FEMA: President Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Alaska
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Alaska to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by an earthquake on November 30, 2018. The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the Municipality of Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna Borough,…
HUD: Secretary Carson Announces Agreement to Address Longstanding Issues at New York City Housing Authority
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today announced an agreement with the City of New York and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to provide a new roadmap forward for NYCHA that will address the longstanding issues at the housing authority’s properties. Read the agreement. “The families who have endured unimaginably…
HUD and Census Bureau: New Residential Sales Report for November 2018
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential sales statistics for November 2018: New Home Sales Sales of new single-family houses in November 2018 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 657,000. This is 16.9 percent (±19.9 percent)* above the revised October…
CFPB: Latest List of Consumer Reporting Companies Published
You may know that your credit record affects your ability to get an affordable loan, a job, an apartment, or many other essentials of daily life. But, do you know where and how to actually request your credit report and what you can do once you order your consumer reports? Over the past few years,…
SBA: Deadline Extended for 2019 National Small Business Week Awards Nominations
Due to the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Small Business Administration has extended the deadline for the 2019 National Small Business Week Awards nominations. Now, all nominations must be submitted no later than 3 p.m. EST, February 4, 2019. Since 1963, National Small Business Week has recognized the outstanding achievements of America’s small businesses for…
ABA: Report Shows Credit Card Market Expands Further in Third Quarter as the Economy Sustains Robust Growth
Credit card use continued to increase in the third quarter of 2018, according to the American Bankers Association’s latest quarterly Credit Card Market Monitor. Compared to the previous quarter, purchase volumes increased for both subprime and super-prime accounts, but moderated for prime accounts. On an annual basis, monthly purchase volumes rose across risk tiers, led…
HUD: Funding Renewed to Thousands of Local Homeless Programs
$2 billion to renew existing grants to 5,800 community-based housing and service providers The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded approximately $2 billion to renew support to thousands of local homeless assistance programs across the nation. HUD’s Continuum of Care grants will provide critically needed support to 5,800 local programs on…
OCC: Agency Promotes Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day
To make more eligible working families aware of the benefits of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is promoting EITC Awareness Day on January 25. “The Earned Income Tax Credit is a valuable tax break that can help the financial outlook of hard-working, American families,” said Comptroller…
ABA: Finxact, an Emerging Core Banking Technology Provider, Receives Investment from ABA
Investment Reflects ABA Member Interest in More Flexible Core Platforms The American Bankers Association today announced a direct investment in Finxact, an emerging technology company that offers an innovative, open core banking platform for financial institutions. The investment in Finxact reflects ABA’s commitment to ensuring that member banks have the technology and tools they need…
FHFA: Indices Show Little Movement in Mortgage Interest Rates in December 2018
Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages were nearly flat from November to December, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 4.83 percent for loans closed in late December, down 3 basis points from 4.86 percent…