CDFI Fund: FY 2024 Application Round Opens for Small Dollar Loan Program
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) opened the fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding round for the Small Dollar Loan Program (SDL Program) today. SDL Program funding is intended to expand consumer access to financial institutions by providing alternatives to high-cost small dollar lending. The SDL Program funding is…
SBA: Access to Capital Expanded for Underserved Small Businesses Through Mission-Based Lenders
SBA Introduces 143 New Community Advantage Small Business Lending Companies (SBLC) Across America This week at the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) annual conference, Administrator Isabel Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, announced that the SBA has successfully made permanent its mission-lending Community…
HUD: FHA Expands Access to Mortgage Financing for Homes that Have or Will Include Accessory Dwelling Units
New Accessory Dwelling Unit policy provides expanded financing options for borrowers and reinforces Biden-Harris Administration housing supply and homeownership goals The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), today announced a new policy which allows lenders to count income from small units of housing built inside, attached to, or…
FHFA: New Uniform Appraisal Dataset Appraisal-Level Public Use File Published
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today published its new Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) Appraisal-Level Public Use File (PUF). “As accurate home valuations are vital to the mortgage market, publishing transparent data on appraisals while protecting borrowers’ personally identifiable information provides useful information to the public in a responsible manner,” said FHFA Director Sandra L. Thompson. “Today’s announcement…
FHFA: Expanded Eligibility Announced for “Rep and Warrant” Relief Following COVID-19 Forbearance
Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that it will revise the treatment of active single-family mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) for which borrowers elected a COVID-19 forbearance under the Enterprises’ representations and warranties (rep and warrant) framework. Under the updated rep and warrant policies, loans for which borrowers…
Joint Statement Issued Cautioning that Financial Institutions May Not Use Immigration Status to Illegally Discriminate Against Credit Applicants
Borrowers report being denied loans because of their immigration status The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Justice Department today issued a joint statement that reminds financial institutions that all credit applicants are protected from discrimination on the basis of their national origin, race, and other characteristics covered by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, regardless…
CFPB: Exams Return $140 Million to Consumers Hit by Illegal Junk Fees in Banking, Auto Loans and Remittances
New report shows most institutions have eliminated NSF fees, saving consumers $2 billion every year Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a special edition of its Supervisory Highlights focused on the agency’s efforts to protect consumers from illegal junk fees. The junk fees discussed in the report – including fees for fake paper…
FHFA: Report Announced on the Sale of Non-Performing Loans by the Enterprises
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released the latest report on the sale of non-performing loans (NPLs) by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises). The Enterprise Non-Performing Loan Sales Report includes sales information about NPLs sold through December 31, 2022. Borrower outcomes reflect NPLs sold through June 30, 2022. The sale of NPLs…
SBA: Over $139 Million in Disaster Assistance Loans Provided to Maui Wildfires
Today, U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced that the SBA has approved more than $139 million in federal disaster loans for Hawaii businesses, nonprofits, and residents impacted by Maui wildfires. Since the fires began, the SBA has approved $40,620,400 for businesses and $ 98,615,000 for residents to help rebuild and recover from the disaster. “The SBA,…
EDA: $7.7 Million Invested for Flood Protection Infrastructure in Dubuque, IA
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $7.7 million grant to the city of Dubuque, Iowa, to make flood prevention infrastructure improvements needed to protect businesses from future flooding. This grant will expand and replace existing flood gates and pumps to reduce the impacts of…