Lending

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% –…

ABA: Banks, Credit Unions, Payments and Fintech Industries Highlight Harm APR Cap Legislation Would Have on Consumers in Letter

Leading financial groups that represent banks and credit unions of all sizes, along with the payments and fintech industries, today sent a letter to Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) to oppose their proposed legislation that would create an annual percentage rate (APR) cap for credit cards at 10 percent. This misguided legislation, which…

ABA: ABA Testifies Before Senate Ag Committee on Risk Management, Credit and the Agricultural Economy

The American Bankers Association offered the banking industry’s views on risk management, credit and the agricultural economy in testimony before the Senate Committee on Agriculture today. Caleb Hopkins, current chair of ABA’s Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee, testified on behalf of ABA. Hopkins, based in Halbur, Iowa, has worked in agricultural banking for 13 years, including the…

SBA: Made in America Manufacturing Initiative Announced

Effort will cut $100B in regulation, expand access to capital and create dedicated infrastructure to support blue-collar boom Today, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced the agency’s new Made in America Manufacturing Initiative to restore American economic dominance and national security by empowering small manufacturers. The agency’s effort will support President Trump’s agenda to create good-paying jobs,…

Agencies Issue 2024 Shared National Credit Program

Federal bank regulatory agencies today reported in the 2024 Shared National Credit (SNC) report that credit risk associated with large, syndicated bank loans remains moderate. However, the agencies noted weakened credit quality trends continue due to the pressure of higher interest rates on leveraged borrowers and compressed operating margins in some industry sectors. The agencies…

SBA: Administrator Loeffler Announces SBA Reforms to Put American Citizens First

SBA will require citizenship verification for loan applications, relocate regional offices out of sanctuary cities Today, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced a series of reforms to put American citizens first by ending taxpayer benefits for illegal aliens and moving SBA offices out of sanctuary cities. These actions support President Trump’s agenda to secure our…

ICBA: ICBA Strongly Supports Bipartisan ACRE Act Offering Lower-Cost Credit to Rural Americans

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed strong support for the introduction of the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act to support farmers, ranchers, and rural homeowners.  The bipartisan bill introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Angus King (D-Maine) in the Senate and Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) and Don…

FDIC: Guidance Issued to Help Financial Institutions and Facilitate Recovery in Areas of West Virginia Affected by Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

The FDIC has announced a series of steps intended to provide regulatory relief to financial institutions and facilitate recovery in areas of West Virginia affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.  Please review the FDIC’s Disaster Page to review information about what to do if your bank is affected. Statement of Applicability: The contents of,…

FDIC: Guidance Issued to Help Financial Institutions and Facilitate Recovery in Areas of Kentucky Affected by Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Summary: The FDIC has announced a series of steps intended to provide regulatory relief to financial institutions and facilitate recovery in areas of Kentucky affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.  Please review the FDIC’s Disaster Page to review information about what to do if your bank is affected. Statement of Applicability: The contents of,…

SBA: Administrator Loeffler Issues Memo on Day One Priorities

Outlines how SBA will become an America First engine for free enterprise Following her confirmation and swearing-in as the 28th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Kelly Loeffler issued a Day One memo outlining her top priorities for the agency. “Small businesses are the backbone of our nation, driving innovation, job creation, and prosperity – and there’s…