CRA Newswire

SBA: Celebrating National Veterans Small Business Week 2019

Veteran-owned businesses contribute nearly $1 trillion each year to U.S. The U.S. Small Business Administration will celebrate the accomplishments of veteran, service member, and military spouse small business owners nationwide during National Veterans Small Business Week, Nov. 4-8. “This week is dedicated to celebrating the nation’s 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses who contribute nearly $1 trillion each year to…

FHFA: Input Requested on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac UMBS Pooling Practices

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today issued a Request for Input (RFI) about Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s (the Enterprises’) pooling practices for the formation of “To-Be-Announced” (TBA)-eligible Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities (UMBS).  FHFA is also seeking public input about other policies and practices that might affect UMBS fungibility, including the Enterprises’ oversight of UMBS…

ABA: Report Shows Credit Card Use Strong in Second Quarter 2019

Credit card use rebounded in the second quarter after easing in the first quarter of 2019, according to the American Bankers Association’s latest quarterly Credit Card Market Monitor. Seasonally adjusted purchase volumes increased across risk tiers compared to the first three months of the year, reflecting robust consumer spending. Purchase volumes increased on an annual…

FDIC: Industrial Bank Assumes All of the Deposits of City National Bank of New Jersey

City National Bank of New Jersey (“City National”) in Newark was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Industrial Bank in Washington, D.C. to assume all of the…

OCC: CRA Evaluations for 37 National Banks and Federal Savings Associations Released

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released a list of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance evaluations that became public during the period of October 1, 2019 through October 31, 2019.  The list contains only national banks, federal savings associations, and insured federal branches of foreign banks that have received ratings.  The…

HUD: $1.5 Million Awarded to Public Housing Authorities to Assist Young People Aging Out of Foster Care

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today awarded $1.5 million to nearly a dozen housing authorities to assist young people aging out of foster care and who are at risk of experiencing homelessness. See chart here. Funded through HUD’s new Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative, this funding will offer housing vouchers to…

SBA: Public Input Sought on Potential Changes to SBA’s Export Loan Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comments on potential changes to the regulations governing its Export Loan Programs.  SBA’s Export Loan Programs provide access to capital for U.S. small business concerns to support expansion into international markets and the growth of U.S. small business exports.  SBA is soliciting comments on…

ABA: US Chamber Foundation and ABA Partner to Expand Bank Hiring Opportunities for Veterans

Community Banks Encouraged to Participate in Hiring Our Heroes Program A new partnership between the American Bankers Association and the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation will expand veteran hiring opportunities at banks across the nation. The partnership, announced at the ABA’s annual convention in Seattle, will enable more community banks to participate in the Foundation’s…

ABA: Seattle Banker Elected as New ABA Chair

Today the American Bankers Association elected Laura Lee “Laurie” Stewart as its chair for the 2019-2020 association year. The election took place during ABA’s annual convention in Seattle. Stewart is also president and CEO of Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc., and Sound Community Bank, a $717 million institution based in Seattle. Sound Community Bank is recognized…

ABA: 2019-2020 Officers Board Elected

Members attending the American Bankers Association’s annual convention in Seattle have elected new ABA officers and directors to serve on ABA’s board for the 2019–2020 association year. The new officers are: CHAIR: Laura Lee (Laurie) Stewart, president and CEO, Sound Community Bank, Seattle; CHAIRMAN-ELECT: James J. Edwards, Jr., CEO, United Bank, Griffin, Ga.; VICE CHAIRMAN:…