ABA: ABA Welcomes White House Executive Order Phasing Out U.S. Treasury Paper Checks
“We welcome President Trump’s executive order mandating that the federal government cease issuing paper checks for all disbursements, including government benefits and tax refunds. Despite a continued decline in business and consumer use of checks, check fraud has continued to rise. That is why ABA and banks across the country launched the #PracticeSafeChecks campaign last October to…
ABA: Bank Economists Note Credit Conditions to Soften for Consumers and Small Businesses Amid Heightened Economic Uncertainty
Credit conditions are expected to weaken modestly over the next six months as businesses and consumers adopt a more cautious outlook amid heightened uncertainty, according to the American Bankers Association’s latest Credit Conditions Index released today. The latest summary of ABA’s Credit Conditions Index examines a suite of indices derived from the quarterly outlook for credit markets…
HUD: Disaster Aid & Financial Flexibility Announced for Kentucky Residents Impacted by Natural Disasters
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced the availability of federal disaster assistance to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides from Feb. 14, 2025 and continuing. “The best way to respond in the face…
HUD: Secretary Turner and DHS Secretary Noem Establish Partnership to End Illegal Alien Exploitation of Housing Programs
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem today signed the “American Housing Programs for American Citizens” Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to end the wasteful misappropriation of taxpayer dollars to benefit illegal aliens instead of American citizens. As part of this new agreement, HUD…
OCC: Acting Comptroller Discusses Financial Inclusion
Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney E. Hood today discussed financial inclusion in remarks at the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals’ Homeownership and Housing Policy Conference. Mr. Hood’s written remarks in support of his presentation discussed the work of the OCC’s Project REACh to support affordable homeownership. Related Links
OCC: Mortgage Performance for Fourth Quarter of 2024 Reported
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported on the performance of first-lien mortgages in the federal banking system during the fourth quarter of 2024. The OCC Mortgage Metrics Report, Fourth Quarter 2024 showed that 97.3 percent of mortgages included in the report were current and performing at the end of the quarter, an increase…
ABA: Financial Trades Issue Joint Letter to Congress Stating that the Misguided Durbin-Marshall Bill will Harm Consumers, Small Businesses and Financial Institutions
In a new letter filed today, the American Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions, Association of Military Banks of America, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers Association, Defense Credit Union Council, Independent Community Bankers of America, Electronic Payments Coalition, Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America and National Bankers Association warned that any legislative initiatives to expand the power of the…
SBA: Agency-Wide Reorganization Announced
SBA will restructure to eliminate wasteful spending, restore mission of empowering small businesses Today, pursuant to EO 14210(Link is external), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced its plans for an agency-wide reorganization. To return to its founding mission of empowering small businesses, and to restore accountability to taxpayers, the agency will reduce its workforce by 43% –…
FEMA: President Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Oklahoma
FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Oklahoma to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding from Nov. 2-5, 2024. Public Assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a…
OCC: Agency Ceases Examinations for Reputation Risk
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced that it will no longer examine its regulated institutions for reputation risk and is removing references to reputation risk from its Comptroller’s Handbook booklets and guidance issuances. Today’s actions support the OCC’s mission and its supervisory objectives to ensure that banks have appropriate and…