Advancing Financial Inclusion: Highlights from the Robinhood-NBA Roundtable

On June 2, 2025, Robinhood and the National Bankers Association convened a roundtable at Robinhood’s New York City office, gathering leaders from a variety of backgrounds who all share a commitment to inclusive financial services. Moderated by NBA’s Anthony Barr and designed to spark honest dialogue around financial inclusion, the session explored barriers to market participation, strategies for building investor confidence, and the role of emerging technologies in democratizing access.

Through candid conversations and shared research insights, participants discussed scaling experiential education, fostering partnerships, and how to navigate implementing tools that can achieve greater participation in America’s financial system.

Key Takeaways

Hands-On Learning Lowers Barriers

Panelist Angie Liang, Director of Research at Robinhood Markets, Inc., shared that through their 2025 research with the World Economic Forum they found that nearly half of prospective investors prefer to learn by doing (42%) underscoring the power of experiential tools to build confidence and engagement. Robinhood has put this insight into action via its “IRA Learn & Earn” module is an educational program that teaches customers the basics about Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and rewards them for completing different lessons.

Relevance and Roots Are Essential for Trust

Lasting inclusion starts at the local level. Panelist Christina Zanca, VP Marketing Director at Ponce Bank, shared that what makes them effective is representation and relevance—86% of their team members come from the communities we serve, plus they offer services in multiple languages, which really helps build trust.

Education and Support Drive Confidence

Throughout the roundtable, panelists agreed that education must be woven into every step of the customer journey. Nicole Elam, President of National Bankers Association, shared how financial education is a community cornerstone for its member banks—delivering neighborhood workshops, online webinars, and micro–learning modules that fit seamlessly into everyday banking experiences.

Technology That Meets Users Where They Are     ‍⁣

As customer expectations evolve, financial tools must feel effortless and intuitive. Embedding real-time guidance, personalized insights, and seamless interfaces into mobile apps and partner platforms ensures that every individual—whether experimenting with a first trade or managing a long-term portfolio—can access the right support at the right moment.

Looking Ahead – Why This Matters

Participants agreed that true, lasting progress depends on sustaining these collaborative, educational, and technological efforts—and doing so with the same clarity and integrity we champion in policy discussions. By anchoring this work in transparent dialogue, investor protection, and shared accountability, all participants can ensure every American has the tools and the confidence to participate fully in our financial system, fueling a stronger, more inclusive economy.