Marisa Martinez serves as a community development advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. She works out of the Kansas City office. Martinez engages community stakeholders by supporting community development activities that address the financial and social needs of underserved communities throughout western Missouri, Kansas, and Greater Kansas City.
Martinez brings more than 25 years of experience spanning the nonprofit and banking sectors. She has a wide-ranging understanding of financial empowerment and its transformative impact on both personal financial health and community prosperity. Before joining the Kansas City Fed, Martinez held the position of senior vice president of community development at a large financial institution, where she led a team dedicated to delivering banking products and services in underserved communities. Martinez also served as the bank's CRA officer, where she developed an appreciation for the Community Reinvestment Act and gained insights into how intentional policies can drive innovative, responsive solutions to support lower-income communities.
Martinez is a second-generation Mexican American and first-generation college graduate, both of which influence the perspective she brings to her work. Her academic credentials include an undergraduate degree in social psychology, a graduate certification in nonprofit leadership, and a master’s degree in public administration.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Martinez finds joy in spending time with her husband John and their dog Lola, as well as hosting gatherings for her extended family.
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.