Regulatory Updates

FDIC: Input Sought on Voluntary Certification Program to Promote New Technologies

Public/Private standard-setting partnership could foster innovation and cut costs The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced that it is seeking the public’s input on the potential for a public/private standard-setting partnership and voluntary certification program to promote the efficient and effective adoption of innovative technologies at FDIC-supervised financial institutions. Given rapid technological developments and…

OCC: Proposed True Lender Rule Issued

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today proposed a rule that would determine when a national bank or federal savings association (bank) makes a loan and is the “true lender” in the context of a partnership between a bank and a third party. Banks’ lending relationships with third parties can facilitate access…

CFPB: Final Rule on Small Dollar Lending Issued

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today issued a final rule concerning small dollar lending in order to maintain consumer access to credit and competition in the marketplace. The final rule rescinds the mandatory underwriting provisions of the 2017 rule after re-evaluating the legal and evidentiary bases for these provisions and finding them to be insufficient….

FFIEC: Agencies Release List of Distressed or Underserved Nonmetropolitan Middle-Income Geographies

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today announced the availability of the 2020 list of distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies. These are geographic areas where revitalization or stabilization activities are eligible to receive Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)…

FDIC: Final Rule Issued to Mitigate the Deposit Insurance Assessment Effect of Participation in the PPP, the PPP Liquidity Facility, and the Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today approved a final rule that mitigates the deposit insurance assessment effects of participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) established by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility (PPPLF) and Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility (MMLF) established by the Board of Governors…

OCC: Comments Requested on Proposed Rules to Update Activities and Operations and Digitial Activities

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released two issuances for public comment. The OCC published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) for public comment to update its rules for national bank and federal savings association activities and operations. The agency also released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) seeking comment…

FHFA: Final Rule Published on the FHLBank’s Housing Goals

Rule provides greater availability of mortgage financing for underserved borrowers To help underserved borrowers, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today sent to the Federal Register for publication a final rule on the Federal Home Loan Banks’ (FHLBanks) Housing Goals. The new goals take effect in 2021 and enforcement of the rule will be phased…

FHFA: Re-Proposed Capital Rule for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Released

Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that it is seeking comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking that establishes a new regulatory capital framework for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises). The proposed rule is a re-proposal of the notice of proposed rulemaking published in July 2018. Comments will be due 60…

OCC: Final Rule Issued to Strengthen and Modernize CRA Regulations

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released a final rule strengthening and modernizing the agency’s regulations under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The final rule will increase bank CRA-related lending, investment, and services in low- and moderate-income communities where there is significant need for credit, more responsible lending, and greater access…

SBA: New Regulations Issued for Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration today published Women-Owned Small Business  Federal Contracting program regulations that will provide a free, online certification and eligibility application process for women-owned small businesses and economically-disadvantaged women-owned small businesses. The timeline for implementation of changes to SBA’s WOSB program has been delayed to accommodate those affected by the current pandemic.    Starting July 15, 2020, SBA will…