Month: May 2025

Mastercard

A staggering 36 million North American consumers — 12% of the population — are underbanked, navigating their financial lives with a bank account but without access to essential credit tools like credit cards. Longstanding financial inequities have limited their growth, yet they remain driven, with 66% seeking financial knowledge and 65% looking to financial institutions for solutions.

Underbanked consumers are a diverse and dynamic group. They are early adopters of technology, embracing AI, digital finance, and open banking solutions. Mental health is also a priority, with financial stability playing a crucial role in their well-being.

01
Building trust is key for underbanked consumers as 65% would like financial institutions to help address financial inequities, yet more than half also feel taken advantage of by the financial system.

02
About 85% of underbanked consumers rely on debit cards, a significantly higher rate than the general population, presenting a unique opportunity for financial growth. By helping this underserved group transition to credit, we can facilitate new possibilities for financial access.

03
Underbanked individuals carry significant responsibilities. Many have fewer resources that need to stretch farther. Stress and anxiety weigh on them, which is why underbanked consumers prioritize their mental health more than most, and nearly half have a near-term personal goal to improve their mental health (39% higher than the total population).

04
The financial uncertainty for some underbanked consumers stems from childhoods of poverty — 64% lived in households of low socioeconomic brackets as children, vs. 46% among the total U.S. However, they are pursuing education and professional growth at rates two times higher than the general population, and two out of three are seeking more financial knowledge to gain control over their personal situation.

05
Addressing their needs requires a tailored approach focused on trust, access, usage, health and education. Through our Powering Prosperity framework, we have identified three key personas within the underbanked segment, each with unique aspirations and challenges. Debit products provide an entry point for engagement, while education and personalized financial tools can help bridge gaps in financial literacy and access.

The opportunity is clear: By fostering trust and offering targeted solutions, we can empower underbanked consumers to achieve financial stability. Now is the time to reshape financial inclusion and build lasting relationships with this growing audience.

White paper

New paths to progress: Making financial success accessible for underbanked consumers

Recognizing a gap in support for the underbanked, a new Mastercard survey uncovered emerging trends reshaping consumers’ lives and the societal context in which they operate. Within this diversity and cultural transformation, we identified subgroups with distinct attitudes, revealing unique potential ready to be unlocked.

Read the report

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Mastercard

A staggering 36 million North American consumers — 12% of the population — are underbanked, navigating their financial lives with a bank account but without access to essential credit tools like credit cards. Longstanding financial inequities have limited their growth, yet they remain driven, with 66% seeking financial knowledge and 65% looking to financial institutions for solutions.

Underbanked consumers are a diverse and dynamic group. They are early adopters of technology, embracing AI, digital finance, and open banking solutions. Mental health is also a priority, with financial stability playing a crucial role in their well-being.

01
Building trust is key for underbanked consumers as 65% would like financial institutions to help address financial inequities, yet more than half also feel taken advantage of by the financial system.

02
About 85% of underbanked consumers rely on debit cards, a significantly higher rate than the general population, presenting a unique opportunity for financial growth. By helping this underserved group transition to credit, we can facilitate new possibilities for financial access.

03
Underbanked individuals carry significant responsibilities. Many have fewer resources that need to stretch farther. Stress and anxiety weigh on them, which is why underbanked consumers prioritize their mental health more than most, and nearly half have a near-term personal goal to improve their mental health (39% higher than the total population).

04
The financial uncertainty for some underbanked consumers stems from childhoods of poverty — 64% lived in households of low socioeconomic brackets as children, vs. 46% among the total U.S. However, they are pursuing education and professional growth at rates two times higher than the general population, and two out of three are seeking more financial knowledge to gain control over their personal situation.

05
Addressing their needs requires a tailored approach focused on trust, access, usage, health and education. Through our Powering Prosperity framework, we have identified three key personas within the underbanked segment, each with unique aspirations and challenges. Debit products provide an entry point for engagement, while education and personalized financial tools can help bridge gaps in financial literacy and access.

The opportunity is clear: By fostering trust and offering targeted solutions, we can empower underbanked consumers to achieve financial stability. Now is the time to reshape financial inclusion and build lasting relationships with this growing audience.

White paper

New paths to progress: Making financial success accessible for underbanked consumers

Recognizing a gap in support for the underbanked, a new Mastercard survey uncovered emerging trends reshaping consumers’ lives and the societal context in which they operate. Within this diversity and cultural transformation, we identified subgroups with distinct attitudes, revealing unique potential ready to be unlocked.

Read the report

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Mastercard

A staggering 36 million North American consumers — 12% of the population — are underbanked, navigating their financial lives with a bank account but without access to essential credit tools like credit cards. Longstanding financial inequities have limited their growth, yet they remain driven, with 66% seeking financial knowledge and 65% looking to financial institutions for solutions.

Underbanked consumers are a diverse and dynamic group. They are early adopters of technology, embracing AI, digital finance, and open banking solutions. Mental health is also a priority, with financial stability playing a crucial role in their well-being.

01
Building trust is key for underbanked consumers as 65% would like financial institutions to help address financial inequities, yet more than half also feel taken advantage of by the financial system.

02
About 85% of underbanked consumers rely on debit cards, a significantly higher rate than the general population, presenting a unique opportunity for financial growth. By helping this underserved group transition to credit, we can facilitate new possibilities for financial access.

03
Underbanked individuals carry significant responsibilities. Many have fewer resources that need to stretch farther. Stress and anxiety weigh on them, which is why underbanked consumers prioritize their mental health more than most, and nearly half have a near-term personal goal to improve their mental health (39% higher than the total population).

04
The financial uncertainty for some underbanked consumers stems from childhoods of poverty — 64% lived in households of low socioeconomic brackets as children, vs. 46% among the total U.S. However, they are pursuing education and professional growth at rates two times higher than the general population, and two out of three are seeking more financial knowledge to gain control over their personal situation.

05
Addressing their needs requires a tailored approach focused on trust, access, usage, health and education. Through our Powering Prosperity framework, we have identified three key personas within the underbanked segment, each with unique aspirations and challenges. Debit products provide an entry point for engagement, while education and personalized financial tools can help bridge gaps in financial literacy and access.

The opportunity is clear: By fostering trust and offering targeted solutions, we can empower underbanked consumers to achieve financial stability. Now is the time to reshape financial inclusion and build lasting relationships with this growing audience.

White paper

New paths to progress: Making financial success accessible for underbanked consumers

Recognizing a gap in support for the underbanked, a new Mastercard survey uncovered emerging trends reshaping consumers’ lives and the societal context in which they operate. Within this diversity and cultural transformation, we identified subgroups with distinct attitudes, revealing unique potential ready to be unlocked.

Read the report

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Authored by Cindy Bratel

Environmental accountability is becoming as vital as profitability and the manufacturing industry stands at a crossroads. Sustainability is reshaping how products are designed, made and reused. In a recent podcast with CADTALK, Baker Tilly’s Cindy Bratel, Principal and leader of the firm’s IFS Solutions practice, discussed how the manufacturing shift towards sustainability is being driven by technology, cultural change and a deeper sense of responsibility, highlighting the role of IFS Cloud in enabling a more circular and future-ready manufacturing model.

Key takeaways:

From linear to circular: Manufacturing has followed linear processes of extract, produce and discard, with profit being a driver but this paradigm is rapidly evolving. Circular manufacturing focuses on designing products with reuse, recycling and recovery in mind. Cindy shared real-world examples, such as the automotive industry’s reuse of cores and recovery of rare materials like platinum from oxygen sensors. What began as cost-saving measures now align with broader sustainability goals.

• Forces driving the shift: Several factors are accelerating sustainability adoption in manufacturing:
• Global regulations: Increasing international requirements make sustainability essential for doing business worldwide.
• Generational pressure: Generation Z and millennial employees demand environmentally conscious employers.
• Pandemic perspective: A clearer understanding of global interconnectivity and ecological fragility.
• Profit-sustainability alignment: Resource efficiency aligns economic and environmental goals, making the business case undeniable.

Data as a foundation: Before companies can set sustainability goals and start environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, they need to understand where they stand. The journey starts with education, data collection and establishing a baseline. Clean, centralized and contextual data is critical for tracking performance as well as for making smarter, faster decisions.

Technology as an enabler: IFS Cloud empowers manufacturers with a sustainability management module for centralized ESG tracking and reporting and provides users with a real-time emissions tracker. IFS Cloud also offers built-in circular manufacturing capabilities and interactive ESG dashboards for strategic decision-making.

Future of manufacturing: As companies consider reshoring and modernizing operations, Cindy emphasizes that future factories won’t resemble the past. They will be automated, data-driven and built on circular principles. With the right strategy and technology, manufacturers can lead in both innovation and environmental responsibility.

How we can help

Baker Tilly brings deep industry knowledge to help manufacturers navigate sustainability challenges by helping build ESG strategies to ensure compliance and cultural adoption. IFS delivers the digital backbone with IFS Cloud, enabling real-time emission tracking and ESG reporting. Connect with a Baker Tilly specialist to learn more.

Authored by Cindy Bratel

Environmental accountability is becoming as vital as profitability and the manufacturing industry stands at a crossroads. Sustainability is reshaping how products are designed, made and reused. In a recent podcast with CADTALK, Baker Tilly’s Cindy Bratel, Principal and leader of the firm’s IFS Solutions practice, discussed how the manufacturing shift towards sustainability is being driven by technology, cultural change and a deeper sense of responsibility, highlighting the role of IFS Cloud in enabling a more circular and future-ready manufacturing model.

Key takeaways:

From linear to circular: Manufacturing has followed linear processes of extract, produce and discard, with profit being a driver but this paradigm is rapidly evolving. Circular manufacturing focuses on designing products with reuse, recycling and recovery in mind. Cindy shared real-world examples, such as the automotive industry’s reuse of cores and recovery of rare materials like platinum from oxygen sensors. What began as cost-saving measures now align with broader sustainability goals.

• Forces driving the shift: Several factors are accelerating sustainability adoption in manufacturing:
• Global regulations: Increasing international requirements make sustainability essential for doing business worldwide.
• Generational pressure: Generation Z and millennial employees demand environmentally conscious employers.
• Pandemic perspective: A clearer understanding of global interconnectivity and ecological fragility.
• Profit-sustainability alignment: Resource efficiency aligns economic and environmental goals, making the business case undeniable.

Data as a foundation: Before companies can set sustainability goals and start environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, they need to understand where they stand. The journey starts with education, data collection and establishing a baseline. Clean, centralized and contextual data is critical for tracking performance as well as for making smarter, faster decisions.

Technology as an enabler: IFS Cloud empowers manufacturers with a sustainability management module for centralized ESG tracking and reporting and provides users with a real-time emissions tracker. IFS Cloud also offers built-in circular manufacturing capabilities and interactive ESG dashboards for strategic decision-making.

Future of manufacturing: As companies consider reshoring and modernizing operations, Cindy emphasizes that future factories won’t resemble the past. They will be automated, data-driven and built on circular principles. With the right strategy and technology, manufacturers can lead in both innovation and environmental responsibility.

How we can help

Baker Tilly brings deep industry knowledge to help manufacturers navigate sustainability challenges by helping build ESG strategies to ensure compliance and cultural adoption. IFS delivers the digital backbone with IFS Cloud, enabling real-time emission tracking and ESG reporting. Connect with a Baker Tilly specialist to learn more.

Authored by Cindy Bratel

Environmental accountability is becoming as vital as profitability and the manufacturing industry stands at a crossroads. Sustainability is reshaping how products are designed, made and reused. In a recent podcast with CADTALK, Baker Tilly’s Cindy Bratel, Principal and leader of the firm’s IFS Solutions practice, discussed how the manufacturing shift towards sustainability is being driven by technology, cultural change and a deeper sense of responsibility, highlighting the role of IFS Cloud in enabling a more circular and future-ready manufacturing model.

Key takeaways:

From linear to circular: Manufacturing has followed linear processes of extract, produce and discard, with profit being a driver but this paradigm is rapidly evolving. Circular manufacturing focuses on designing products with reuse, recycling and recovery in mind. Cindy shared real-world examples, such as the automotive industry’s reuse of cores and recovery of rare materials like platinum from oxygen sensors. What began as cost-saving measures now align with broader sustainability goals.

• Forces driving the shift: Several factors are accelerating sustainability adoption in manufacturing:
• Global regulations: Increasing international requirements make sustainability essential for doing business worldwide.
• Generational pressure: Generation Z and millennial employees demand environmentally conscious employers.
• Pandemic perspective: A clearer understanding of global interconnectivity and ecological fragility.
• Profit-sustainability alignment: Resource efficiency aligns economic and environmental goals, making the business case undeniable.

Data as a foundation: Before companies can set sustainability goals and start environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, they need to understand where they stand. The journey starts with education, data collection and establishing a baseline. Clean, centralized and contextual data is critical for tracking performance as well as for making smarter, faster decisions.

Technology as an enabler: IFS Cloud empowers manufacturers with a sustainability management module for centralized ESG tracking and reporting and provides users with a real-time emissions tracker. IFS Cloud also offers built-in circular manufacturing capabilities and interactive ESG dashboards for strategic decision-making.

Future of manufacturing: As companies consider reshoring and modernizing operations, Cindy emphasizes that future factories won’t resemble the past. They will be automated, data-driven and built on circular principles. With the right strategy and technology, manufacturers can lead in both innovation and environmental responsibility.

How we can help

Baker Tilly brings deep industry knowledge to help manufacturers navigate sustainability challenges by helping build ESG strategies to ensure compliance and cultural adoption. IFS delivers the digital backbone with IFS Cloud, enabling real-time emission tracking and ESG reporting. Connect with a Baker Tilly specialist to learn more.

KeyBank will host a national webinar to celebrate small business excellence and feature trailblazers who are breaking barriers in their industries.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday May 21, 2025 from 12:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m. ET. Those interested in participating can register here.

From impact investing to AI finance to affordable housing, this free national webinar will shine a spotlight on changemakers pushing boundaries for transformational change. It will be moderated by Juan Adorno, KeyBank Vice President, Community Banking Program Manager. Participants include:

• Betty Francisco is CEO of Boston Impact Initiative, where they are committed to closing wealth gaps through impact investing. In 2022, Boston Magazine named Betty as one of the “100 Most Influential People in Boston.”
   
• Kareem Saleh is co-founder of Fairplay, the first “fairness-as-a-service” solution for financial institutions. Previously, Kareem served in the Obama administration and helped to manage the Paris climate agreement negotiation team.
   
• Ericka Keller is CEO of Brisa Builders Corp, an organization focused on mission-driven affordable housing projects. Ericka was recognized as a Crain’s “Notable Women Business Owner” in 2021.

Participants are asked to register by Tuesday May 20, 2025.

KeyBank is not responsible for any scheduling conflicts, cancellations, postponement, access or connectivity issues or force majeure event whatsoever. KeyBank is not responsible or liable for, and is hereby released from, any and all costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to participation in the event.

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