About NAFSA
Protecting & Preserving SovereigntyTribal. Financial. Sovereignty.
The Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA)
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NAFSA is a national 501(c)(6) trade association established in 2012 to champion economic opportunity, self-determination, and financial sovereignty across Indian Country.
NAFSA defends the inherent sovereign rights of Tribal Nations and their enterprises to govern, operate, and innovate within the financial services sector. Through proactive policy engagement, regulatory advocacy, and strategic Tribal capacity-building, NAFSA empowers Tribal governments to shape both traditional and next-generation financial systems on their own terms.
From Tribally governed lending to emerging frontiers like blockchain, digital assets, and sovereign fintech, NAFSA advances responsible innovation, economic diversification, and sustainable prosperity—ensuring that financial growth is both sovereign and community-driven.
Our Mission
To advocate for tribal sovereignty, promote responsible financial services, and provide better economic opportunity in Indian Country for the benefit of tribal communities.
Our Vision
To improve the welfare of sovereign nations through new e-commerce business and employment opportunities in the financial services industry.
To develop and provide financial products and services which responsibly meet consumer need with transparency, value, and convenience.
To protect Native American sovereignty and fight discriminatory practices against tribal government-owned businesses that operate in compliance with the applicable laws of the United States of America.
We Accomplish Our Mission By
- RProtecting and affirming the sovereign rights of Native American Tribes, ensuring their authority to govern and grow Tribal economies.
- RExpanding Indian Country’s role in the financial services industry, encouraging innovation and economic self-determination.
- RConfronting discriminatory practices that target tribally owned and operated businesses acting in full compliance with applicable U.S. laws.
NAFSA is evolving to meet the financial future of Indian Country. While steadfast in our core mission to protect Tribal sovereignty in lending, we are also expanding our advocacy to address the rising need for Tribal representation in emerging digital finance sectors—including cryptocurrency, blockchain, decentralized finance (DeFi), sovereign fintech regulation, and beyond.
Strengthening Tribal Nations Through Economic Self-Determination
While Tribal gaming has created significant economic opportunities for many Indigenous Nations, it is not a universal solution for all Tribes—and many Indigenous communities continue to seek diverse pathways to economic self-sufficiency. Expanding access to financial services is one such pathway, offering Tribes the ability to generate revenue, create jobs, and provide essential services within their own jurisdictions.
For Indigenous entrepreneurs, access to capital remains a persistent barrier due to factors such as limited collateral, lack of credit history, and distance from traditional financial institutions. NAFSA members understand these systemic challenges and offer responsible, Tribally regulated financial products and services tailored to the needs of underserved communities.
Tribally governed financial services empower Indigenous Nations to strengthen their economies, reduce reliance on federal funding, and build long-term financial resilience. These services also reach a broader population of unbanked and underbanked consumers across the United States—individuals historically excluded from traditional credit markets—by offering safe, transparent alternatives that meet real-world financial needs.
Tribal Leadership. Ethical Standards. Financial Sovereignty.
NAFSA is led by elected officials from federally recognized Tribal Nations, ensuring that its direction and decisions are firmly rooted in Tribal governance, sovereignty, and accountability.
To maintain the highest standards, NAFSA has implemented a rigorous framework of Best Practices that all member enterprises must follow—ensuring compliance with federal regulations, safeguarding consumer rights, and fostering transparency throughout the entire financial journey.
Consumers can trust NAFSA members to:
- Uphold their rights
- Protect their personal information
- Provide fair, respectful, and dependable service
From responsible lending to next-generation digital financial tools, NAFSA members deliver Tribally governed, federally compliant solutions designed to serve the evolving needs of Indigenous and underserved communities—with integrity, responsibility, and care.
Leading Tribal Finance into the Future
Emerging financial technologies offer transformative potential for economic diversification, revenue generation, and the protection of sovereignty in the digital age. That’s why NAFSA is actively working with Tribal governments and enterprises to:
- RExplore the legal, regulatory, and economic implications of blockchain technology and digital asset adoption.
- RDesign and support Tribal-specific regulatory frameworks for digital assets and fintech governance.
- RAssess opportunities and risks related to crypto mining, tokenized assets, and sovereign digital payment systems.
- RBuild capacity for Tribal-led innovation in digital lending, e-commerce, and fintech, aligned with Tribal law and economic priorities.
The Native Finance Summit
The Native Finance Summit is a key programmatic component of NAFSA’s mission. As the nation’s leading annual gathering focused on Tribal lending, digital finance, blockchain, and fintech policy, the Summit convenes Tribal leaders, Native-owned financial enterprises, policymakers, and technology innovators to explore the opportunities and challenges of financial innovation through a sovereignty-first lens.
By providing a dedicated platform for education, collaboration, and strategic development, the Native Finance Summit helps advance NAFSA’s goals of building economic power, promoting innovation, and protecting Tribal jurisdiction in a digital era.
Our Board of Directors
NAFSA’s Board of Directors is comprised of elected Tribal officials from its member Nations—respected leaders who bring deep experience in governance and a strong commitment to advancing Tribal self-determination. As stewards of NAFSA’s mission, the Board sets strategic direction, shapes policy, and empowers staff to carry out the organization’s work.
Their leadership ensures that NAFSA stays true to its core purpose: promoting financial sovereignty for Tribal Nations and guiding innovation across both traditional and emerging economic arenas.
Our Team
NAFSA is powered by a dedicated team of professionals united by a shared commitment to advancing Tribal sovereignty and economic opportunity. Guided by a clear strategic vision, our staff works collaboratively to support member Tribes, advocate for self-determined growth, and drive meaningful impact across Indian Country.
