Ohio congresswoman says lack of financial literacy could be a problem for Facebook Libra users

Lawmakers interrogated David Marcus, Facebook’s cryptocurrency chief, asking how the company will educate the 1.7 million unbanked customers it plans to reach.

Elected officials at the House Financial Services Committee hosted a hearing on Wednesday to discuss the social media company’s plans for its proposed digital currency Libra.

“How do you take somebody from my district who is underbanked or unbanked and educate them if there’s no financial literacy?” asked Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, at the hearing.

She expressed concern about the lack of financial education for the unbanked and underbanked, who might not understand how Libra works.

“Where is my protection? What happens if I do this, and we already know I’m ignorant to the process, and then I want my Libras back?” asked Beatty. “With no problem, can I put that money back into my account?”

Marcus assured Beatty that those individuals would be able to get their digital currency back, but he did not address the broader issue of financial literacy.

Tyrone Ross Jr., an investment advisor specializing in cryptocurrency in Woodbridge, New Jersey, agreed with Beatty that education for the unbanked needs to be a priority.

“Financial literacy, absolutely, should be a part of it,” he said.

The Libra Association, the Geneva, Switzerland-based group of companies that will govern the Libra blockchain and reserve, should provide financial literacy and education so customers know how to bank appropriately, Ross said.

Member companies in the association include Visa, Uber and Coinbase.

The issues around financial literacy reach beyond U.S. borders.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., expressed her concern about the lack of representation from the seven countries where an estimated 50% of the world’s unbanked live, according to data from the World Bank.

Those countries are Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan.

When Pressley asked if any of Libra’s partners are located in these countries, Marcus admitted none of them were.

“Not at this stage, Congresswoman,” he said. “But by the time we get to 100 members, we hope to have a more representative slate of the people we want to serve.”

During the hearing, Marcus waffled on whether the Calibra wallet would offer additional banking services such as lending but did not write off the possibility entirely.

“Congressman, it’s too early,” he said when questioned by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., whether financial services like lending would be offered.

“But if we are to engage in those services, we will partner with existing banks and financial institutions the same way other payment companies have done it,” Marcus said. “I’m talking here exclusively about the Calibra wallet.”

The Calibra digital wallet is what people will use to store and exchange the currency.

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Bruce McClary, vice president of communications for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, has told CNBC that he’s concerned about the possibility of Libra providing lending services.

“When you introduce this financial tool in a cash-and-carry society, my concern is that you will create an environment where people are comfortable going into debt,” he said.

Total credit card debt in the U.S. has surpassed $1 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve.

The average credit card balance for the first quarter of 2019 was $6,028, according to data from Experian.