Advancing Opportunity: A Community Conversation on Credit Equity in Maryland

In recognition of Economic Education Month, the Maryland Bankers Association (MBA) and Coppin State University’s Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship (CSE) convened A Community Conversation on Credit Equity in Maryland. The event brought together banking professionals, educators, policymakers, and community leaders for a panel discussion and roundtable dialogue on closing Maryland’s credit gap and expanding equitable access to financial opportunity.

The program featured keynote remarks from Antonio “Tony” Salazar, Commissioner of Financial Regulation for the State of Maryland and Chair of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. A panel moderated by Dr. Tammira Lucas, DBA, Interim Director of the CSE and Venture Growth Advisor at TEDCO, included Joel Gamble, JPMorgan Chase; Mwaura Muroki, The Harbor Bank of Maryland; Elisa Robin, Diamonds on the Rise, Inc.; and Karen Zuccardi, TEDCO.

Persistent disparities in credit access remain a major barrier to economic mobility. Research shows that even when borrowers share similar credit scores, Black and lower-income individuals are more likely to experience payment setbacks than their white or higher-income peers—a pattern especially visible in Baltimore. These inequities directly affect who can buy a home, start a business, or recover from financial hardship, compounding across generations.

“At the Maryland Bankers Association, we believe the health of our financial ecosystem depends on every voice being heard and every community being served,” said Tisha Edwards, President & CEO of the Maryland Bankers Association. “Today’s conversation is more than symbolic—it’s a call to action. We must work alongside community partners, educators, and banks to dismantle barriers in credit access and ensure all Marylanders have the chance to move forward.”

“Credit equity is not merely a technical challenge—it’s a question of dignity, opportunity, and justice,” said Dr. Tammira Lucas. “By partnering with MBA, we affirm that academic insight, lived experience, and financial institutions must work together to ensure access to credit is not a privilege, but a right.”

MBA and CSE thank all participants and recognize the generous support of The Annie E. Casey Foundation, whose partnership made the event possible.