OCC: Report Examines Key Risks, Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Federal Banking System
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today reported the key issues facing the federal banking system and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the federal banking industry in its Semiannual Risk Perspective for Spring 2021. Banks maintained sound capital and liquidity levels but profitability remains stressed due to low interest rates and…
FEMA: Operational Guidance for Disaster Response and Recovery in Pandemic Environment Announced
For the second year in a row, FEMA is prepared to respond to disasters as the nation continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. FEMA released the “COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance: All-Hazards Incident Response and Recovery,” a document aimed at helping emergency managers plan for disaster response and recovery, while adhering to public health guidelines…
Census Bureau: Small Business Pulse Survey Phase 5 Begins
The U.S. Census Bureau today announced the beginning of data collection for Phase 5 of the Small Business Pulse Survey (SBPS). This experimental survey was designed to measure temporal economic trends in the nation’s small businesses and provide insight into the scope of impact of the pandemic response in the United States. No significant changes were made…
HUD: $5 Billion Announced to House People Experiencing Homelessness
Secretary Fudge: “With HUD’s swift allocation of this $5 billion in American Rescue Plan funding, we are providing communities the resources to give homes to the people who have had to endure the COVID-19 pandemic without one.” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge today announced the allocation of $5…
SBA: $2.7 Million Grant Awarded for Women’s Business Center Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration
SBA Funding to Support WBC Network COVID-19 Program Innovations The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) is accepting applications for the Women’s Business Centers (WBC) Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant. The purpose of this opportunity is to continue or establish innovative projects that aim to improve service delivery, training, and support provided to women-owned businesses…
FHFA: Report Published on the Performance of Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s Single-Family Credit Risk Transfers
Report finds the Enterprises’ CRT net cost was $15 billion from July 2013 through February 2021 The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today published a report on the performance of Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s (the Enterprises’) single-family credit risk transfers (CRT). The report focuses on securities issuance and insurance/reinsurance credit risk sharing vehicles, which…
Federal Reserve: Report Issued on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households
in the fourth quarter of 2020, nearly one-fourth of adults said that they were worse off financially compared to a year earlier, reflecting the economic fallout and distress resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Reserve Board’s report, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020, which was released on Monday, found a larger share of adults…
Agencies Extend Comment Period on Request for Information on Artificial Intelligence
Five federal financial regulatory agencies announced today they will extend the comment period on the request for information on financial institutions’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) until July 1, 2021. The agencies are seeking information from the public on how financial institutions use AI in their activities, including fraud prevention, personalization of customer services, credit…
HUD: $51 Million Awarded to Clean Up Lead Hazards in Public Housing
Funding to identify and control potentially dangerous lead in thousands of homes with young children The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded nearly $51.4 million to 25 Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) in 19 states to identify and reduce lead-based paint hazards in thousands of older public housing units. Provided through HUD’s…
Federal Reserve: Third Extension Announced of Rule to Bolster the Effectiveness of the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program
The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced the third extension of a rule to bolster the effectiveness of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Like the earlier extensions, this one will temporarily modify the Board’s rules so that certain bank directors and shareholders can apply to their banks for PPP loans for…