Name: Hiring for Impact and the Changing Workforce
Start: 2026-06-04T13:30:00-0400
End: 2026-06-04T14:30:00-0400

Welcome to the 2026 CDBA Peer Forum website! Thank you for attending the largest annual gathering of CDFI, MDI, and other mission-focused bank representatives.

Scroll down to create an account or login to register and purchase your tickets!

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

We’d like to thank our growing list of 2026 Sponsors:
Diamond: IntraFi; FICO; Baker Tilly US, LLP; FICO
Gold: Banc Consulting Partners; Sones & White
Silver: American Bankers Association; HelloBello Financial; Mission Driven Bank Fund; Independent Community Bankers of America
Bronze: Smiley Technologies, Inc.; National Community Investment Fund; Regions Bank; Holman Capital; BNY; Jones Walker; RBC Global Asset Management; Wellthi Technologies; C8 Capital Network; Paul, Weiss
Friend: Community Funding Advisors; TrustPlus; FASTPACE; Renasant Bank; Prosprous AI; Wells Fargo; Logue Advisory Group; FUND Consulting; Performance Trust; Cashy; Nelson Mullins; Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Supporter Plus: RiskExec
Supporter: Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Goldman Sachs; Abrigo
Please reach out to us if you are interested in becoming a sponsor to learn more about sponsorship benefits.

Here’s the Peer Forum at a glance:

Advocacy Day and Pre-Conference Cocktail Reception: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Peer Forum Conference: Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 and Thursday, June 4, 2026
Meeting Location: National Housing Center (NHC) Auditorium at:
1201 15th St NW, 1st floor, Washington, DC 20005
Attire: Business casual for all Peer Forum activities

Hotel Information: The National Housing Center is located in downtown, Washington D.C., within walking distance of a variety of hotels offering rooms at a wide range of price points. We invite you to explore some of the options in our “Hotel Options List.” Please note that CDBA has not arranged a room block at any individual hotels for this event.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Advocacy Day, please email Jack Dunn at [email protected]

Schedule:

June 2: Advocacy Day and Pre-Conference Cocktail Reception
June 3: Sessions from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET
- Cocktail reception at 6:00 pm ET followed by dinner at 7:30 pm ET at Del Mar
June 4: Sessions from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET

Hiring for Impact and the Changing Workforce

Thursday June 4, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT

Breakout Room ABC

Panelists from three of our member banks will explore workforce capacity and culture at CDFI banks pushing for change in their communities. They’ll cover how to find the right people — and keep them — while preserving institutional cultures that focus on impact.

Speaker

Nanette Urena

Vice President and Retail Banking Officer, Ponce Bank

Nanette Ureña is vice president and retail banking officer at Ponce Bank, which she joined in 2004 as a teller and steadily took on new roles and responsibilities to reach her current position. She offers a unique blend of dedication, loyalty, commitment, vision, and knowledge in... Read More →

Sarah Wen

Director of Programs and Membership, Community Development Bankers Association

Sarah has worked for more than a decade at the intersection of financial capability, community development, and economic justice, spearheading initiatives that expand access to equitable banking services, financial coaching, and survivor-centered economic support.  She was previously... Read More →

Benita Lefft

President & COO, Optus Bank

Benita E. Lefft is the president and chief operations officer of Optus Bank in Columbia, S.C., and is responsible for retail banking, commercial banking, deposit and central operations, human resources, and marketing and communications. Prior to joining Optus Bank, she was at Wells... Read More →

Johnny Vedal Donaldson

Chief Culture Officer, BankPlus

Johnny Donaldson is executive vice president and chief culture officer of BankPlus in Ridgeland, Miss., and as president of BankPlus-Jackson. He has 35 years of banking experience, including 21 years with BankPlus. Johnny serves on the board of directors for St. Dominic Hospital... Read More →

Thursday June 4, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Breakout Room ABC

CDBA Speaker

2026 CDBA Peer Forum

Nanette Urena

Sarah Wen

Benita Lefft

Johnny Vedal Donaldson

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