Uniting NALA and the NAFCC
The two previous groups operating in this realm were the Native American Lending Alliance (NALA) and the Native American Fair Commerce Coalition (NAFCC), which since their organization always had similar ideals concerning Native American sovereignty and business opportunities in Indian Country. Keeping in mind that there is strength in numbers, both groups wanted to join ranks and speak with one voice to bring unity to our important message.
The sovereign status of Indian tribes allows them to competitively participate in economic activities within the United States effectively decreasing their dependence on the U.S. government, and in turn driving tribes to economic self-sufficiency. E-commerce and financial services are where tribes are moving today for economic development and the Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA) works to protect both tribal sovereignty, and consumers using tribally owned financial products. A tribe’s ability to offer financial services at a lower cost than mainstream institutions benefits not only the consumer, but the United States economy during a time when banks are failing to meet the immediate needs of individual American consumers.
Merging two separate entities into one cohesive unit is no easy task, but because we ultimately had the same goals it was never a question of if, but when. After months of hard work, meetings, and negotiating, we were able to merge into the strong group we are today. Together, the members of NAFSA are tirelessly committed to NAFSA’s mission and vision.
