The February issue of Independent Banker focuses on why Black-owned banks are crucial to lifting the economic fortunes of African Americans.

Insured depository institutions under $10 billion in assets have made more than half of 2021 first- and second-draw Paycheck Protection Program loans, according to SBA data.

ICBA called on federal regulators to expand their efforts to streamline community bank call reporting to recognize the impact of Paycheck Protection Program lending.

Amid a sometimes chaotic rollout of vaccines across the US, health experts say a glimmer of good news has emerged, with recent reports of cases in nursing homes having declined for the past four weeks, according to federal data.

The SBA updated its frequently asked questions on the Paycheck Protection Program with guidance on the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and BSA/AML compliance.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued its 2021 list of consumer reporting companies. The list includes the three nationwide consumer reporting companies as well as other companies.

The SBA issued several notices on its loan programs, including updated guidance on the tax implications of the six months of 7(a), 504, and Microloan payments it is making for borrowers under Section 1112 of the CARES Act.

The IRS on Friday reissued 1.2 million Economic Impact Payments through the ACH network with an effective date of this Wednesday, Feb. 3. Another 2.3 million reissued EIP2 checks are scheduled to be printed and mailed by Friday, Feb. 5.

Vinh Giang has spent the last 15 years mastering the art of performance-enhanced communication and has helped thousands of professionals to learn these skills. He joins us at ICBA Connect to tell us how we can amplify the best parts of ourselves.

This year, ICBA’s annual convention will come in the form of ICBA Connect, an immersive livestreamed event on March 9 and 10 for community bank leaders and their teams. Don’t worry, this isn’t another Zoom or Skype call—far from it.

ICBA outlined its 2021 community bank policy agenda in an open letter to Congress. The letter advocates ICBA’s pragmatic legislative opportunities, which promote fairness and equity in our financial system for the benefit of consumers and local communities nationwide.

Johnson & Johnson said Friday that its single-dose coronavirus vaccine was 72% effective in protecting against moderate and severe Covid-19 in the US, but was less potent in other regions.

New Covid-19 cases continue to trend downward, with 16% fewer cases reported this week than last, but 95% of the US population lives in a county that the federal government considers to be a “sustained hotspot," according to a report.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency announced a series of teleconferences on COVID-19 and vaccine distribution.

More than 24.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the US, according to data published Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The SBA issued a procedural notice and additional resources on resolving issues with first-draw Paycheck Protection Program loans to ensure borrower eligibility for second-draw loans, including codes to submit to the PPP loan platform.

The USDA announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Service Agency's Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs.

In addition to its guidance on PPP loan issues, the SBA also issued guidance on Economic Aid Act provisions affecting the agency's 7(a) and 504 loan programs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today that nearly 20 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and nearly 3.5 million people have been fully vaccinated.

The SBA said it is working to improve reviews of first-draw Paycheck Protection Program loans. The agency said anomalies—mostly data mismatches and eligibility concerns—were identified in approximately 4.7 percent of lender-submitted data.