ICBA-supported legislation allowing farmers and ranchers categorized as partnerships to use gross income to calculate maximum Paycheck Protection Program loan amounts was introduced in the House.

ollowing are today’s major Headlines, US Snapshots, US Vaccinations, US Variant Cases, key Highlights, the “Good Stuff” as well as key Statistics, Vaccine and Treatment information, US Restrictions and the Back to Normal Index related to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The B&I program is expected to exhaust current funding in the next few months and faces a projected $1 billion shortfall in loan authority this fiscal year. This program is vital to sustaining rural businesses and job creation.

Federal Reserve payment services are back online following a three-hour disruption yesterday that the Fed attributed to "operational error."

One of the Biden administration's Paycheck Protection Program reforms announced earlier this week started yesterday, with the rest set to be implemented next week.

ICBA and other groups urged policymakers to protect crop insurance from harmful cuts as they develop the fiscal 2022 budget.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an advisory to alert financial institutions to fraud and other financial crimes related to Economic Impact Payments.

ICBA Connect is a virtual experience that is designed to energize, inspire and bring community banking teams together. And to magnify that energy, our goal has been to engage community bankers at every level.

Community banks reported net income growth of 21.2 percent in the fourth quarter from a year ago and a 3.6 percent increase in 2020 from the year before, according to the FDIC's Quarterly Banking Profile.

​The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said it expects to propose a rule to delay its Qualified Mortgage rule’s July 1 mandatory compliance date.

ICBA and other groups urged Congress to include language in the next stimulus package exempting the third round of Economic Impact Payments from garnishment.

A new report out Tuesday warns that a more transmissible variant of coronavirus threatens to start a renewed surge of infections in March, and suggests the US speed up vaccination by skipping second doses for now.

During America Saves Week, the Independent Community Bankers of America reminds consumers that building a nest egg can help alleviate stress and provide additional financial security during times of uncertainty.

The Biden administration announced several Paycheck Protection Program reforms to target the program to the smallest businesses.

ICBA and other groups called on House appropriators to ensure adequate funding for key USDA rural development programs in the next COVID bill.

Federal and state agencies announced relief to institutions and taxpayers affected by this month's winter storms in Texas and other states.

President Joe Biden on Monday criticized the Paycheck Protection Program because small businesses struggled to get loans that instead went to larger companies, and announced a 14-day exclusive loan program using PPP funds for businesses with under 20 employees to apply for financial assistance.

Federal regulators issued final call report changes related to asset threshold relief given the impact of Paycheck Protection Program lending on bank balance sheets.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is slated to testify this week before the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee on the agency's Semiannual Monetary Policy Report.