Innovation

SBA: Small Business Innovation National Road Tour Announced

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced it will launch an 11-state, 15-stop road tour led by the SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, with participation from 11 other federal agencies. This will be the third year of the SBA-led National Innovation Road Tour. “The…

SBA: Administrator McMahon Appoints Joseph Shepard as Head of Investment and Innovation

WASHINGTON – Administrator Linda McMahon of the U.S. Small Business Administration  announced today that Joseph Shepard will serve as the Associate Administrator for the Office of Investment and Innovation. “It is my pleasure to welcome Joe to the SBA,” McMahon said. “His previous public sector experience at SBA overseeing the SBIC program, as well as…

OCC: OCC to Consider FinTech Charter Applications, Seek Comment

WASHINGTON — Comptroller of the Currency Thomas J. Curry today announced that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) would move forward with considering applications from financial technology (fintech) companies to become special purpose national banks. During remarks at the Georgetown University Law Center, the Comptroller described several reasons for considering special purpose…

ABA: Testifies at CFPB Field Hearing on Data Access

Concerns About Consumer Protection, Consumer Control WASHINGTON — The American Bankers Association expressed concerns about consumer protections at a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau field hearing on third party access to consumer financial data today in Salt Lake City. Robert Morgan, vice president, emerging technologies at ABA testified on behalf of the association. In his testimony, Morgan explained…

CFPB: Inquiry Launched into Challenges Consumer Face in Using and Securing Sharing Access to their Digital Financial Records

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced it is launching an inquiry into the challenges consumers face in accessing, using, and securely sharing their financial records. As part of the inquiry, the CFPB is asking the public for information about how much choice consumers are being given about the use of their…

OCC: Responsible Innovation Framework Released

WASHINGTON — The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced it will establish an office dedicated to responsible innovation and implement a formal framework to improve the agency’s ability to identify, understand, and respond to financial innovation affecting the federal banking system. “The OCC supports responsible innovation that enhances the safety and…

CFPB: First-Ever Project Catalyst Innovation Highlights Report Released

Report Discusses Market Developments with Potential for Consumer-Friendly Innovation Washington, D.C. – Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report highlighting various market developments that have the potential to produce benefits for consumers. These developments are emerging from FinTech startups and traditional financial institutions, and include new products, services, and trends. The report also…

ABA: Survey – 1 in 3 Americans Use Mobile Deposit

62 percent of users do so at least once per month WASHINGTON — One in three Americans have deposited a check using a mobile device within the past year, according to a new survey by the American Bankers Association.  Of those who have used mobile deposit, 62 percent report using it at least once per…

CDFI Fund: Upcoming Webinar – AEO’s Innovation Challenge Solution

The Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) will host a webinar on September 8, 2016 to provide additional insight into its winning 2015 CDFI Fund Innovation Challenge solution. AEO’s proposed solution is a screening and assessment tool that will match small business owners who have been declined by traditional lenders with CDFIs that may be able to…

ABA to Congress: Smart Policies Allow Banks to Innovate, Partner with FinTech Startups

Nichols says trusted customer relationships are paramount to success WASHINGTON — Banks are innovating and partnering with startups to help benefit their customers, but smart policies are key to facilitating a modern, high-tech system, according to testimony from American Bankers Association president and CEO Rob Nichols before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer…