WHO IS NAFSA?

NAFSA is a national trade association formed to advocate for tribal sovereignty, promote responsible financial services, and provide better economic opportunity in Indian Country for the benefit of tribal communities.

OUR MEMBER'S STORIES

 

Native American tribes have suffered a history of staggering unemployment rates, limited opportunities, and a lack of access to fundamental resources. Tribes began financial services businesses to combat this history and create real change for the future. E-commerce has been a vehicle for supporting economic growth, tribal services, and tribal development.

 

The Latest Financial News

Sequester cuts and self-determination

In Washington, debate is de rigeur, but the so-called budget sequester has garnered a rare D.C. consensus: near-universal disdain. The program, originally a failsafe against congressional inaction, was never intended to take effect. Now, though, it’s the law of the...

Sen. Merkley: Stop Demonizing Legal Native American Businesses

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley made his bones by removing Oregon payday lenders from the state by limiting their potential revenue to the point where they couldn’t do business. The result was a loss of several hundred jobs, millions in labor income, and many more...

Analog tribes in a digital economy

If 90% of public schools in the United States lacked Internet access, there would be a national call to action. If 90% of any ethnic group in the country was not connected to the Internet, the backlash would be immense. In 2011, the Federal Communications Commission...

Featured Resources

Our Digital Financial Literacy Program

Too many consumers mismanage their budgets, make poor investment decisions, and fail to properly plan for the future. NAFSA is committed to empowering people with the skills they need to change this trend and thrive financially. NAFSA’s Financial Literacy Program offers an assortment of digital modules covering a wide variety of financial topics, including building emergency savings, mortgage education, and retirement planning.

Tribal Online Lending Best Practices

NAFSA has developed Best Practices for the exclusive use of all NAFSA Members as it relates to their Tribal Online Lending businesses. We believe these Best Practices will help ensure consumer protection, quality service, and positive customer and industry interactions during the life of the loans made by tribal lending entities who are NAFSA members. Our Best Practices apply to all stages of the loan, including marketing, origination, servicing, collecting, and ongoing data privacy.

The Impact of Tribal Financial Services

Coming from a history of staggering unemployment rates, limited opportunities, and lack of access to fundamental resources, Native American tribes began online lending businesses to create real change for the future. Internet commerce has been a vehicle for supporting economic growth, tribal services, and tribal development. These are their stories.

Why NAFSA?

There are more than 570 federally-recognized tribes in the United States, many of whom are spread across in diverse areas. This has left a need for other tribal economic development opportunities to create sustainability and jobs on Native American reservations.

Tribal Financial Services:

   Create jobs & economic development on tribal lands

  Increase the financial independence of tribes

  Deploy sovereignty & bolster tribal self-determination

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.

To protect and preserve the sovereignty of Native American tribes while offering an unprecedented opportunity for tribal economic growth
Growing opportunity for Indian Country in the financial services industry
Advancing financial literacy in tribal communities
Increasing Career Opportunities for Native Americans in the Financial Services Industry

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