Summit draws esteemed regulators, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to advance responsible financial innovation

Tenth annual Policy Summit poised to be most ambitious and widely attended event yet

Washington, D.C. (November 19, 2025) – The American Fintech Council (AFC), the premier industry association representing responsible fintech companies and innovative banks, hosted its ninth annual Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. yesterday, convening fintech leaders, policymakers, and prudential regulators to discuss the future of responsible innovation, competition, and consumer empowerment. The event highlighted AFC’s leadership on issues including open banking, bank-fintech partnerships, fintech lending, earned wage access, digital assets, and artificial intelligence in financial services.

“The Ninth Annual Policy Summit proved once again that responsible innovation thrives when industry leaders, legislators, and regulators come together with a shared commitment to consumers,” said Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council. “This year’s conversations made clear that our financial system is strongest when competition is encouraged, data access is protected, and families have real choices in how they manage their money. As we look ahead to 2026, AFC will continue leading the national conversation to ensure every household has access to safe, transparent, and competitive financial tools – and to push for the regulatory clarity needed to support responsible growth in a rapidly changing economy.”

Speakers at the Summit included CEOs, bank and fintech leaders, lawmakers, and key federal regulators participating in a full day of programming centered on building a more inclusive and competitive financial system.

“We need to have a healthy and vibrant financial system,” said Jonathan McKernan, Undersecretary of Domestic Finance for the U.S. Department of Treasury, speaking at the 2025 American Fintech Council Policy Summit. “If we're going to have a financial system that not only funds, but embraces and adopts innovation, the bigger picture questions there are ensuring that our regulatory capital framework is tailored to the underlying risks so we can have a financial system that's driven by the fundamentals, by the technologies, by consumer demand, and not by regulatory arbitrage.”

“As co-chair of the Financial Literacy and Wealth Creation Caucus, I am trying to educate ourselves, the staff, and the public to understand how fintech is going to make a difference in the work that we do,” said Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA), Member of the House Financial Services Committee, during her remarks. “I think spending a few minutes with literally anyone in this room would be extremely beneficial.”

AFC also announced the expanded plans for the Tenth Annual Policy Summit to take place at Capital Turnaround in Washington, D.C. on November 17, 2026. The 2026 Summit will be AFC’s largest event yet, featuring exclusive discussions about the industry’s most pressing issues with policymakers and leaders from the most innovative banks and fintechs.

For more information, to sign up for updates, and to inquire about 2026 speaking opportunities, please visit us here.
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“Each year, our Policy Summit provides a crucial space for open dialogue about both the current state and future of the financial services industry,” said Ian P. Moloney, Chief Policy Officer at the American Fintech Council. “Continuing to expand and allow more room for discussion provides a crucial opportunity to create regulatory clarity, address industry challenges, and foster transparent, inclusive, consumer-oriented finance.”

A standards-based organization, AFC is the premier trade association representing the largest financial technology (Fintech) companies and innovative banks offering embedded finance solutions. AFC’s mission is to promote a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system by supporting responsible innovation in financial services and encouraging sound public policy. AFC members foster competition in consumer finance and pioneer products to better serve underserved consumer segments and geographies.

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