The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released its 2020 annual report to Congress on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, including public enforcement action details.

The second batch of Covid-19 stimulus checks will be issued this week, the Biden administration announced Monday, with many of the payments expected to come via paper check or prepaid debit card and additional batches will be made weekly going forward.

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and the nation’s community banks are celebrating the contributions of America’s local farmers, ranchers and agricultural enterprises during National Ag Day.

BPI, the American Bankers Association and the Independent Community Bankers of America sent a joint comment letter calling on the OCC to withdraw its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on National Bank and Federal Savings Association Premises.

With National Agriculture Week running through Friday, ICBA is calling on community bankers to advocate support for newly reintroduced legislation to exempt from taxation interest income on farm real estate and rural mortgage loans.

The SBA launched an online portal to receive Shuttered Venue Operators Grant applications when the application period begins April 8. The program offers $16 billion in grants for eligible live venues.

ICBA expressed support for newly reintroduced bipartisan legislation to establish a safe harbor for financial institutions that serve cannabis-related businesses in states where cannabis is legal.

ICBA-opposed legislation designed to expand credit union lending authority was introduced in the Senate.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a forensics collection capability to help detect activity related to the supply chain compromises affecting SolarWinds and Active Directory/Microsoft 365.

Two new Nacha rules take effect today on Same Day ACH and account validation.

Covid-19 cases are rising by more than 10% in 14 states this week compared to last week, with half of those states rising by more than 20%, and while nationally the number of new cases has continued to decline the trend is not down for all states.

The Independent Community Bankers of America today expressed support for bipartisan legislation that would establish a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that serve cannabis-related businesses in states where cannabis is legal.

The Treasury Department and IRS said they disbursed roughly 90 million Economic Impact Payments this week.

ICBA expressed support for legislation to exempt from taxation interest income on farm real estate and rural mortgage loans.

ICBA is urging community bankers to use its Be Heard grassroots action center to urge their members of Congress to make needed changes to the Paycheck Protection Program if it is extended beyond March 31.

Approximately 90 million stimulus checks have been disbursed to Americans, the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced Wednesday, totaling over $242 billion in payments.

The Independent Community Bankers of America today said it strongly supports the Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America Act to support farmers, ranchers and rural homeowners.

The House voted 415-3 to pass ICBA-supported legislation to extend the Paycheck Protection Program, though the Senate outlook remains unclear.

The first tranche of new Economic Impact Payments sent through the ACH Network is effective today. In a joint statement, ICBA and other financial services groups clarified that the March 17 payment date was chosen by the IRS—not the banking industry.

Nearly 111 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the US, according to data published Tuesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.