Innovation

OCC: Agency Commends FDIC Reform and Advances Priority to Reinvigorate De Novo Chartering

New FDIC process to review deposit insurance applications aligns with OCC efforts The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency continues to prioritize reinvigorating de novo chartering to build a robust, diverse banking system that supports the U.S. economy and commends the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for its recent efforts to do the same. “De…

EDA: U.S. Department of Commerce Announces $34.2 Million in Disaster Recovery Awards for North Carolina

Today, Paul M. Dabbar, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce, announced $34.2 million in Disaster recovery awards for North Carolina, provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). U.S. Representative Chuck Edwards (NC-11); Ben Page, EDA Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Operating Officer; and EDA grantees joined him at the announcement, at the…

ICBA: ThinkTECH Accelerator Showcase Returns to GSBC, Connecting Fintechs with Community Bank Leaders

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) will host the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator Program 11 Showcase on July 23, 2026 at the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC) in Boulder, Colo. During the event, community bank leaders will engage with growth-stage, bank-enabling fintechs and vote on the solution that best helps community banks flourish….

HUD: “Made in America” Theme Unveiled for Innovative Housing Showcase 2026

Sixth Annual Showcase returns to the National Mall September 22nd-24th  Secretary Turner announced the “Made in America” theme for HUD’s sixth annual Innovative Housing Showcase, returning to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. September 22 – September 24, 2026. The Freedom 250 event will showcase American innovations that can help expand housing supply, lower construction…

SBA: Registration Now Open for America’s Seed Fund Summit

Month-long Summit Will Connect Entrepreneurs to Country’s Largest Source of Early-Stage Research and Development Funding Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that registration is now open for America’s Seed Fund Summit, which will take place from July 1 to July 31.  The month-long summit will feature a national series of virtual webinars and in-person events designed to connect entrepreneurs,…

Treasury: Artificial Intelligence Innovation Series Concludes

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Transformation Office (AITO) held the fourth and final roundtable of the AI Innovation Series on May 19, 2026. This public-private initiative supports the continued strength and resilience of the U.S. financial system in an era of…

HUD: Proposed Rule Would Spark Manufactured Home Innovation & Increase Supply

The proposed rule would remove the permanent chassis requirement for upper stories of manufactured homes. HUD today published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would update the definition of a manufactured home and support innovative opportunities for multi-story manufactured housing. Under the proposed rule, the new definition of a manufactured home, as noted in the Manufactured Home…

OCC: Comptroller Gould Testifies on Agency Activities

Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould today testified on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) priorities and activities before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services. Excerpts from Comptroller Gould’s testimony are below. The full written testimony can be found here. On risk tolerance: “After the 2008 financial crisis, Washington too often sought…

ICBA: New ThinkTECH Accelerator Cohort Named to Help Community Banks Tackle Innovation Priorities

The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced the selected companies for its eleventh ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program (AP11). Running May 18 – July 24, the second cohort of 2026 reflects feedback from ICBA’s ThinkTECH Selection and Advisory Committee and targets priority areas for community bank innovation, including fraud mitigation, artificial intelligence, data analytics,…

SBA: Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Reauthorized

S. 3971 backs America’s Seed Fund programs for five years, adds reforms to strengthen national security, accountability, and innovation Today, President Donald J. Trump signed into law S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, which reauthorizes and reforms the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. SBA Administrator Kelly…