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For Release

WASHINGTON – �౦��Ϸ���� (�౦��Ϸ����) today opened the registration period to participate in a Tech Sprint designed to explore new technologies and techniques that would help expand the capabilities of banks to meet the needs of the unbanked. Interested organizations can request to participate in this Tech Sprint by visiting the �౦��Ϸ����’s Tech Lab (FDITECH) website.

FDITECH recently announced a first-of-its-kind Tech Sprint challenging participants to identify better resources and tools to help banks get the unbanked into the banking system and to sustain those banking relationships over time. Banks, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, private sector companies, and other organizations are invited to participate.

“We hope to excite the imaginations of those who see the tremendous possibilities innovation can bring to our banking system,” said �౦��Ϸ���� Chief Innovation Officer Sultan Meghji. “I challenge participating teams to think at a deeper level about how we can harness the power of technology to create a more inclusive financial system.”

According to the �౦��Ϸ����’s How America Banks Survey , Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native households remain significantly more likely to be unbanked. Given the challenges reaching the ‘last mile’ of unbanked households, and recognizing that community banks are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of this population but also often lack access to data and resources, the �౦��Ϸ���� seeks tech sprint participants to help answer the following question:

“Which data, tools, and other resources could help community banks meet the needs of the unbanked in a cost-effective manner, and how might the impact of this work be measured?”

Interested organizations may submit applications requesting participation by 5:00pm ET on July 20, 2021 . After a brief review of submissions, FDITECH will invite a select number of teams to participate. Selected teams will attend a kick-off meeting and then work independently on their proposed solutions for a period of approximately four weeks. Finally, FDITECH will host a ‘Demo Day,’ inviting teams to make short presentations to a panel of judges who will evaluate their submission.

All submissions will be publicized and ‘winners’ will be chosen in several categories. The �౦��Ϸ���� is not offering monetary prizes associated with this tech sprint.