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…
OCC: Verison 2.0 of Lease Financing Booklet Released
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today issued version 2.0 of the “Lease Financing” booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook. This booklet discusses risks and risk management practices associated with lease financing. This booklet also provides examiners with a framework for evaluating a bank’s1 lease financing activities. Rescissions The revised booklet replaces version 1.2 of…
OCC: Mortgage Performance Report for Second Quarter 2023 Released
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported on the performance of first-lien mortgages in the federal banking system during the second quarter of 2023. The OCC Mortgage Metrics Report, Second Quarter 2023 showed that 97.3 percent of mortgages included in the report were current and performing at the end of the quarter, compared with…
CFPB: Mortgage Report Finds Jumps in Closing Costs and Denials for Insufficent Income; Growing Proportion of Cash-Out Refinances
Overall mortgage lending falls amid significant rise in interest rates and discount points Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its annual report on residential mortgage lending activity and trends. In 2022, mortgage applications and originations declined markedly from the prior year, while rates, fees, discount points, and other costs increased. Overall affordability declined…
HUD: $25 Million Loan Guarantee Announced for Birmingham, AL Loan for Black, Indigenous, People of Color Fund
Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the City of Birmingham, Alabama a $25.2 million loan fund under its loan guarantee program for the Community Development Block Grant Program, Section 108. The City of Birmingham plans to use these funds to establish a $25 million citywide Loan Pool to provide financing…
SBA: Data Shows Major Increase in Loans to Black-Owned Businesses Since 2020
The number and share of SBA-backed 7(a) and 504 loans going to Black-Owned businesses more than doubled since 2020 Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), joined Congressman Steven Horsford at the 2023 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference today to announce new data showing the rate of SBA-backed loans going to Black-owned businesses…
FHFA: Second Quarter 2023 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report Released
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its second quarter 2023 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report. The report shows that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) completed 47,370 foreclosure prevention actions during the quarter, raising the total number of homeowners who have been helped to 6,818,471 since the start of conservatorships in September…
CFPB: New Proposed Rulemaking Announced to Remove Medical Bills from Credit Reports
Proposals under consideration would help end coercive debt collection tactics, clean up inaccurate data, and improve credit score predictiveness The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today announced it is beginning a rulemaking process to remove medical bills from Americans’ credit reports. The CFPB outlined proposals under consideration that would help families financially recover from medical…
CFPB: New Guidance Issued on Credit Denials by Lenders Using Artificial Intelligence
Consumers must receive accurate and specific reasons for credit denials Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued guidance about certain legal requirements that lenders must adhere to when using artificial intelligence and other complex models. The guidance describes how lenders must use specific and accurate reasons when taking adverse actions against consumers. This means…
SBA: Proposed Rule Empowers Returning Citizens to Start and Grow Businesses
Updated regulations would remove barriers to capital for entrepreneurs with certain types of justice involvement Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) invited public comment on a proposed rule that would help expand access to SBA loan programs for people with certain criminal history records. These proposed reforms would open up entrepreneurship opportunities to the one in…