

February 2023

Facilitated by Devin Stubblefield, Johanna Barrero, and Melissa Canu, ICF Team members who provide training and technical assistance on behalf of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.

Racial Economic Equity is an important topic that the CFPB and agencies all around the country are beginning to address. During this 90-minute session, participants were led through a process to work together to identify barriers, and brainstorm possible solutions to racial economic equity within the services they provide.  

You can access a pdf of the Mural from the Bank On WA session on February 8th here.

You can access a pdf of the Mural from the Financial Coaching Network session on February 22nd here.

Working Families Tax Credit 

WFTC launched in February! Learn about eligibility requirements and how to support your community members in accessing this important financial support. 

Presenters included:

January 2023 workshop recording

Materials

This workshop is a partnership between the Financial Empowerment Network and the Washington Asset Building Coalition. Thank you to the WFTC Coalition, Statewide Poverty Action Network, and Solid Ground for your support of this workshop.

Managing Student Loan Debt

September 29th, 2022
Presented by: Latife Neu, Schweet Law and Julia Kellison, NW Justice Project

This workshop is a collaboration between the Financial Empowerment Network, Consumer Education and Training Center (CENTS), and King County’s Developmental Disabilities and Early Childhood Supports Division.

The workshop covered types of loans and how to find out what type you have, payment plans, loan forgiveness options including Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Temporary Expanded PSLF, and the limited PSLF waiver, private student loan issues, defaulted loans, student loan scams, bankruptcy, & resources.

Materials
Recording

Other resources related to Student Loan Debt:

Using Fintech to Drive Equity & Support Financial Well-Being 

August 24, 2022
Presented by: Megan Bolado, Change Machine

Materials
Recording

Fintech has the potential to help your clients meet their financial goals from creating a budget to savings. Just like traditional financial and banking products, there are endless tech-based products and services that can support day to day financial activities and goals. Join us to learn more about the world of fintech, how you can quickly evaluate and understand the different products out there, and how fintech can impact the financial well-being of your coaching clients and customers.

Cryptocurrency & Digital Wallets

June 21, 2022
Presented by: Brian Duerr, Washington State Employees’ Credit Union

Materials
Recording

Dealing with Debt Collectors

May 10, 2022
Presented by: Julia Kellison of Northwest Justice Project and Becky House of American Financial Solutions.

Materials
Recording

Learn more about what you need to know about debt collectors, the collection process & credit reports, and how we can help our clients:

  • Understand consumers’ rights in dealing with collection agencies and in the debt collection process
  • Understand consumers’ rights related to a credit report, including challenging errors and new rules about what can and can’t be reported
  • How to prioritize what debts to pay when money is tight
  • PLUS – big changes happening in what medical debts can be reported on credit reports and changes coming to Charity Care laws in Washington State!

Linking Financial Wellness and Small Business Development

April 27, 2022
Presented by: Jennifer Quiroz, Financial Empowerment Network and Lisa Smith, Washington State Microenterprise Association

Recording
Chat box resources
FEN slide deck
WSMA slide deck
Enterprise for Equity Slide Deck
YWCA Slide Deck
Ventures Slide Deck

Panelists:

  • Jenefeness Tucker, VP of Community Relations & Public Affairs at Seattle Credit Union, Entrepreneur, Professor of Economics; Seattle Central College & Collaborator with Black-Owned Business Excellence in WA (BOBE)
  • Beth Henriquez, Program Director & Loan Officer at Enterprise for Equity
  • Sofia Austin, Financial Coach at YWCA Seattle | King County
  • Mayra Gómez, Credit Building Manager at Ventures

For many folks from marginalized communities, small business ownership can be a powerful path out of poverty and into financial security and well-being. Yet in today’s economy, financial systems are increasingly complex, business planning is challenging to navigate, and barriers to achieving financial stability can be daunting.

During the webinar, we heard from panelists (Panelist Bios) from organizations grounded in both financial empowerment and small business development, who shared their journey to offering both types of support and what structures and partnerships have worked well for them along the way. We hope you will leave with resources and new ideas about how you can support your clients in accessing both types of support.

Your Money Your Goals Toolkit – Introduction & Overview

March 9, 2022
Presented by: Cassie Russell, an ICF contractor providing training and technical assistance on behalf of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Materials
Recording

If you work with folks who are struggling to make ends meet or have credit challenges this virtual workshop is for you. The Your Money, Your Goals financial empowerment toolkit has information that helps you have money conversations with the people you serve. Use the tools to help achieve goals and work through everyday client challenges. This workshop is an introduction to the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit that will prepare you to use it in your work with clients.

Supporting the Financial Wellness of Justice-Involved Individuals: Review of the Your Money Your Goals toolkit and Re-entry Companion Pack

February 23, 2022
Presented by: Cassie Russell, an ICF contractor providing training and technical assistance on behalf of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Materials
Recording

This interactive session will cover the Focus on Reentry companion guide from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This guide is designed to help financially empower criminal justice-involved individuals and their families. The workshop session provides an overview of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Your Money, Your Goals suite of materials and resources, including setting goals, preparing for release, understanding paystubs, creating a reentry debt log, requesting credit reports, and opening a checking or savings account.

Supporting VITA and Free Tax Preparation Across the Northwest

January 19, 2022
Presented by: The FDIC

Recording

Panelists include:

  • Riley Eldredge, Metropolitan Family Service - CASH Oregon
  • Dan McAvoy, NeighborWorks Umpqua
  • Sue Curtis, AARP Tax Aide Skagit County
  • Andrea Alexander, NW Native Asset Building Coalition

Coalition Building Learning Series

Session One - Coalition Building: A Look at Funding

Hosted by: Banner Bank
Presented by: Rocio Rodarte, Policy and Communication Manager, Mission Asset Fund

Recording

Session Two - Types of Collaborative Structures & What Makes Them Effective

Hosted by: WaFd Bank
Presented by: Fran Rosebush Baylor, Vice President Partnership, Field Engagement & Policy, Prosperity Now

Recording

Session Three - The Cost vs. Benefits of Coalition Building

Hosted by: Washington State Department of Commerce
Presented by: Bill Mills, CEO/President, FPP, and Joanna Doran, Ph.D., M.S.W., Associate Professor, California State University, School of Social Work, Los Angeles and Founding Member of the Asset Building Clinic

Recording

Session Four: Demonstrating Impact

Hosted by: Bank on Washington
Presented by: Nicky Grist, Chief of Research, Evaluation, & Finance, CFE Fund

Recording

Survey of Consumer Debt Issues: Medical Debt, Collections & Garnishments, and More!

November 2021
Presented by: Julia Kellison from Northwest Justice Project

Recording
Materials

Credit as an Asset: Affordable Credit Building Opportunities

August 2021
Presented by: Becky House, American Financial Solutions, Emerson Sekins, and Ellie Vainker, NW Access Fund

Recording

 

Money Mindset

October 2020 

Recording

Small Dollar Loan Solutions

September 2020

Recording

An Overview of Financial Empowerment

April 2020

Materials
Recording

Retirement Strategies: Washington Retirement Marketplace

March 2020

Recording

Past Bank On WA Events

Data Deep Dive: Who is Unbanked in WA?

April, 2025

Workshop Recording

An exploration of the new data and insights from the FDIC National Household Survey, Prosperity Now Scorecard, and National Bank On Data (BOND) Hub, three excellent data sets for measuring financial health in our communities. We will highlight the positive trends in banking access and unpack what the data tells us about who is unbanked in WA.  

Do you work for a financial institution? You will gain information and resources to better connect with potential clients who may be currently unbanked. 

Do you work with a community-based organization? Join us to learn more about the barriers to banking access and available support for community members. 

Presented by: 

This year’s theme is Leading the Way: Embracing Financial Belonging. You can join us on October 24th and 25th at Black Pearl on the Columbia in Washougal, Washington!

We explored the concept of fostering financial belonging at our forum last year and discussed the barriers and challenges faced by marginalized communities that have been historically excluded from mainstream financial services. Because this concept resonated with so many of you, this year we want to take a step further and explore financial belonging in action. We will examine leading models in our communities and discuss how to implement the financial belonging ethos. We’re excited to offer an opportunity for learning, networking, expanding partnerships, and working toward a future where everyone can achieve financial wellbeing. We are working to finalize the event agenda and are excited to share it with you all! Check out the forum agenda and be sure to check back for updates as we continue to release information about content and speakers!

This event is for community professionals committed to advancing inclusive banking and financial wellbeing for all Washingtonians!

Register now!

Visit our FAQ page for more information!

Are you also interested in attending Financial Coaching Foundations on Wednesday, October 23rd?

After you complete registration for the forum, make sure to also register for the free, pre-forum workshop hosted by Devin Stubblefield (in the same location as BOWA 2024)! Priority registration will be given to those who are also attending the Bank On WA forum. Reserve your spot soon as seating is limited and registration will fill up quickly!

Building Bridges Between Banks & Communities: The Power of the CRA

Tuesday August 20th

Presented by:

  • Erwin Reeves, Community Affairs, FDIC 
  • Lynn Willis, United Way of Pierce County 
  • Thushari Gooneratne, JPM Chase 
  • Jen Reed, Sound Credit Union 

Partnerships between organizations are crucial for supporting community members in improving their financial wellbeing. But how do we find the right partners? How do we build strong, lasting relationships? And how do we ensure that we are also a good partner? 

One effective approach is through the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The CRA is a law designed to address inequality in lending practices and ensure fair access to banking services and capital for all communities, particularly those that have been historically underserved. This transformative legislation requires banks to actively engage with low- and moderate-income communities, often by partnering with community-based organizations. 

In this workshop, explore how to identify and cultivate strong partnerships, leverage the CRA to benefit your community, and become a reliable partner in promoting financial wellbeing. Watch to learn more about CRA basics and see examples of nonprofit and financial institution partnerships. 

Watch now! 

Justice & Finance Forum: Fostering Economic Resilience

Tuesday June 25th 

Presented by:

  • Ruth Utnage, Consultant 
  • Jerrel Jones, Credit Revolution Education Directors 
  • Moderated by Tierra Bonds, Take Charge Credit Consulting 

One in 5 people in the US have an experience within the justice system. People who have been impacted face steep barriers to financial stability and wellbeing. Though they may be very savvy, many people have a lack of financial knowledge and understanding of how to navigate financial systems that are continuously evolving. Justice involved individuals often struggle to access records, documents, and identification, may owe court fees and fines, are more likely to be the victim of fraud or identity theft, and may face collections and garnishments on past-due debt.  

Additionally, 29% of formerly incarcerated people lack a bank account. Banking access is shown to increase peoples’ ability to achieve their financial goals, improve their reintegration into society, and may reduce recidivism rates. This is a market largely underserved by mainstream financial services.  

However, models exist to support the financial inclusion of justice-involved individuals. Learn from community members who were formerly incarcerated about the barriers to financial access and challenges to meeting their financial goals. They will also share solutions and resources that we can use to improve the experience of justice-involved individuals in financial institutions and community-based organizations. 

Watch now!

Find related resources for additional reading on FEN's *new* justice-impacted resource page

Our resource pages are created by and for you - providers who are working with community members! Do you know a great resource that to support justice-impacted individuals? Please share it here! We will use them to build the new resource page on our website!

 

Linking Communities to Safe, Affordable Financial Services: What is Bank On?

Tuesday May 7th 

Presented by:

  • Erwin Reeves, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  • Lisa Locke, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
  • Jennifer Quiroz, Financial Empowerment Network

While we have made progress in getting folks connected to safe, affordable financial services, nearly 20% of Washington families continue to use high-cost, potentially predatory alternative financial services, many of whom can least afford to pay these steep fees. What prevents individuals from utilizing banking services? Often it is confusion about services, misinformation, and a mistrust of financial institutions. 

How can we help people get connected to safer, more affordable alternatives? One model that is gaining momentum is Bank On. Watch to learn about the national Bank On movement that reduces barriers and lowers the cost of banking. 

We’ll hear from the FDIC regarding their National Household Survey about why folks do not use mainstream financial services and from the St. Louis Federal Reserve National Bank On Data (BOND) Hub about how previously unbanked individuals are using low-barrier Bank On accounts. Learn how you can get engaged with Bank On Washington to expand banking access and increase financial inclusion in your community!

Watch now!

Materials from the presentation

Presenters' Slide Decks

FDIC:

Federal Reserve of St. Louis:

Bank On Washington:

Fostering Financial Belonging: 

Connect | Expand | Strengthen | Empower

October 23rd & 24th 2023, Everett Community College

 

Thank you to all who joined us for the Bank On WA Forum 2023! Building on last year’s forum, we explored what it takes to create conditions where all Washingtonians feel they belong and can achieve financial wellbeing. 

Take a look at the event program here.

Participants engaged with an Action Squad smaller learning group to process and discuss the content together during the event. The areas of focus are youth, immigrants & refugees, justice-involved individuals, microenterprise, and black homeownership initiative. 

 

Many session were recorded - you can watch them FREE here!

Day One:

Day Two:

 

What is the Bank On WA Forum?

Our annual Bank On Forum is more than just an annual gathering; it’s an incubator of new ideas and opportunities to help improve the financial stability of our un- and underbanked neighbors.

Our goal for the forum is that people across sectors will come together to learn together and from one another, engaging in:

  • Creative problem-solving
  • Imagining solutions
  • Elevating positive and successful work happening around the state and country

and will leave the forum with specific, actionable steps they can take in their role to increase the equitable financial inclusion and financial wellness of their community and all Washingtonians.

 

Who should attend?

  • Financial institutions, government & financial regulators, community-based organizations, and educators (K-12 and higher ed.) who provide financial products, services, or programs to low-income and marginalized Washingtonians, and are interested in increasing financial inclusion and financial wellness
  • Decision-makers and influencers in financial product and program design
  • Those working in financial wellness*, especially those working directly with communities to connect people to safe, affordable, accessible financial products and services
  • Those wishing to get more engaged in financial wellness* work going forward

* Financial wellness includes those who offer financial coaching, counseling, education, or other financial services, or who have key financial conversations with clients, customers, or community members

 

2022 Bank On Washington Forum

Mission to Action: Reconnect, Reignite, Resilience

Bank On Washington was thrilled to host our signature Bank On Washington annual forum in person in 2022 after two years of virtual gatherings! The forum centered on understanding who are the un- and under-banked in Washington, exploring their financial service needs, and crafting community-led solutions together. We explored the experience of folks who are furthest from opportunity and have been historically and are currently excluded from mainstream financial services. On Day One we focused on the strengths of our communities, and on Day Two we tackled structural changes and solutions.

Program
Recordings will be released over the next few months - we will post them here as they become available. 

Check out:

Financial Wellbeing and Inclusion for Latinx Communities

 

2021 Bank On Washington Forum

Focus On Fintech

In 2021, attendees joined us virtually for our annual Bank On Washington Forum. The forum is more than just an annual gathering; it’s an incubator of new ideas and opportunities to help improve the financial stability of our un-and underbanked neighbors. During this forum, we learned about and engaged in topics such as FinTech, the Color of Banking, and the Psychology of Money.

Program
Recording: BOWA Day 1
Recording: BOWA Day 2

Community Conversations: Welcoming un- and under-banked community members into financial institutions

December 2021
Presented by: Becky House, American Financial Solutions, Anthony Powers, Seattle Clemency Project, and Jennifer Quiroz, Financial Empowerment Network

Coffee Hour Recording
Resources

Legal Financial Obligations in Washington State

September 2021
Presented by: Nick Allen from Columbia Legal Services

Coffee Hour Recording 
PowerPoint 

Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Overview

February 2021

Coffee Hour Recording
PowerPoint #1 (NACEDA) 
PowerPoint #2 (HDC)