Economic Inclusion

OCC: Acting Comptroller Discusses Creating Economic Opportunity for New Americans

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu today discussed the value of financial literacy for new Americans in remarks during the Financial Literacy and Education Commission’s Public Meeting. In his remarks, Mr. Hsu acknowledged that immigrants are important drivers of our economy, including through entrepreneurship and innovation; however, they are also more likely to…

OCC: Acting Comptroller Discusses Elevating Fairness in Banking

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu today discussed the importance of fairness in remarks given at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition Just Economy Conference 2024. Mr. Hsu highlighted bank progress in overdraft protection program reforms since the OCC issued guidance last April and provided an update on Project REACh accomplishments regarding credit invisibles,…

OCC: National Financial Capability Month Celebrated in April

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) supports National Financial Capability Month in April, and encourages national banks and federal savings associations (collectively, banks) to support this annual commemoration by recommitting their focus on improving the financial capability and financial health of their customers. Banks can promote financial capability through high-quality financial literacy…

SBA: 17 New Women’s Business Centers Announced

13 of the New WBCs Will Be Hosted by Minority Serving Institutions Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced the selection of 17 new Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), 13 of which will be hosted by established Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)…

OCC: Registration Opens for OCC Project REACh Summit on Financial Inclusion

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced that registration is open for its Project REACh Financial Inclusion Summit on May 29-30, 2024, at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The OCC’s Project REACh, or the Roundtable for Economic Access and Change, brings together leaders from the banking industry, national civil rights organizations,…

SBA: Updated Equity Action Plan Unveiled to Advance Commitment to Investing in Equity

Updates Focus on Providing Access to Capital and Entrepreneurial Support Services, Creating Economic Opportunities, and Advancing our National Economy Today,  Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses and startups, announced the SBA’s updated 2023 Equity Action Plan outlining actionable steps the…

HUD: 2023 Update to Equity Action Plan Released, Outlining New Commitments to Advance Equity

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released the 2023 Update to its Equity Action Plan, in coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government equity agenda. This Equity Action Plan is part of the Department’s efforts to implement the President’s Executive Order on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,” which…

OCC: 2024 Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day Promoted

To increase the awareness of eligible working families about the benefits of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency joins stakeholders across the country in promoting January 26 as EITC Awareness Day. The EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low- to moderate-income households. Changes in marital,…

OCC: Public Appraisal Subcommittee Hearing on Appraisal Bias Scheduled for February 13th

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) will host a public hearing of the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) on appraisal bias on February 13, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at its headquarters, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, D.C. Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu will provide opening remarks. The subcommittee panel…

Census Bureau: Virtual Workshop on Advancing Research on Race, Ethnicity and Inequality Scheduled

The U.S. Census Bureau is scheduled to hold a virtual workshop on Advancing Research on Race, Ethnicity and Inequality Nov. 14-15, 2023. This event will bring together new perspectives on how data resources can be better leveraged to both measure the dimensions of race and ethnicity within the U.S. population and to investigate how systemic inequalities by…