Preliminary Agenda | Regional Symposium on Financial Literacy in Latin America and the Caribbean

07:45-08:30 Registration

08:30-08:50 Introductory remarks

Yasushi Masaki, Deputy Secretary-General, OECD
Paola Arias, Director, Banca de las Oportunidades, Colombia
Mauricio Villamizar, Member of the Board of Directors, Banco de la República, Colombia

08:50-09:20 Keynote speech: Financial literacy, inclusion and well-being in Colombia

This keynote will present the latest findings from Colombia’s survey on financial literacy, inclusion, and well-being, conducted using the OECD/INFE methodology. It will provide insights into the financial knowledge, behaviours, and outcomes of Colombian households, highlighting disparities across population groups, and will discuss how the findings have underpinned recent policy developments.

Michael Bryan, Head of Economic Studies, Banca de las Oportunidades, Colombia

09:20-10:40 Supporting a safe and informed use of digital instant payments and Open Finance

This session will explore how financial literacy policies and initiatives can support consumers in using digital instant payment systems and Open Finance frameworks across Latin America. Drawing on case studies from selected jurisdictions, the session will analyse the progress and adoption of these digital financial services, as well as the financial education efforts that have accompanied their implementation.

Moderator:
Diego Herrera, Principal Specialist in the Connectivity, Markets and Finance Division of the Inter-American Development Bank

Speakers:
Estela Martínez, Payment Systems Advisor, Banco de la República, Colombia
Juliana Haruko Horita, Coordinator of Financial Literacy for Adults, Department for Financial Citizenship, Central Bank of Brazil
Cristina Martínez, Financial Sector Specialist, CGAP
Irina Meneses, Economist, Technical Secretary of the Advisory Commission for Financial Inclusion, Ministry of Finance, Chile

10:40-11:00 Colombian coffee break

11:00-11:30 Keynote speech: Financial scams and frauds: protecting and empowering financial consumers

This keynote speech will present evidence, effective approaches and policy recommendations from recent OECD work to support policymakers in preventing, detecting and deterring financial scams and frauds. It will highlight how financial literacy policies can play a critical role in strengthening consumer resilience.

Miles Larbey, Head of Financial Consumer Protection, Education & Inclusion, OECD

11:30-12:00 Keynote speech: Financial literacy and financial decision-making

Financial literacy equips individuals with the knowledge and confidence needed to make sound saving, investing, and retirement decisions in an increasingly complex financial landscape. Research shows that even basic financial understanding is strongly linked to better planning, higher wealth accumulation, and greater financial security over the life cycle. Strengthening financial education is therefore not just a personal benefit, but a policy priority with measurable economic impact.

Prof. Olivia Mitchell, Director of the Pension Research Council at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

12:00-13:30 Lunch

13:30-14:45 Implementing financial education in schools

Schools represent a particularly important and equitable channel for equipping young people with essential financial literacy skills from an early age. This session will include findings from impact evaluations of school-based financial education programmes across Latin America and showcase approaches to integrating financial education into schools.

Moderator:
María Teresa Borja, Financial Education Manager at Central Bank of Mexico

Speakers:
Verónica Frisancho, Chief Economist, CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, and member of the OECD/INFE Research Advisory Group
Ana Caro, Head of Educational Communication, Central Bank of Uruguay
Olga Zárate, Deputy Director of Curricular Standards and Educational Quality Assessment, Ministry of Education, Colombia

14:45-15:55 Gender differences in financial literacy

This session will explore how to address the implications of gender differences in financial literacy, drawing on evidence from Latin America. It will discuss how these differences translate into broader economic and social vulnerabilities and highlight effective policy responses and good practices aimed at improving women’s financial resilience and inclusion.

Moderator:
Mariela Zaldívar, Deputy Superintendent, Superintendency of Banks, Insurance and Pensions, Perú

Speakers:
Diana Mejía, Representative in Ecuador, CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
Melissa Molina López, Communication Coordinator, CONASSIF - National Council for the Supervision of the Financial System, Costa Rica
Carolina Trivelli, Senior Researcher, Institute of Peruvian Studies

15:55-16:15 Colombian coffee break

16:15–17:05 Artificial Intelligence and personal finance

This session will draw on recent analysis undertaken by the OECD/INFE to examine the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping financial consumers’ behaviours, as well as its implications for the design and delivery of financial education.

Moderator:
Diego Rodríguez, Head of Economic Education, Banco de la República, Colombia

Speakers:
Andrea Grifoni, Policy Advisor, OECD
José Vasco, Director of Investor Protection and Assistance, Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (CVM)

17:05-17:15 Closing remarks

Leonardo Villar Gómez, Governor, Banco de la República

General Information Preliminary Agenda Speakers and Panelists Organizers