iEmergent confronts the DEI debate with bold webinar on the business case for diverse lending

April 02, 2025 at 07:00 AM EDT

News Source: iEmergent

'Not Sold on Diversity? Fine. Let's Talk About Your Bottom Line' tackles how lenders can reach underserved markets and fuel long-term growth

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 2, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced a provocative new webinar that dares to reframe the diversity conversation through a business lens. Amid growing pushback on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, iEmergent is doubling down on the importance of inclusive lending to lenders’ long-term success. Titled “Not Sold on Diversity? Fine. Let’s Talk About Your Bottom Line,” the roundtable session will take place Wednesday, April 30, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm ET and will feature mortgage industry leaders sharing actionable insights on how lenders can drive sustainable growth by expanding access to homeownership.

Image caption: iEmergent confronts the DEI debate with bold webinar on the business case for diverse lending.

With more than 77% of net household formation in the next decade projected to come from diverse households, the mortgage industry is at a turning point. While some lenders are adapting to these demographic shifts, others remain focused on traditional, often affluent borrower segments. The roundtable will explore the business case for reaching underserved markets and the risks of ignoring them.

“This conversation isn’t just about diversity — it’s about the future of mortgage lending,” said iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli. “Lenders that overlook these borrower segments today risk falling behind in a market where diverse households will drive future mortgage demand. Understanding where the opportunities exist and implementing the right strategies is a game-changer for long-term growth.”

Panelists will explore how lenders can assess gaps in minority and low- to moderate-income (LMI) lending, strengthen their real estate referral networks using MLS data and recruit loan officers already connected to these communities. They will also discuss practical approaches to overcoming systemic barriers to homeownership, such as appraisal bias and limited generational wealth, and highlight ways to build durable community partnerships that support a consistent borrower pipeline.

Moderated by Nossuli, the panel will feature:

Nikki Bialka, national community lending strategy manager at Fifth Third
John Harpst, vice president of community lending at Lake Michigan Credit Union
Gabe Ewing del Rio, president and CEO of the Homeownership Council of America
Tom Sullivan, head of retail mortgage sales for First Commonwealth Bank
Tony Thompson, founder and CEO of the National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America
Tay Toliver, vice president and retail market leader at Cardinal Financial

Mortgage executives, sales leaders and compliance professionals from banks, credit unions and independent mortgage banks (IMBs) are encouraged to attend to learn how data-driven strategies can unlock new growth opportunities while meeting the needs of today’s — and tomorrow’s — homebuyers.

About iEmergent

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com.

Tags: @iEmergent @NAMMBAConnects @FinanceBetter @LMCU @CardFinancial @FifthThird #mortgage #lending

Media Kit:
https://www.iemergent.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/presskit_digitallinked.pdf

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (iEmergent), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire.

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