OCC: Two Final Rules on Preemption of State Interest-on-Escrow Laws Issued
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today issued two final rules on national banks’ and federal savings associations’ real estate lending powers related to the payment of interest on funds held in escrow accounts. The OCC’s actions emphasize federal preemption as a critical tool for reducing unnecessary burden, enabling local and national…
Banking Trades Issue Statement on Senate Banking Committee Vote to Advance Clarity Act
Following today’s Senate Banking Committee vote to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, the American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers Association, Financial Services Forum, Independent Community Bankers of America and National Bankers Association issued the following joint statement: “Today’s Senate Banking Committee vote on the Clarity Act marks an important step in…
ICBA: ICBA Applauds House Passage of Pro-Community Bank Regulatory Reforms
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) applauded the House of Representatives for its bipartisan passage of ICBA-advocated regulatory reforms that will help community banks meet the needs of local communities. “ICBA and the nation’s community banks strongly support House passage of legislation advancing sensible regulatory relief that will help community banks direct more resources…
ABA: ABA Applauds House Passage of Community Banking Legislation
“We applaud the House for passing three pieces of legislation today to strengthen our financial system and ensure that the regulatory and supervisory framework helps banks of all sizes thrive. The TRUST Act, led by Reps. Tim Moore and Ritchie Torres, and the SMART Act, led by Reps. William Timmons and Bill Foster, make much-needed…
ABA: Banking Trade Groups Urge Senate Banking Leaders to Strengthen Stablecoin Yield Guardrails to Prevent Deposit Flight
A coalition of financial trade associations representing banks of all sizes today urged Senate Banking Committee leaders to make important technical refinements to proposed payment stablecoin yield language in the CLARITY Act, warning that allowing interest like yield on stablecoins could weaken bank deposits and reduce credit available to consumers, small businesses and farmers. In…
Agencies Issue Host State Loan-to-Deposit Ratios
Federal bank regulatory agencies today jointly issued updated host state loan-to-deposit ratios, as required by law. Each ratio compares the total loans in a state to total deposits in the state for all banks that are legally operating in that state. These ratios replace those issued in May 2025. By law, a bank is generally prohibited…
ABA: ABA & State Bankers Associations Urge OCC to Close Yield Loopholes in Stablecoin Rule
The American Bankers Association, joined by 52 state bankers associations, today submitted a comment letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency urging the agency to strengthen its proposed rule implementing the GENIUS Act to ensure a meaningful and enforceable prohibition on interest and yield payments tied to stablecoins. Separately, ABA also submitted its own detailed comment…
ICBA: ICBA Congratulates House on Passage of Farm Bill
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on House passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) on a 224-200 vote. “ICBA and the nation’s community bankers congratulate the House of Representatives on passage of the farm bill. This is an…
ABA: ABA Applauds House Passage of the 2026 Farm Bill
“We thank the House for passing the 2026 Farm Bill, critical legislation that supports farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across the country. Banks remain a primary source of credit for agricultural producers of all sizes, and this bill strengthens the tools lenders need to meet the evolving needs of rural America. “The Farm Bill includes…
ABA: Statement on CFPB’s Section 1071 Final Rule
“We applaud the CFPB for finalizing a streamlined Section 1071 rule that addresses significant legal and operational concerns from the prior rule while providing clearer, more workable requirements for banks. This final 1071 rule appropriately refocuses on core lenders, products and data points without imposing undue compliance costs that would make it harder for America’s…