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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
← Back to schedule
Smarter Service: How AI is Reshaping Customer Engagement
Thursday June 4, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
National Housing Center (NHC) Auditorium
Artificial intelligence is transforming how financial institutions engage with customers. For community development banks and CDFIs, this shift presents an opportunity to deepen relationships, expand access, and deliver more responsive, personalized service to the people and communities they serve. 
This panel will explore customer-facing applications of AI, including digital onboarding, customer support, personalized product recommendations, and financial coaching tools. Panelists will share examples of how AI helps institutions reach underserved customers and enhance the overall customer experience while maintaining trust. 

Speaker
avatar for Kelly Cochran

Kelly Cochran

Deputy Director, FinRegLab
Kelly is deputy director and chief program officer at FinReg Lab, an independent nonprofit that conducts research and experiments with new technologies and data to drive the financial sector toward a safe and responsible marketplace. She previously was assistant director for regulations... Read More →
avatar for Robert Patrick Cooper

Robert Patrick Cooper

Senior Vice President and General Counsel, OneUnited Bank
Bob is general counsel and senior vice president for OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in the country. As the bank's chief legal strategist, he leads its legal, regulatory, and external affairs. OneUnited Bank during Bob's tenure has transformed from a local community bank... Read More →
avatar for Laurie Schoeman

Laurie Schoeman

Chief Investment and Impact Officer, Community Development Bankers Association
Laurie is a dynamic leader with deep expertise in housing policy, finance, and climate resilience. As chief investment and impact officer of Partners for the Common Good, she drives strategic growth, leads capitalization efforts, and spearheads initiatives that align public and private... Read More →
avatar for Surjit Chana

Surjit Chana

Board Director, Harvard Fellow/Board Chair of Beneficial State Bank
Surjit Chana is a board director, global technology executive, and emerging voice in the governance of artificial intelligence in finance. With more than 35 years of experience spanning P&L leadership, digital transformation, and enterprise strategy, he brings a rare combination of... Read More →
Thursday June 4, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
National Housing Center (NHC) Auditorium
  CDBA Speaker

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