Economic Inclusion

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…

ABA: America’s Banks Urged to Offer Bank On-Certified Accounts

Core Providers Pledge Support for Financial Inclusion Initiative The American Bankers Association today called on every bank in the country to consider offering Bank On-certified accounts to expand access to banking services and reduce the number of unbanked and underbanked Americans. In urging all banks to join ABA in this financial inclusion initiative during his…

HUD: Secretary Carson Announces Expansion of HUD’s “Moving to Work” Demonstration

Department invites 100 additional Housing Authorities to join the program over next two years During his remarks at the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association’s (PHADA) 2020 Legislative Conference, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced that the Department is expanding its Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration, which invites 100 additional…

HUD: Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity Joins the Fair Housing Assistance Program

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity (GCEO) is joining the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) as an Interim Certified agency. GCEO is a state-level fair housing enforcement agency and is the only organization of its type serving the state. HUD’s Fair Housing Assistance Program comprises…

CFPB: Comment Period Extended on Ways to Prevent Credit Discrimintation and Build a More Inclusive Financial System

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) announced today that it will provide an additional 60 days for public comment on its Request for Information (RFI) on how best to create a regulatory environment that expands access to credit and ensures that all consumers and communities are protected from discrimination in all aspects of a credit…

CFPB: Information Requested on Ways to Prevent Credit Discrimination and Build a More Inclusive Financial System

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) issued today a request for information (RFI) to seek public input on how best to create a regulatory environment that expands access to credit and ensures that all consumers and communities are protected from discrimination in all aspects of a credit transaction. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and…

CFPB: New “Making Ends Meet” Survey Results Released

The Bureau released the first results from the Making Ends Meet survey today. The results provide a deeper understanding of how often U.S. consumers have difficulty making ends meet and how they cope with financial shortfalls. Key results from the survey Among survey respondents, 52 percent reported they could cover expenses for two months or…