CFPB: Seventh Biennial Review of Consumer Credit Card Market Report Issued
This report represents the CFPB’s seventh biennial review of the consumer credit card market as directed by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009. In this report, we analyze data from several sources to examine many aspects of the consumer credit card market as of the end of 2024. We revisit topics…
OCC: Two Proposals Issued on Preemption of State Interest-on-Escrow Laws
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today requested comment on two proposals on national banks’ and federal savings associations’ real estate lending powers related to the payment of interest on funds held in escrow accounts. The OCC’s actions emphasize federal preemption as a critical tool for reducing unnecessary burden, enabling local and…
SBA: First MARC Loans Delivered to Support Manufacturers
$3.5 Million in New Capital will Supercharge Reindustrialization Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has approved its first round of 7(a) Manufacturers’ Access to Revolving Credit (MARC) Loans – already delivering $3.5 million in working capital to four manufacturers. The loan program, launched just prior to the federal shutdown, is the first-ever SBA loan offering dedicated…
ICBA: ICBA Opposes PayPal Application to Form Industrial Loan Company
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed strong opposition to PayPal’s application opens in a new tab to form an industrial loan company—a type of financial institution that receives federal deposit insurance while avoiding full regulatory oversight. “The FDIC should deny ILC applications from PayPal and other Big Tech companies and not allow these nonbank firms to benefit from the federal safety net while avoiding prudential regulation…
FDIC: Board of Directors Approves Final Rule on Establishment and Relocation of Branches and Offices
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Board of Directors today approved a final rule to streamline the processes for the establishment and relocation of domestic branches and main offices. The final rule is intended to improve the speed and certainty of, and reduce the regulatory burden associated with, branch and main office filings. The final…
ICBA: Analysis Shows Permitting Interest on Payment Stablecoin Holdings Would Reduce Community Bank Lending by $850 Billion
As Congress crafts legislation to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets markets, the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today released new data showing the harmful impact on local economies of allowing crypto exchanges, affiliates, and other intermediaries to pay interest, yield, or rewards on payment stablecoin holdings. Based on macroeconomic modeling from new industry research, ICBA estimates that continuing to allow crypto intermediaries to pay interest or yield on payment stablecoin holdings would reduce community bank…
OCC: Mortgage Performance Report Issued for Third Quarter of 2025
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported on the performance of first-lien mortgages in the federal banking system during the third quarter of 2025. The OCC Mortgage Metrics Report, Third Quarter 2025 showed that 97.4 percent of mortgages included in the report were current and performing at the end of the quarter, remaining unchanged…
Agencies Announce Dollar Thresholds for Applicability of Truth in Lending and Consumer Leasing Rules for Consumer Credit and Lease Transactions
The Federal Reserve Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today announced the dollar thresholds used to determine whether certain consumer credit and lease transactions in 2026 are subject to certain protections under Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) and Regulation M (Consumer Leasing). By law, the agencies are required to adjust the thresholds annually based…
Agencies Announce Dollar Thresholds for Smaller Loan Exemption from Appraisal Requirements for Higher-Priced Mortgage Loans
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today announced that the 2026 threshold for higher-priced mortgage loans that are subject to special appraisal requirements will increase from $33,500 to $34,200. The threshold amount will be effective January 1, 2026, and is based on the…
HUD: FHA Announces 2026 Loan Limits
New loan limits for Single Family Title II forward and Home Equity Conversion Mortgages Increase for calendar year 2026 Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced loan limits for calendar year 2026 for its Single Family Title II forward and Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) mortgage insurance programs. Loan limits for most of the country will…