Economic Inclusion

ABA: New Banker Guide Released to Drive Community Engagement and Advance Inclusive Economic Solutions

The ABA Foundation today released “Community Conversations: Keys to Engaging Communities and Driving Inclusive Economic Solutions,” a new guide designed to help banks deepen their partnerships with community stakeholders and foster new cross-sector strategies to move people along the path to economic mobility and prosperity. The new resource offers a community engagement assessment to help bankers reflect…

SBA: New Rule Announced to Increase Economic Opportunity for Returning Citizens

New SBA Rule Will Make it Easier for Returning Citizens to Start and Run a Business, Creating Economic Opportunity and Reducing Recidivism Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced that the Biden-Harris Administration has finalized a new rule…

FDIC: Four Bankers Named to Minority Depository Institutions Subcommittee

May 1st meeting to address key challenges and opportunities for minority banks The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced four new members of the agency’s Minority Depository Institutions (MDI) Subcommittee to the Advisory Committee on Community Banking: On May 1, 2024, the MDI Subcommittee will meet to share insights into key challenges and opportunities…

OCC: Acting Comptroller Discusses Creating Economic Opportunity for New Americans

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu today discussed the value of financial literacy for new Americans in remarks during the Financial Literacy and Education Commission’s Public Meeting. In his remarks, Mr. Hsu acknowledged that immigrants are important drivers of our economy, including through entrepreneurship and innovation; however, they are also more likely to…

OCC: Acting Comptroller Discusses Elevating Fairness in Banking

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu today discussed the importance of fairness in remarks given at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition Just Economy Conference 2024. Mr. Hsu highlighted bank progress in overdraft protection program reforms since the OCC issued guidance last April and provided an update on Project REACh accomplishments regarding credit invisibles,…

OCC: National Financial Capability Month Celebrated in April

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) supports National Financial Capability Month in April, and encourages national banks and federal savings associations (collectively, banks) to support this annual commemoration by recommitting their focus on improving the financial capability and financial health of their customers. Banks can promote financial capability through high-quality financial literacy…

SBA: 17 New Women’s Business Centers Announced

13 of the New WBCs Will Be Hosted by Minority Serving Institutions Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced the selection of 17 new Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), 13 of which will be hosted by established Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)…

OCC: Registration Opens for OCC Project REACh Summit on Financial Inclusion

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced that registration is open for its Project REACh Financial Inclusion Summit on May 29-30, 2024, at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The OCC’s Project REACh, or the Roundtable for Economic Access and Change, brings together leaders from the banking industry, national civil rights organizations,…

SBA: Updated Equity Action Plan Unveiled to Advance Commitment to Investing in Equity

Updates Focus on Providing Access to Capital and Entrepreneurial Support Services, Creating Economic Opportunities, and Advancing our National Economy Today,  Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses and startups, announced the SBA’s updated 2023 Equity Action Plan outlining actionable steps the…

HUD: 2023 Update to Equity Action Plan Released, Outlining New Commitments to Advance Equity

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released the 2023 Update to its Equity Action Plan, in coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government equity agenda. This Equity Action Plan is part of the Department’s efforts to implement the President’s Executive Order on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,” which…