ABA: ABA Applauds House Passage of the 2026 Farm Bill
“We thank the House for passing the 2026 Farm Bill, critical legislation that supports farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across the country. Banks remain a primary source of credit for agricultural producers of all sizes, and this bill strengthens the tools lenders need to meet the evolving needs of rural America. “The Farm Bill includes…
ABA: Statement on CFPB’s Section 1071 Final Rule
“We applaud the CFPB for finalizing a streamlined Section 1071 rule that addresses significant legal and operational concerns from the prior rule while providing clearer, more workable requirements for banks. This final 1071 rule appropriately refocuses on core lenders, products and data points without imposing undue compliance costs that would make it harder for America’s…
ICBA: New Polling Shows Public Support for Community Bank Policy Priorities
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today is kicking off the 2026 ICBA Capital Summit in Washington with the release of new polling data showing Americans support community banker views on the pressing issues attendees will be discussing with policymakers. “As community bankers hold in-person meetings with their members of Congress this week, new…
Treasury: Department Moves to Prevent Abuse of Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Programs
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced today that is has initiated a review of certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to identify potential violations of applicable law or CDFI requirements and to help ensure that CDFIs that receive federal assistance act as proper stewards of taxpayer funds. “CDFIs play a critical role in…
CFPB: New Report Issued on Debt Burdens Among Credit-Linked Consumers in the United States
Using consumer credit record data, CFPB researchers document how often consumers share credit with likely-household members, what types of credit they share, and what we might miss by focusing solely on individuals. The report shows that credit-linked consumers (a household-like construct the authors define) generally have better financial outcomes than consumers who are unlinked, even…
FHFA: Federal Housing Administration Joins Fannie and Freddie in Implementing VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T Credit Scores
Homebuying Advances into New Era of Credit Score Competition Today the U.S. government is ushering in a new era of competition in our nation’s mortgage market. In a joint announcement, HUD Secretary Scott Turner and FHFA Director William J. Pulte announced that the Federal Housing Administration and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are implementing their first…
ICBA: ICBA Commends House Financial Services Committee for Advancing 1071 Relief for Community Banks
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on the House Financial Services Committee’s passage of the Small LENDER Act (H.R. 941), ICBA-advocated legislation to exempt most community banks from small-business data collection and reporting requirements under Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act. “ICBA and the nation’s…
HUD: Disaster Aid & Financial Flexibility Delivered for Hawaii Residents Impacted by Natural Disasters
Secretary Scott Turner announced the availability of federal disaster assistance to the state of Hawaii to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Kona low weather systems on March 10-24, 2026. “When disasters strike, HUD is here to support American families when they need it most,” said Secretary Scott Turner. “Our team is assisting…
SBA: Relief Offered to Hawaii Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought
Low interest disaster loans now available The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Hawaii to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning Jan. 1. The declaration covers the Hawaii counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kauai, and Maui. Under this declaration,…
ABA: ABA Offers Congressional Testimony on Credit Reporting and Access to Credit
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a critical consumer protection law that supports responsible lending, and policymakers should avoid changes that could restrict credit availability by reducing data accuracy or adding complexity, the American Bankers Association testified before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions today. Veneshia Ferdinand, assistant vice president and director…