By Lindsay Torrico, Executive Director, ABA Foundation | March 2026
At the American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation, we believe that building a more resilient and inclusive financial future requires bold ideas, strong partnerships, and a commitment to advancing economic opportunity for all. That belief is at the heart of our new report, Ideas to Impact: A Framework for Influencing Banking’s Next Century.
As part of our 100th anniversary celebration, we issued a nationwide call for bold, community‑driven solutions to help banks lead in the century ahead, and the responses were inspiring. The report captures forward‑looking ideas from bankers, community leaders, and nonprofit partners across the country—ideas that challenge us to think differently about how financial institutions can expand access to housing, strengthen local economies, and promote financial inclusion.
One of the ideas highlighted in the report is Baby Bonds, a concept that has gained significant momentum in recent years as a promising strategy to build generational wealth. We were pleased to see Baby Bonds emerge as a compelling proposal among the financial inclusion and wealth‑building submissions we received.
Why Baby Bonds Matter in the Banking Conversation
Baby Bonds align with a core belief we hold at the ABA Foundation: that every individual deserves the opportunity to build financial security, regardless of their starting point.
By featuring Baby Bonds in Ideas to Impact, we aim to elevate the conversation about how banks and policymakers can work together to support long‑term, inclusive solutions. Financial institutions play a critical role in helping families build assets, and Baby Bonds represent one innovative approach that could meaningfully shift economic trajectories for future generations.
A Call to Action for the Industry
This report, while not an ABA policy document, serves as a call to action for the banking industry to embrace innovation, invest in community‑driven solutions, and build a future where every person has the tools and support to thrive. The ideas shared reflect the bold imagination and deep commitment of people both inside and outside of banking who believe in the power of partnership and possibility.
Looking Ahead
As we look toward the next century of the ABA Foundation’s work, we remain committed to elevating ideas that expand opportunity and strengthen financial resilience for all communities. We are grateful to the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy for its leadership, and we look forward to continued collaboration as this concept gains traction nationwide.
The full Ideas to Impact report is available for free on our website. I hope it sparks new conversations, new partnerships, and new possibilities for building a more inclusive financial future.
Lindsay Torrico is a movement builder, community advocate, and industry disrupter. As the executive director of the ABA Foundation, she is committed to centering and anchoring community in driving economic mobility and wealth-generation.