NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

The term “de-risking” has been used to describe the practice of financial institutions exiting products and terminating or restricting relationships with clients, including in groups, who are perceived as presenting a “high-risk” of an undesirable outcome.

Rather than attempting to manage associated risks and/or mitigate economic challenges, some financial institutions have opted in favor of reducing their exposure by culling classes of clients and leaving them to find alternative financial arrangements – often at short notice. This practice has impacted people, entities and jurisdictions worldwide and presents special challenges for operations used or relied upon by the underserved.

This roundtable features a cross section of international regulators, banks, and service providers who will provide expert insight into the recent increase of de-risking activity affecting international remittances and financial inclusion, and includes a discussion of potential solutions.