SBA: New Final Rule Modifies Method for Calculating Annual Revenues for Small Businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration today published in the Federal Register a final rule to modify its method for calculating annual revenues used to prescribe size standards for small businesses. The final rule is effective Jan. 6, 2020. The SBA changed its regulations on the calculation of annual revenues from a three-year averaging period to a five-year averaging period, outside of…
FDIC: Comments Requested on Approaches to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Regulatory Actions
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) seeking comment on approaches it uses, or is considering using, to analyze the effects of its regulatory actions. The RFI is part of FDIC’s ongoing effort to strengthen the quality of its regulatory cost-benefit analyses. FDIC Chairman Jelena McWilliams said, “A transparent analysis of…
CFPB: Federal Regulators Issue Joint Statement on the Use of Alternative Data in Credit Underwriting
Five Federal financial regulatory agencies today issued a joint statement on the use of alternative data in underwriting by banks, credit unions, and non-bank financial firms. The statement from the Federal Reserve Board (Federal Reserve), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency…
HUD: Request Issued for Information on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on Federal, State, local, and Tribal laws, regulations, land use requirements, and administrative practices that artificially raise the costs of affordable housing development and contribute to shortages in America’s housing supply. This RFI is a request…
SBA: Final Rule Issued to Expand HUBZone Opportunities to Small Businesses and Revitalize Communities
The U.S. Small Business Administration today issued a final rule that will implement changes to the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program that will make the program more attractive to small businesses and encourage them to invest in HUBZone communities and hire HUBZone residents. The new rule changes will also make it easier for federal contracting officers to identify…
ABA: Otting, McWilliams Discuss Next Steps on CRA Modernization Effort
Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting is moving forward with issuing a long-awaited notice of proposed rulemaking that would modernize how the agency evaluates banks’ Community Reinvestment Act performance, he said today. Otting said he expects to issue the NPR by the end of 2019 with a 60-day comment period and hopes to have the…
FHFA: Enterprise Capital Rule Will Be Re-Proposed in 2020
Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced plans to re-propose the entire regulation on capital requirements (Capital Rule) for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) sometime in 2020. “The 2018 Capital Rule was proposed before FHFA began the process of retaining capital at the Enterprises as a first step toward ending the conservatorships….
SBA: Direct Final Rule Issued that Will Allow Governors to Seek HUBZone Designation for Certain Rural Areas
The U.S. Small Business Administration today issued a direct final rule that will allow governors to petition the SBA’s Administrator to designate HUBZone status to certain covered areas. A covered area is an area in a state that is located outside of an urbanized area, as determined by the Census Bureau, with a population of not more than…