OneUnited Bank to Present Virtual Financial Conference With an All-Star Cast

OneUnited Bank packs entertainment and knowledge into a five-hour online conference.

OneUnited Bank is the largest Black-owned bank in the U.S. It is also the only Black-owned digital bank in the country. The innovative bank invites everyone to join a slate of all-star presenters, including Emmy-Award-winning actress and author Tiffany Haddish, for a free virtual financial conference on June 19, 2021.

The conference is called "OneTransaction," and focuses on closing the racial wealth gap in the U.S. OneUnited Bank chose June 19 in recognition of the day in 1865 when General Order No. 3 was read in Texas, announcing that all enslaved persons in the United States were free.

Now, 156 years later, OneUnited Bank and conference partner Visa challenge virtual conference attendees to "create a plan of action," according to Kevin Cohee, chairman and CEO of OneUnited Bank.

Cohee says Black people across the country may have the financial resources to close the racial wealth gap and create generational wealth, but they're not quite sure how to start. That's where the five-hour conference comes in.

The idea is to give attendees the tools to take "just one" step today. No one is expected to log off the conference knowing everything about finances, but they will know more. And they'll have resources to turn to when they take the next step.

According to Cohee, thousands have already signed up for the conference. In addition to Tiffany Haddish, who rose from foster care and homelessness to success as an actress and author, the conference will feature some huge names in financial literacy. Among the presenters is Daymond John, best known as the CEO of FUBU and from ABC's Shark Tank. Podcast host and producer Sharon Epperson and award-winning financial educator Chris Browning will also present. Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist Karen Hunter, founder of #BlackOutDay2020 Calvin Martyr, and founder and CEO of Lendistry Everett Sands will also lend their expertise. Other heavy hitters include well-known personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary, founder of The Clever Girl personal finance platform Bola Sokunbi, and CPA and tax analyst Kemberley Washington.

Cohee says we continually hear how technology has changed the world in negative ways, but we should remember it also has the power to change society for the better. He points to the upcoming conference as the perfect example.

Conference attendees sign up for one transaction they would like to tackle right away based on a menu of subjects. For example, some people will be most interested in learning about owning a business, while others will want to learn more about saving and investing or improving their credit scores. Still others may want to learn the ins and outs of life insurance or writing a will. According to Cohee, participants can immediately start learning about whichever transaction they express interest in.

"Our job is to inspire and motivate them," he said.

Financial transactions can be difficult to understand, so according to Cohee, every topic will be presented through "plain speak." Rather than throw out fancy terms or rush through topics, presenters will aim to explain valuable financial concepts in a way that is accessible to everyone.

The ultimate goal is to make financial literacy a core value in Black America, and to give people the tools to build wealth today and for future generations -- one step at a time.

To reserve your free ticket, visit OneUnited Bank.