FEMA: DHS Makes $648 Million Available to Help Firefighters and First Responders Nationwide
FEMA today announced $648 million in three funding opportunities to help firefighters and other first responders stay safe while protecting lives and communities nationwide. Through these three funding opportunities, FEMA is empowering fire stations and other first responder organizations to get the equipment, staff and support they need. “When a disaster strikes, firefighters and other first…
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…
OCC: Agency Advances Priority of Reducing Regulatory Burden for Community Banks
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) continues to prioritize supervisory and regulatory reforms to reduce burden for community banks and support their role as drivers of economic growth. Most community banks are well capitalized and well managed, conduct business in a safe and sound manner, and engage in low-risk activities. The OCC…
CFPB: 2025 Financial Literacy Annual Report Released
The 2025 Financial Literacy Annual Report summarizes the CFPB’s financial education priorities including: FULL REPORT
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…
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…
Census Bureau: Population Growth Holds Steady in Midsized Cities Amid Widespread Slowdown
Largest Cities Faced Sharpest Declines in Population Growth Amid a widespread national slowdown in population growth, midsized cities remained close to the previous year’s patterns between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. Drop-offs in average growth were steeper among the largest cities, according to U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimates released today. Even where the largest cities…
FDIC: Staff Study Released of Deposit Flows at Three Failed Banks in Spring 2023
Study focuses on depositor flight at Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today released “Dissecting Depositor Flight: An Analysis of the Spring 2023 Bank Failures,” a detailed staff study of deposit flows at three banks that failed in the spring of 2023. Using transaction-level data from…
CDFI Fund: Special Topic Webinar on Updated NMTC TLR User Experience in AMIS Scheduled for May 28th
The CDFI Fund will host a specialized webinar focused on Transaction Level Report (TLR) reporting requirements and considerations related to the New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC Program). This webinar is intended to provide NMTC stakeholders with additional guidance and an opportunity to ask questions related to the updated user AMIS interface for NMTC TLR…
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…