St. Louis Fed Convenes Conference on Affordable Credit and Financial Services for Underserved Communities

ST. LOUIS ― The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis will host the Crossing the Credit Barrier Conference Oct. 22-23, bringing together researchers, bankers, innovators, community leaders and other stakeholders to discuss affordable credit and banking for low- and moderate-income communities.

The conference, titled "Crossing the Credit Barrier: Advancing Access and Creating Opportunities," aims to leverage the intersection of research and practice to better understand the challenges and opportunities in the credit environment for consumers and small businesses.

"Access to affordable credit and banking services is essential for economic mobility and financial stability. This conference enables experts to share their research, insights and best practices to improve credit access for underserved communities," said conference co-organizer and St. Louis Fed senior researcher Liz Deichmann, who has analyzed the state of consumer credit for a report on access to credit and financial services.

The conference will also feature presentations and workshops on:

• Research and analysis on the credit environment for individuals and small businesses
• Innovative financing models and products expanding access to credit
• The impact of high auto debt on households and innovative solutions
• Alternative credit models and their impact
• Impact of credit on housing and homeownership
• How employers are helping employees access credit

"We are excited to convene a diverse group of experts and stakeholders to tackle this critical issue," said conference co-organizer and St. Louis Fed regional outreach manager Neelu Panth. "By bringing together researchers, bankers, innovators, and community leaders, we hope to foster a dynamic exchange of ideas on improving credit access for low- and moderate-income communities."

The Crossing the Credit Barrier Conference will be held at the St. Louis Fed in person and virtually. Registration is required to attend. For more information and to view the full conference agenda, visit the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

The event is being co-sponsored by the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia, Boston and Richmond.