Michele Latz to Address Coalition of Bankers and Advocates at Financial Links for Low-Income People (FLLIP) Awards Luncheon

September 23, 2005

Michele Latz to Address Coalition of Bankers and Advocates at Financial Links for Low-Income People (FLLIP) Awards Luncheon

(Chicago) ­ Michele Latz, director of the Division of Financial Institutions at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, will address over one hundred leaders in the financial education and asset-building movement at the Financial Links for Low-Income People, or FLLIP, coalition's fifth annual awards luncheon at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on September 28. Latz will discuss Illinois's success in combating predatory lending through financial education, consumer protection policies, and the development of lower-cost alternative financial products and services.

WHAT: 2005 FLLIP Catalyst Awards Luncheon

WHEN: Wednesday, September 28, 2005, 12:00 noon­1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 230 S. LaSalle St. 3rd Floor, Chicago, Illinois

WHY: Honoring this year's Catalyst Award and Beck Award recipients.

The 2005 William J. and Irene Beck Award Winners: Barbara and Sheldon Stein.

The 2005 Catalyst Award Winners: Marva Arnold, Illinois Department of Human Services; Michael Burnside, Allstate Bank; Lesley Slavitt, CHASE; Oboi Reed, Citibank; Cassandra Slade, National City Bank; Madison County Employment and Training Department; and YMCA Lake County.

The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law's community investment unit coordinates FLLIP, a statewide coalition of bankers, regulators, community groups, faith-based groups, government agencies, adult educators, Individual Development Account (IDA) providers, and others dedicated to expanding financial education, asset-building opportunities, and access to mainstream financial services in Illinois. FLLIP's groundbreaking work and impressive evaluation results were featured in a recent policy brief published by the Urban Institute.

Latz leads the implementation of the Payday Loan Reform Act, a law that she supported with the Shriver Center, the Egan Campaign, and industry leaders working to end predatory lending in the state. Latz recognizes the positive results that the FLLIP program has achieved for Illinois residents. She envisions a stronger role for the State of Illinois and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in expanding financial education opportunities. At the luncheon she will join the Shriver Center in applauding the work of FLLIP and all of this year's award recipients.

The 2005 FLLIP Catalyst Awards Luncheon sponsors are the William J. and Irene Beck Foundation, LaSalle Bank, National City Bank, Charter One Bank, CHASE, Cole Taylor Bank, State Farm Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Lisle Savings Bank, MB Financial Bank, and US Bank. The Illinois Department of Human Services and the Grand Victoria Foundation provide major funding for FLLIP programs.

For more information about the Shriver Center and its community investment unit, visit the Shriver Center's website. The media are welcome.