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…
Federal Reserve: Board Issues Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025 Report
The Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday issued its Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025 report, which examines the financial circumstances of U.S. adults and their families. Overall, the report shows that financial well-being was consistent with recent years. Survey results indicate that the labor market remained solid, despite some softening since the previous year’s survey. Price…
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…
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…
EDA: U.S. Department of Commerce Announces $25 Million Notice of Funding Opportunity to Upskill American Workers in Using Artificial Intelligence
Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that it is making available approximately $25 million in funding as part of a new AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program. This initiative will support the design and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) workforce training, helping to train workers and grow industries that are integral…
HUD and Census Bureau: New Residential Sales Report for March 2026 Released
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential sales statistics for March 2026: New Home SalesSales of new single-family houses in March 2026 were at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 682,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the…
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…
OCC: Semiannual Risk Perspective Highlights Key Risks in Federal Banking System
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today reported the key issues facing the federal banking system in the Semiannual Risk Perspective for Spring 2026. Bank earnings improved in 2025, supported by loan growth and a decline in funding costs. Balance sheets remain strong and credit risk within the federal banking system remains manageable. Earnings…
FEMA: Review Council Releases Final Report
The president’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council today released its final report, marking a major milestone in the administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen FEMA’s mission, operations and accountability. The council, established by President Trump, conducted a thorough review of FEMA’s capabilities, challenges and opportunities for reform. “Under President Trump’s leadership, FEMA is committed to getting resources…
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,…