SBA: Clarifying Guidance Issued That Race-Based Discrimination is Not Tolerated in the 8(a) Program
Action is Latest in Year-Long Effort to Dismantle DEI Discrimination, Expose Fraud, and Restore Fairness in Federal Contracting Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued formal guidance to SBA program officials reiterating, in alignment with policy changes implemented by Administrator Kelly Loeffler last year, that race-based discrimination within the 8(a) Business Development Program is unconstitutional and…
FDIC: Board Approves Final Rule to Amend Official Signs and Advertising Requirements
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Board of Directors today approved a final rule to amend regulations governing the display of the FDIC official digital sign and non-deposit signage. The rule simplifies requirements for banks’ display of the FDIC official digital sign and non-deposit signage on digital deposit-taking channels, such as bank websites and mobile applications,…
ABA: Banking and Credit Union Groups Urge Congress to Reject Durbin-Marshall Bill
The American Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions, Association of Military Banks of America, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers Association, Defense Credit Union Council, Independent Community Bankers of America, Electronic Payments Coalition, Electronic Transactions Association, Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America and National Bankers Association, today sent a joint letter to members of Congress strongly opposing the so-called Credit…
ICBA: Community Banks, Credit Unions Urge Congress to Reject Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Mandates
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), America’s Credit Unions, and Defense Credit Union Council wrote to express strong opposition to Durbin-Marshall credit card mandates, warning the proposal would harm consumers, small businesses, and community financial institutions while delivering a windfall to the nation’s largest retailers. In the letter, the organizations cautioned that the bill…
SBA: SBIC Reforms Finalized to Fuel Private Investment in Critical Industries
Final Rule Removes Red Tape, Incentivizes Investment in American Industrial Dominance Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the publication of a final rule modernizing the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program to incentivize private capital investment in critical industries and reduce regulations to support the reindustrialization of America. The final rule will take effect February 2, 2026. “Confidence in…
ABA: Bank & Credit Union Trades Issue Joint Statement that Credit Card Mandate Would Harm Consumers and Small Businesses
The American Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions, Association of Military Banks of America, Bank Policy Institute, Community Development Bankers Association, Consumer Bankers Association, Defense Credit Union Council, Electronic Payments Coalition, Independent Community Bankers of America and National Bankers Association issued a joint statement after President Trump expressed support for the Durbin-Marshall credit card mandate: “One…
CFPB: DOJ and CFPB Withdraw Joint Statement on Fair Lending and Credit Opportunities for Noncitizen Borrowers
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Justice (together, the “agencies”) announced today that they have withdrawn a joint statement regarding the implications of a creditor’s consideration of an individual’s immigration status under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). On October 12, 2023, the agencies published a joint statement cautioning that creditor policies…
ABA: Banks Respond to Proposed Cap on Credit Card Interest Rates
The Administration announced plans today to issue an executive order imposing a temporary 10% cap on credit card interest rates. The American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers Association, Financial Services Forum and Independent Community Bankers of America issued a joint statement: “We share the President’s goal of helping Americans access more affordable credit….
ICBA: ICBA Joins House Financial Services Committee in Support of Legislation to Transform Community Bank Regulation
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey today joined a House Financial Services Committee fireside chat at the U.S. Capitol in support of the committee’s new Main Street Capital Access Act opens in a new tab(H.R. 6955). Following Romero Rainey’s testimony opens in a new tablast year at the committee’s first hearing of the…
Agencies Release Annual Asset-Size Thresholds Under Community Reinvestment Act Regulations
The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation today announced the 2026 updated Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) “small bank” and “intermediate small bank” asset-size thresholds. The CRA regulations establish the framework and criteria by which the relevant agencies assess a financial institution’s record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community, including…