ICBA: ICBA Urges OCC to Rescind Approval for Coinbase’s National Trust Charter Following Criminal Lawsuit
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today called on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to rescind or suspend its conditional approval of Coinbase Global’s application for a national trust bank charter until criminal allegations against Coinbase’s wholly owned subsidiary, Coinbase Financial Markets Inc., are resolved. This follows the New York State Attorney General’s…
SBA: Cumulative 7(a) and 504 Loan Limit Doubled to $10 Million
Effective July 4, eligible borrowers can access record levels of SBA-backed funding Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced a new rule that will allow eligible borrowers to combine their 7(a) and 504 loans for up to $10 million in SBA-backed financing, increasing the cumulative loan limit from its current $5 million…
ICBA: Leading American Trade Associations Urge Federal Action to Address AI-Enabled Cyber Risk
A cross-sector of trade associations representing energy, electricity manufacturers, technology, financial services, healthcare, chemical distribution, and other critical infrastructure sectors today urged the administration to take coordinated action to address emerging AI-enabled cyber risk. In a letter to the administration, the groups highlighted the deeply interconnected nature of sector-wide risk and put forward a set…
SBA: $1 Million Patriot Pitch Competition Launched to Showcase America’s Entrepreneurs
Freedom 250 Event Celebrates Free Enterprise Through National Small Business Competition for $1 Million Cash Prize Pool Funded by Clover Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched the Patriot Pitch Competition, a national celebration of 250 years of American free enterprise and the small businesses that drive innovation, create jobs, and generate economic growth. Featuring a…
ICBA: ICBA Raises Concerns Over Kraken Pursuit of National Trust Charter
The Independent Community Bankers of America® today expressed strong concern after crypto exchange parent company Payward Inc., operator of Kraken, applied for a national trust bank charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The application follows Kraken’s previously granted accessopens in a new tabfor a Federal Reserve master account and ongoing efforts…
ICBA: New ThinkTECH Accelerator Cohort Named to Help Community Banks Tackle Innovation Priorities
The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced the selected companies for its eleventh ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program (AP11). Running May 18 – July 24, the second cohort of 2026 reflects feedback from ICBA’s ThinkTECH Selection and Advisory Committee and targets priority areas for community bank innovation, including fraud mitigation, artificial intelligence, data analytics,…
HUD: Agency Declares Little Rock Housing Authority in Substantial Default and Initiates Possession
Action Builds on Secretary Turner’s Commitment to Hold Public Housing Authorities Accountable for Mismanagement The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today declared the Housing Authority of the City of Little Rock, operating as the Metropolitan Housing Alliance (MHA), in Substantial Default for failing to meet the terms of its federally mandated Recovery Agreement….
HUD: Environmental Reviews Streamlined to Lower Multifamily Development Costs
FHA updates remove outdated requirements, cut inefficiencies, and support housing production HUD announced updates to environmental review requirements for multifamily housing, removing outdated provisions that have increased costs and complexity for lenders and developers. These changes, issued through HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) via a Mortgagee Letter, revise the Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) Guide to streamline outdated and burdensome…
ABA: Foundation Marks Older Americans Month and Celebrates 10 Years of Safe Banking for Seniors
In recognition of Older Americans Month, the ABA Foundation today celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its Safe Banking for Seniors program—an industry-leading initiative that equips banks with practical, ready-to-use tools to help older adults and their caregivers protect themselves from financial exploitation. Over the past decade, more than 2,050 banks have used Safe Banking for Seniors resources…
ABA: Submissions Now Open for 14th Annual Community Commitment Awards
The American Bankers Association Foundation is now accepting submissions for its 14th annual Community Commitment Awards, ABA’s highest honors for extraordinary community engagement. Banks of all sizes are encouraged to enter successful community initiatives for the awards, which recognize innovative, high-impact bank programs that improve the quality of life for the communities they serve. The entry…