Economic Inclusion

CFPB: New Proposed Rule Issued on Small Business Lending Data Collection Under Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is publishing for public comment a proposed rule amending Regulation B to implement changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) made by section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). Consistent with section 1071, the Bureau is proposing to require covered…

HUD and FHFA Collaboration to Advance Fair Housing and Fair Lending Enforcement Announced

Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) (collectively, the Agencies) entered into a first-of-its-kind collaborative agreement regarding fair housing and fair lending coordination. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the two Agencies will focus on enhancing their enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, which HUD…

FDIC: Minority Depository Institutions Subcommittee to Meet Virtually July 21st

July 21st virtual meeting to address issues important to minority banks The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced the agency’s Minority Depository Institutions (MDI) Subcommittee to the Advisory Committee on Community Banking will hold an open meeting at 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. During the public portion of the meeting, subcommittee members…

OCC: First Anniversary of Project REACh Celebrated

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu today marked the first anniversary of Project REACh by hosting participants to celebrate the project’s accomplishments and to challenge them to set their sights even higher over the next two years. “Project REACh has generated a great deal of excitement and made great strides in its first…

ABA: Statement on Bank On Account Milestone

“We are thrilled to learn that more than 100 financial institutions, including a growing number of America’s banks, now offer low-cost Bank On certified accounts. We congratulate the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, which created the Bank On standards, for this important achievement and for the CFE Fund’s ongoing efforts to reduce the number of…

SBA: Extension of $100 Million Grant “Community Navigator Pilot” Program Proposals to July 23, 2021 Announced

Grant program to strengthen outreach to businesses in underserved communities enacted through the American Rescue Plan Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration  announced the extended application date for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program. SBA will now accept proposal submissions through July 23, 2021, and anticipates making award decisions by September 2021. This new initiative, established…

FDIC: “Fintech: A Bridge to Economic Inclusion” Virtual Conference Scheduled for June 29th

June 29th event to address how technology can create greater opportunities The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will host a virtual conference on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, to explore how financial technology and innovation can create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive banking system.  Fintech: A Bridge to Economic Inclusion will feature leading voices in the world of…

SBA: Council on Underserved Communities Reconvened

Administrator Guzman restores Council to address the immediate needs and concerns of underserved and underrepresented communities hit hard by COVID-19 The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that it is reconvening the Council on Underserved Communities (CUC) under the authority of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). In conjunction with the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda, the restoration of…

HUD: FHA Takes Steps to Remove Barriers to Homeownership for Those with Student Loan Debt

Updates to Single Family student loan monthly payment calculation expand access to FHA-insured mortgage financing for creditworthy individuals, particularly in communities of color The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Friday announced updates to its student loan monthly payment calculations to take steps to remove barriers and provide more access to affordable single family FHA-insured mortgage financing for…

Federal Reserve: Report Issued on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households

in the fourth quarter of 2020, nearly one-fourth of adults said that they were worse off financially compared to a year earlier, reflecting the economic fallout and distress resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Reserve Board’s report, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020, which was released on Monday, found a larger share of adults…