National Bankers Association 2024 Highlights

Attendees at the National Bankers Association Justice Climate Fund Meeting

As we bring 2024 to a close, we want to thank all of our members and partners and share some highlights from an incredible year. The National Bankers Association is proud to have celebrated its 97th year of exceptional service. Our mission to serve Minority Depository Intuitions (MDIs) and their communities has remained the same, but how we serve them has evolved, including through our nonprofit affiliate, the National Bankers Association Foundation (Foundation).   

In 2024, we launched new partnerships and programs to ensure that MDIs survive, thrive and increase their profits. This endeavor has been a collaborative effort from our member banks, strategic partners, and allies. We prioritized public policy advocacy at the center of our work while increasing our member banks' profile.  

We continue to position leadership and members as leading voices in community banking and economic advancement. Additionally, we have been at the forefront in securing resources to support MDI expansion into new opportunities like climate finance and to support MDIs’ technology modernization efforts. We know digital capabilities are increasingly defining our institutions’ ability to compete and serve their communities.  

The National Bankers Association ended the year with many accomplishments, including:  

• 80 meetings with the Administration and the U.S. Congress on topics important to MDIs for members, including testifying before congressional committees 

• 16 letters or comments to policymakers to express our support and/or recommendations on legislation, regulation and public policy changes that impact MDIs     

• 57 articles, podcasts and media hits including featuring the organization, leadership, and membership 

• 19 virtual sessions of our in-house Coffee & Conversations programming and 12 co-hosted webinars to offer our members partnership/business opportunities and discuss hot industry topics  

• 22 Strategic Partnerships with the private and philanthropic community communities to capitalize, modernize and strengthen MDIs 

• 3 advisory councils focused on capturing the next generation of customers, leveraging tech solutions and identifying partnerships comprised of experts in financial services, technology, fintech, and corporate  

• 75+ pro bono firms, sponsors, council members, grantors and allies partnering to drive visibility, funding, policy advocacy, programs and value to members 

• Sold out Annual Conference with regulators, policymakers and industry experts as speakers 

The National Bankers Association Foundation also developed engaging resources and launched initiatives such as:  

• Free pilots, programs, and resources to support impact reporting, capital collaboration, and financial wellness platform  

• Continued execution of a $10 million grant from the Citi Foundation Community Finance Innovation Fund to help MDIs digitize, modernize and scale through bank tech assessments, shared technology platforms, and subsidized technology implementation  

• Justice Climate Fund awarded $940 million in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds to support members new and expanding climate finance portfolio  

• Expanded EquityEQ compliance and impact reporting tool and onboarded new subscribers  

• Free Our Money Matters Digital Financial Wellness Platform for MDI members to increase financial knowledge within their communities with support from the Wells Fargo Foundation 

• Launched new Justice Bonds Initiative to create new revenue streams and MDI partnerships with impact investors  

• Published seven research reports and insights pieces on MDIs sector 

2024 was an incredible year but this recap only scratches the surface of all that we accomplished. Together, with our members and strategic partners, we look forward to accomplishing even more in 2025!  

For information on how to become a member, click here.