Marisa Martinez is a community development advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and works out of the Kansas City Office.
A new member of the community development team, Martinez is focused on engaging with community stakeholders and sharing community development insights that support the community and financial needs for underserved communities across western Missouri, Kansas, and Kansas City.
Through her work in the nonprofit and banking sectors over the past 25 years, Martinez has embraced the value of financial empowerment and its impact on personal finance and a thriving community. Prior to joining the Kansas City Fed, Martinez served as the senior vice president of community development at a large financial institution, where she managed a team that delivered inclusive banking products and services in underserved communities. Prior to that role, Martinez served as the bank’s CRA officer, where she developed an appreciation for the Community Reinvestment Act and on how policies can encourage innovative and responsive solutions that support marginalized communities.
Martinez is a second-generation Mexican American and first-generation college student, earning an undergraduate degree in social psychology, graduate certification in nonprofit leadership, and master’s degree in public administration. Outside of work, Martinez enjoys spending time with her husband John and their dog Lola, and hosting large family gatherings.
About the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks that, along with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up our nation's central bank. We work in the public’s interest by supporting economic and financial stability. The Kansas City Fed’s territory includes Colorado, Kansas, western Missouri, Nebraska, northern New Mexico, Oklahoma and Wyoming. Our headquarters is in Kansas City, with branch offices in Denver, Omaha and Oklahoma City.
The Kansas City Fed Community Development Department promotes economic development and public understanding that leads to progress for lower-income individuals and communities. Our focus areas include community development investments, digital inclusion, small business / entrepreneurism, and workforce development.