CRA Newswire

HUD: Disaster Mitigation Fund to Be Released in Two Tranches

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that a Federal Register notice will soon be published that releases disaster mitigation funds in two tranches to areas impacted by recent storms. One tranche will include funds for Texas, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, California, Missouri, and Georgia; and the second…

HUD: Federal Financial Monitor Appointed to Oversee Puerto Rico Disaster Funds

Today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced its plan to appoint a Federal Financial Monitor to oversee the disbursement of disaster recovery dollars to Puerto Rico. “Given the Puerto Rico government’s alleged corruption, fiscal irregularities and mismanagement, we will appoint a Federal Financial Monitor to oversee the disbursement of all HUD disaster…

HUD: Agency Announces Efforts to Reduce Risk from Cash-Out Refinance Lending

FHA and Ginnie Mae seek to preserve homeowner equity and, boost investor confidence The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced joint policy actions designed to reduce risk associated with cash-out refinance lending. The changes preserve homeowners’ ability to convert home equity to cash via a government-sponsored mortgage but also improves the…

EDA: $5 Million Investment Made to Help UT Austin Recover from Hurricane Harvey in Port Aransas, TX

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $5 million grant to the University of Texas at Austin to renovate the University’s Marine Science Institute Campus in Port Aransas and help establish the Center for Coastal Ocean Science. This grant will be matched with $1.25…

EDA: $3 Million Grant Made to Spur Small Business Development in Hurricane Harvey-Impacted Dickinson, TX

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to Dickinson Economic Development Corporation in Texas, to help establish the Gulf Coast Market by renovating a storm-damaged, 30,000 sq. ft., building. The EDA grant, to be matched with $1.3 million in local investment,…

EDA: $2.4 Grant Made to Established Workforce Training Facility at Florida Gateway College

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.4 million grant to Florida Gateway College of Lake City, Florida, to support the construction of the Gateway College Commercial Vehicle Driving Postsecondary Adult Vocational Facility. The project, to be located in a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act designated Opportunity…

ABA: Report Shows Credit Card Market Moderated in First Quarter 2019

Credit card use moderated in the first quarter of 2019, according to the American Bankers Association’s latest quarterly Credit Card Market Monitor. Compared to the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted purchase volumes declined across risk tiers. Compared to year-ago levels, purchase volumes rose among super-prime (+5.2 percent) and subprime (+4.3 percent) accounts and were essentially unchanged…

FEMA: Humphreys and Holmes Counties in Mississippi Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance

 Two Mississippi counties are now eligible to receive federal disaster funding to supplement state and local recovery from storms that occurred earlier this year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has added Humphreys County to the federal designation in response to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that affected the state Feb. 22-24. Holmes County was…

OCC: CRA Guidelines for Requesting Approval of a Strategic Plan

OCC BULLETIN 2019-39 Summary The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is issuing this bulletin to inform national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches of foreign banking organizations (collectively, banks) about current guidelines for requesting approval to be evaluated under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) using the strategic plan option or to request…

OCC: CRA Guidelines for Requesting Designation as Wholesale, Limited Purpose or Special Purpose Bank

OCC BULLETIN 2019-40 Summary The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is issuing this bulletin to inform national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches of foreign banking organizations (collectively, banks) subject to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) about guidelines for requesting a designation as a wholesale or limited purpose bank for CRA purposes…