ABA: Banks Encouraged to Submit Nominations for Annual ABA Foundation Community Commitment Awards
The ABA Foundation is seeking submissions for its ninth annual Community Commitment Awards. The awards, one of the industry’s highest honors for extraordinary bank commitment to communities, recognizes innovative, high-impact programs that improve the quality of life for customers and communities banks serve. The entry period ends July 1. “Over the last year, America’s banks worked…
FHFA: New Refinance Option Announced for Low-Income Families with Enterprise-Backed Mortgages
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced today Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will implement a new refinance option for low-income borrowers with Enterprise-backed single-family mortgages. Eligible borrowers will benefit from a reduced interest rate and lower monthly payment. FHFA estimates that borrowers who take advantage of the new refinance option could save…
CDFI Fund: FY 2021 Small Dollar Loan Program Round Opens for Applications
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) opened the fiscal year (FY) 2021 funding round for the Small Dollar Loan Program (SDL Program) today. SDL Program funding is intended to expand consumer access to financial institutions by providing alternatives to high cost small dollar lending. The SDL Program funding…
HUD: $28 Million Awarded to Help Public Housing Residents Secure Employment and Higher-Paying Jobs
Housing Authorities in a dozen communities will receive funding under Jobs Plus The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced a $28 million investment to 12 public housing agencies (PHA) to help families increase their earned income and improve their economic mobility. See chart below of today’s funding announcement. Awarded through HUD’s…
FDIC: Strategic Plan to Reinforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Within the Agency and Among the Financial Institutions It Supervises Released
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today released the agency’s latest strategic plan to incorporate and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in every aspect of its mission and operations. Read the FDIC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan. “My goal is to build and maintain an FDIC workforce that is talented, diverse, and committed to…
HUD: $5.5 Billion in Grants Awarded to Local Communities for Affordable Housing and to Serve Individuals and Families
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced $5.5 billion in funding to local programs throughout the country that provide affordable housing, community development and economic opportunity, and support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. View a complete list of all the communities who received funding. “These core programs provide our local partners…
SBA: PPP Re-Opening and New Guidance Announced
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday,…
OCC: Project REACh Pledge Released to Promote Vitality of Minority Depository Institutions
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today announced the release of the Project REACh Minority Depository Institution (MDI) Pledge. In doing so, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian P. Brooks encouraged all large and midsize banks to consider the pledge to develop meaningful partnerships with MDIs to help them remain a vibrant part…
ABA: Seven Banks Win ABA Foundation’s 2020 Community Commitment Awards
The American Bankers Association Foundation named seven banks as 2020 Community Commitment Award winners. The annual awards recognize banks for extraordinary corporate social responsibility efforts in seven specific categories ranging from affordable housing to economic inclusion. The winners will be recognized today at ABA’s Unconventional Convention. “This has been a challenging year in so many ways, and…
ABA: M&T Bank and Midwest BankCentre Employees Win ABA Foundation Distinguished Service Awards
Detra Miller and Alex Fennoy have been named the ABA Foundation’s 2020 George Bailey Distinguished Service Award winners for their efforts to expand banking services to underserved communities. The two bankers will be recognized today at the ABA Unconventional Convention. Now in its sixth year, the George Bailey Distinguished Service Award recognizes a non-CEO bank employee…