FHFA extends housing goals due to COVID-19

Jul 21, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
The Federal Housing Finance Agency's proposed 2021 housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that are unchanged from 2018-2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visa’s U.S. Economic Outlook (July 2020)

Jul 20, 2020 | News
Though there are few changes to note since the June Outlook report, the downside risks to the outlook are clearly rising.

Op-ed: Credit union favoritism harms troops

Jul 20, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
A federal law allowing tax-exempt credit unions to operate rent-free is shrinking the availability of banking options to service members, ICBA community banker and military veteran James Smith wrote.

SBA planning PPP loan-forgiveness portal

Jul 20, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
The SBA will soon release a portal to accept Paycheck Protection Program loan-forgiveness applications, Administrator Jovita Carranza told the House Small Business Committee. The SBA is working with the Treasury Department to offer the portal by the beginning of August, she said.

Stats show community bank PPP impact: blog

Jul 20, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
A recent report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance shows how vital community banks have been to the COVID-19 response, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey wrote in Main Street Matters.

USDA, SBA loans exempt from environmental rule

Jul 20, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
The Council on Environmental Quality issued an ICBA-supported final rule to exempt USDA and SBA guaranteed loans from proposed environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Protection Act.

ICBA, states provide stimulus plan to Congress

Jul 17, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
ICBA and 42 state community banking associations issued specific recommendations for the next economic stimulus package as Congress prepares new legislation. Meanwhile, community bankers can weigh in via ICBA's Be Heard grassroots action center.

National Taxpayers Union targets credit union push

Jul 17, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
Citing problems with credit union industry transparency, oversight, and unfair competition, the National Taxpayers Union told key members of Congress that it opposes expanding the credit union member-business-lending cap unless several conditions are met.

FinCEN issues advisory on Twitter scam

Jul 17, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an advisory on a high-profile scam exploiting Twitter accounts to solicit fraudulent virtual currency payments.

CFPB reports consumer COVID-19 complaints

Jul 17, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported on more than 8,000 complaints it received from January through May that mention the coronavirus or related terms. Mortgage, credit card, and credit or consumer reporting complaints top the list.

ICBA, States Offer Stimulus Plan Ahead of Congressional Debate

Jul 16, 2020 | Press Release
As the leaders in responding to the economic fallout of COVID-19 and responsible for two-thirds of Paycheck Protection Program loans, community banks today provided Congress with recommendations for the next economic stimulus package.

Pandemic Relief Letter for State Sign-On

Jul 16, 2020 | Letters to Congress
Community bankers across the country have worked tirelessly to deliver PPP loans quickly and successfully on behalf of thousands of small businesses. PPP loans could be a lifeline for borrowers, if the terms for forgiveness are flexible and realistic, reflecting the complexity and variability of the current business environment.

Stimulus grassroots needed ahead of Senate debate

Jul 15, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
With the Senate set to begin debating the next economic stimulus package next week, ICBA is calling on community bankers to use its Be Heard grassroots action center to weigh in with recommendations.

SEC warns of ransomware attacks

Jul 15, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
The Securities and Exchange Commission issued an alert about recent reports that threat actors are targeting financial institution networks to access internal resources and deploy ransomware.

Review process for AML deficiencies paused

Jul 15, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an advisory on the Financial Action Task Force’s reissued list of jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in countering money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

FSOC to review secondary mortgage market

Jul 15, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
The Financial Stability Oversight Council will launch an activities-based review of the secondary mortgage market, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said.

ICBA Bancard Announces New Board of Directors Members

Jul 14, 2020 | Press Release
ICBA Bancard, the payments subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America, today announced that Gregory Hohl, chairman and president of Wahoo State Bank in Wahoo, Nebraska, and Jim Amundson, president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota, were elected to the ICBA Bancard board of directors.

Visa to discontinue Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver and Warranty Manager

Jul 14, 2020 | News
Effective January 31, 2021, Visa will discontinue the Auto Rental Collision Damage waiver (ARCDW) and Warranty Manager (WM) benefits as mandatory, Visa-funded benefits from the U.S. consumer credit platform except for Visa Infinite cards.

First monthly PPP reports due tomorrow: SBA

Jul 14, 2020 | NewsWatch Today
Paycheck Protection Program lenders must submit the first monthly PPP 1502 report by tomorrow, July 15, according to a new procedural notice issued Monday night by the SBA. The SBA said it is granting a two-day grace period for this month's report.