Lou Alvarado
Principal Bank Partnership Consultant
Bio
Louis Alvarado has 25 years of experience in bank/money service business (MSB) relationships. In the 1990’s he worked for a Tier 1 money transmitter helping the company grow to be the second largest money transfer company in the world. In 1997, he went to work for a bank which specialized in MSBs.
From there, Lou has worked at several banks as a lender and banker to MSBs, short-term small dollar lenders, and fintech companies. He worked to establish the Banking Committee at the MSB Association (MBSA), a national trade organization representing money transmitters and digital channel financial institutions. As chair of the Banking Committee, he had the opportunity to interact with banks across the country by hosting conferences and speaker engagements. In 2021, he helped launch a self-service kiosk company serving the unbanked and underbanked as an active investor in a new venture. In addition, Lou has been helping MSBs and fintechs with their banking, compliance, and state licensing needs in a consulting role.
Key Strengths
Sourcing and structuring partnerships between banks and fintechs / money service businesses (“MSBs”)
Successfully pursuing licenses for regulated businesses (lending and loan brokering, money transmission, debt collection, and other licenses and registrations)
Thought Leadership
He currently serves on the Advisory Board of a bank-in-organization and is working with the MSBA and Bankers College to complete an MSB Banking Certification program to train bankers to serve the industry.