The Latest Financial News
Washington Examiner – Mark Calabria Oped: Time For Regulators To Catch Up To The Digital Age
Advances in online communications have revolutionized many industries in recent years. While Uber and its impact on taxis may have garnered the most attention, similar forces have been reshaping vast swaths of the American economy. Yes, established firms have seen their positions eroded, but consumers have received tremendous benefits and, in many instances, so have the employees of these new enterprises.
All too often, however, government has sided with established incumbents, instead of consumers. Policymakers continually fail to embrace technological and entrepreneurial innovations that are a net benefit to the economy and thereby stifle efficiency and competition.
American Banker: Don’t Lump In Installment Loans with Payday
In response to a recent op-ed on this blog defending payday loans, Rep. Linda Sánchez, D-Calif., countered that payday lenders create “debt traps” by forcing borrowers to take out additional loans to repay escalating interest on their original loan. I agree that this is a terrible cycle of debt for those who can least afford it.
However, Sanchez is inaccurate and misinformed when she lumps the traditional installment loan industry together with the payday loan industry. There are significant differences.
FOX News Oped: What Can Entrepreneurs Learn from Native American Tribes? Everything.
When you consider where American technology innovation is happening in the United States, places like Silicon Valley or big cities on the east and west coasts might come to mind. As a fintech entrepreneur providing services to online lenders, my experience has found a thriving business community in places you might not think to look: American Indian Reservations.
Many American Indian tribes have been enormously successful launching sustainable businesses in high-growth industries. These tribes owe their success to the creation of well-fueled economic development processes. Indeed, some tribes are so singularly focused on business creation that once an enterprise is running, they bring on business partners to help with operations so the tribe can remain focused on the creation of their next new business.
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
