OCC: Agency Clarifies Bank Authority to Engage in Certain Cryptocurrency Activities
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today took action to reaffirm that a range of cryptocurrency activities are permissible in the federal banking system. The OCC published Interpretive Letter 1183 to confirm that crypto-asset custody, certain stablecoin activities, and participation in independent node verification networks such as distributed ledger are permissible for…
ICBA: ICBA Applauds Treasury Secretary Bessent for Pro-Community Bank Remarks and Support for Independence of Prudential Banking Regulators
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today applauded Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for his remarks supporting community banks and committing to the continued independence of the nation’s prudential banking regulators and dual banking system. “ICBA and the nation’s community banks strongly support Secretary Bessent’s remarks on the positive role of community banks to Main…
SBA: Administrator Loeffler Announces SBA Reforms to Put American Citizens First
SBA will require citizenship verification for loan applications, relocate regional offices out of sanctuary cities Today, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced a series of reforms to put American citizens first by ending taxpayer benefits for illegal aliens and moving SBA offices out of sanctuary cities. These actions support President Trump’s agenda to secure our…
ICBA: Statement Issued Opposing Consolidation of the Nation’s Banking Regulators
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement opposing the consolidation of the nation’s banking regulators. “While Wall Street bank executives and others have called for consolidating the nation’s banking regulators, ICBA and community bankers have long supported the independence of the federal banking agencies and our…
SBA: Administrator Loeffler Issues Memo on Day One Priorities
Outlines how SBA will become an America First engine for free enterprise Following her confirmation and swearing-in as the 28th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Kelly Loeffler issued a Day One memo outlining her top priorities for the agency. “Small businesses are the backbone of our nation, driving innovation, job creation, and prosperity – and there’s…
ABA: Kentucky Teen Named Grand Prize Winner of National Teen Video Contest
The American Bankers Association Foundation today announced the winner of the national Lights, Camera, Save! teen video contest. Lela Ashley, a 16-year-old at George Rogers Clark High School in Lexington, Ky., achieved first place for her entry, “Lights, Camera, Save! Press Conference” in addition to the $5,000 prize money. Other submissions that placed in the…
ICBA: U.S. Postal Inspection Service and ICBA Partner to Help Community Banks Combat Check Fraud
The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced a partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to combat the threat of check fraud. As part of this initiative, ICBA and the Postal Inspection Service will deliver in-branch educational materials with step-by-step instructions to help consumers safeguard their financial assets and respond if they experience…
FDIC: Upcoming Webinar Scheduled on “Empowering Youth: Using the FDIC Reality Fair Toolkit to Build Real-World Financial Skills”
The FDIC will host a webinar to showcase the Guide to Organizing Reality Fairs (PDF) and other financial education resources. These resources are designed to help schools and youth-serving organizations empower young people with essential financial skills to plan for their future. Reality Fairs are simulations of an adult’s financial life that provide an interactive experience for…
HUD: HUD Secretary Turner Launches DOGE Task Force to Eliminate Waste, Fraud and Abuse
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will launch a U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force to review how HUD is spending American taxpayer dollars. The task force will be composed of HUD employees who will examine how to best maximize the agency’s budget and ensure all programs, processes and personnel…
ABA: Statement on Nominations of Jonathan Gould as Comptroller of the Currency and Jonathan McKernan as CFPB Director
“We congratulate Jonathan Gould on his nomination to serve as comptroller of the currency. His prior experience at the OCC – as well as his time as a top staffer on the Senate Banking Committee and as a financial regulatory attorney – will serve him well as the agency continues its important mission to promote…