Regulatory Updates

FDIC: Open Board Meeting Regarding CRA Modernization Scheduled for October 24th

Time and Date: 3:00 p.m. on October 24, 2023. Place: This Board meeting will be open to public observation only by webcast. Visit https://www.fdic.gov/news/board-matters/video.html for a link to the webcast. FDIC Board Members and staff will participate from FDIC Headquarters, 550 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC.  Observers requiring auxiliary aids (e.g., sign language interpretation) for this meeting should email DisabilityProgram@fdic.gov to…

Federal Reserve: Open Board Meeting Regarding CRA Modernization Scheduled for October 24th

Agency: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Time, date: 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 24, 2023 Place: Martin Federal Reserve Board Building, C Street entrance between 20th and 21st Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20551. Status: Open On the day of the meeting, you will be able to view the meeting via webcast from a…

Joint Statement Issued Cautioning that Financial Institutions May Not Use Immigration Status to Illegally Discriminate Against Credit Applicants

Borrowers report being denied loans because of their immigration status The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Justice Department today issued a joint statement that reminds financial institutions that all credit applicants are protected from discrimination on the basis of their national origin, race, and other characteristics covered by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, regardless…

CFPB: New Guidance Issued to Halt Large Banks from Charging Junk Fees for Basic Customer Service

Advisory opinion provides guidance on 2010 legal provision regarding customer service by large financial firms Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an advisory opinion regarding a provision enacted by Congress which generally prohibits large banks and credit unions from imposing unreasonable obstacles on customers, such as charging excessive fees, for basic information about…

HUD: Civil Rights Protections Against Housing Discrimination on the Basis of Shared Ancestry or Ethnic Characteristics Clarified

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity joins seven other federal agencies to issue fact sheets on Title VI protections Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and seven other agencies across the federal government are for the first time clarifying in writing that…

OCC: Verison 2.0 of Lease Financing Booklet Released

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today issued version 2.0 of the “Lease Financing” booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook. This booklet discusses risks and risk management practices associated with lease financing. This booklet also provides examiners with a framework for evaluating a bank’s1 lease financing activities. Rescissions The revised booklet replaces version 1.2 of…

CFPB: New Proposed Rulemaking Announced to Remove Medical Bills from Credit Reports

Proposals under consideration would help end coercive debt collection tactics, clean up inaccurate data, and improve credit score predictiveness The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today announced it is beginning a rulemaking process to remove medical bills from Americans’ credit reports. The CFPB outlined proposals under consideration that would help families financially recover from medical…

CFPB: New Guidance Issued on Credit Denials by Lenders Using Artificial Intelligence

Consumers must receive accurate and specific reasons for credit denials Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued guidance about certain legal requirements that lenders must adhere to when using artificial intelligence and other complex models. The guidance describes how lenders must use specific and accurate reasons when taking adverse actions against consumers. This means…

SBA: Proposed Rule Empowers Returning Citizens to Start and Grow Businesses

Updated regulations would remove barriers to capital for entrepreneurs with certain types of justice involvement Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) invited public comment on a proposed rule that would help expand access to SBA loan programs for people with certain criminal history records.  These proposed reforms would open up entrepreneurship opportunities to the one in…

FDIC: Equal Housing Lender Poster Updates Announced

FDIC-supervised institutions are required to maintain up-to-date Equal Housing Lender (EHL) posters in branches, as required by the Fair Housing Act. The FDIC recently amended some details of the posters, including updating the name of the office to which complaints should be addressed, as well as adding the web address of the FDIC’s web-based complaint…