Industry News

EDA: U.S. Department of Commerce Launches First of its Kind Economic Recovery Corps with $30 Million CARES Act Investment

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $30 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to a coalition of organizations to establish and operate a nationwide Economic Recovery Corps program. This EDA funded program will recruit and place at least 65 Fellows in economic development…

OCC: Virtual Innovation Office Hours Scheduled for December 14th and 15th

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced that it will host virtual Innovation Office Hours on December 14-15, 2022, to promote responsible innovation in the federal banking system. Office Hours are one-on-one meetings with representatives from the OCC Office of Innovation to discuss financial technology (fintech), new products or services, partnering…

OCC: Agency Announces Office of Financial Technology

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today announced it will establish an Office of Financial Technology early next year to bolster the agency’s expertise and ability to adapt to a rapidly changing banking landscape. The Office of Financial Technology will build on and incorporate the Office of Innovation, which the OCC established in…

SBA: 2022 National Veterans Small Business Week Launches October 31st

Virtual and in-person events highlight the Agency’s efforts to support the nation’s nearly two million veteran-owned small businesses Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced that the SBA will celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) Oct. 31 – Nov….

OCC: Agency to Host Symposium on Bank Mergers

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) will host a symposium on bank mergers at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., on February 10, 2023. The symposium will promote public input and discussion regarding the framework for analyzing bank mergers under federal law, including topics such as competition, financial stability, and convenience and needs….

HUD: Secretary Fudge to Host Virtual “House Party – Let’s Talk About the House” to Support Millennial and Gen Z Pathways to Homeownership

Event to Help and Dispel Common Myths in Homebuying, Amplify Federal Homebuying Programs The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge will hold a virtual ‘House Party’ to share information on available federal resources and bust common myths around the homebuying process. This event is to help encourage young adults…

OCC: Agency Joins Military Spouse Partnership

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) affirmed its commitment to military families by joining the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) at a ceremony today in Arlington, Va. MSEP is a Department of Defense program that connects military spouses with partner employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote, and retain military spouses….

FHFA: Targeted Pricing Changes to Enterprise Pricing Framework Announced

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced targeted changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s (the Enterprises) guarantee fee pricing by eliminating upfront fees for certain borrowers and affordable mortgage products, while implementing targeted increases to the upfront fees for most cash-out refinance loans. ​As part of the pricing changes stemming from the Agency’s…

FHFA: Validation of FICO 10T and Vantage Score 4.0 Announced for Use by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced the validation and approval of both the FICO 10T credit score model and the VantageScore 4.0 credit score model for use by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises). “Today’s decision will benefit borrowers and the Enterprises, along with maintaining safety and soundness,” said FHFA Director Sandra…

CFPB: Guidance Issued to Address Junk Data in Credit Reports

Effort seeks to address false information on the credit reports of children in foster care and the general public Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued guidance to consumer reporting companies about their obligation to screen for and eliminate obviously false “junk data” from consumers’ credit reports. Companies need to take steps to reliably…