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ICBA Newsroom

The ICBA Newsroom collects and centralizes all the NewsWatch Today articles, press releases, Main Street Matters blogs, advocacy letters and other news that impacts community bankers.

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ICBA urges Congress to advance community bank tax priorities

ICBA urged members of the House Ways and Means Committee Tax Teams to advance several community banking industry tax initiatives as they craft priorities for tax legislation in 2025.
August 07, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Taxes & Budget 

Independent Banker: What community banks can learn from behavioral economics

Research into behavioral economics has generated insights on how consumers make decisions, which can help community banks meet the needs of customers, according to the latest issue of Independent Banker magazine.
August 07, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

EGRPRA outreach meeting registration closes Friday

ICBA encourages community bankers interested in providing oral comments at federal regulators’ virtual public outreach meeting on banking regulations to register by this Friday’s deadline.
August 07, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agencies/Regulators  

Agencies request comment on data collection proposal

Federal financial regulators requested comment on a proposed rule that would establish data standards for certain information collections submitted to the agencies.
August 06, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

EGRPRA outreach meeting registration closes Friday

ICBA encourages community bankers interested in providing oral comments at federal regulators’ virtual public outreach meeting on banking regulations to register by this Friday’s deadline.
August 06, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

FHA publishes final rule on engagement with mortgagors in default

The Federal Housing Administration published a final rule to update a HUD regulation that requires mortgagees to meet in person with borrowers who are in default on their mortgage payments.
August 06, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

ICBA objects to FCC using Weiss Ratings for access to certain programs

ICBA told the Federal Communications Commission that Weiss Ratings is ill-suited for use as a gatekeeper for certain FCC programs.
August 06, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   FCC 

OCC: Banks in Florida, Georgia affected by Hurricane Debby can close

The OCC issued a proclamation allowing national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches to close offices in areas of Florida and Georgia affected by Hurricane Debby.
August 06, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

IRS reports problems with crypto tax enforcement

Digital asset seizure values have grown exponentially, topping $7 billion in 2022, but compliance enforcement with virtual currency is difficult, according to a new Treasury Department report.
July 17, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Department of Treasury Digital Assets 

ICBA: New FHLBank lending restrictions will reduce access to home loans

A recent Federal Home Loan Bank of New York decision to impose new reporting requirements on member banks will restrict access to home loans, ICBA said.
July 17, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   FHLB 

ICBA continues seeking feedback on check fraud

ICBA continues encouraging community bankers to share their experiences and input on the challenge of check fraud.
July 17, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Fraud 

FinCEN official: Beneficial ownership reporting only takes 20 minutes to complete

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Deputy Director Jimmy Kirby said most companies should be able to file beneficial ownership information reporting quickly and without the help of an attorney or accountant.
July 16, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Financial Crimes Enforcement Network 

ICBA: FHLBanks’ mission should not be changed

ICBA told the Federal Housing Finance Agency that the Federal Home Loan Banks’ mission is clear and does not need to be substantially changed or clarified.
July 16, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   FHLB Federal Housing Finance Agency 

FDIC holding second signage webinar for bank officers

The FDIC this month is scheduled to hold the second of four webinars for bank officers and employees on its final rule governing the usage of official FDIC signs, advertising, name, logo, and more.
July 16, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Comments on FHLBank system mission review due today

Today is the deadline for community bankers and others to submit comments on the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s request for input on the mission of the Federal Home Loan Bank System.
July 15, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   FHLB Federal Housing Finance Agency 

AT&T discloses customer data breach

AT&T released a statement on unauthorized access of customer data from a third-party cloud platform.
July 15, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Data Breach Cybersecurity 

Fed researchers: Banks that share name with failed institutions experience loss of business

Federal Reserve researchers said banks that share their name with a failed bank experience a half-percent drop in transaction deposits relative to banks with similar characteristics but different names.
July 15, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

FDIC nominee: Community banks are the lifeblood of many communities

The Biden administration’s nominee for FDIC chair—Christy Goldsmith Romero—told Congress she gained a great appreciation for community banks during her time at the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
July 12, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Input on FHLBank system mission review due Monday

Monday is the deadline for community bankers and others to submit comments on the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s request for input on the mission of the Federal Home Loan Bank System.
July 12, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   FHLB Federal Housing Finance Agency 

FHFA releases VantageScore 4.0 credit scores

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are making historical VantageScore 4.0 credit scores available to approved users to support the transition to updated credit score and credit report requirements.
July 12, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Secondary Mortgage Market Secondary Mortgage Market Federal Housing Finance Agency 

CFPB proposes mortgage servicing rule

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a proposed rule to amend mortgage servicing rules under Regulation X.
July 11, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 

Megabank group urges IG to investigate community bank assessment exemption

The Bank Policy Institute called on the FDIC Office of the Inspector General to investigate the FDIC’s recent special assessment, which exempted the vast majority of community banks.
July 11, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Comptroller lauds ICBA’s check fraud efforts

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu highlighted the formation of ICBA’s Check Fraud Task Force as an important step in addressing financial fraud.
July 11, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Checks Fraud 

CFPB says it will consider eliminating credit card late fee safe harbor

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said it plans to assess whether to eliminate the credit card late fee safe harbor under Regulation Z.
July 10, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Compliance Credit Cards 

Fed’s Powell: Regulators should issue new Basel III Endgame proposal

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told Congress that regulators should issue a revised Basel III Endgame proposal.
July 10, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Bowman: Banks well-positioned to support financial inclusion

The U.S. banking system is well-positioned to bring consumers into the financial mainstream by providing innovative solutions to meet their credit needs, Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman said.
July 10, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

FinCEN updates beneficial ownership FAQs

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network updated its beneficial ownership information frequently asked questions to include responses to questions about entities that have ceased to exist.
July 09, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Financial Crimes Enforcement Network 

NCUA budgets far fewer exam hours than FDIC: inspector general

Credit unions have a much easier time with exams, according to a report by the National Credit Union Administration’s inspector general.
July 09, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Grassroots/Be Heard Credit Unions 

Treasury proposes expanded jurisdiction over transactions near military installations

The Treasury Department proposed a rule to add military installations across 30 states to its jurisdiction over transactions by foreign persons in the U.S., following President Joe Biden’s ban of a Chinese cryptocurrency mining facility within a mile of Francis E. Warren Air Force Base.
July 09, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Department of Treasury Digital Assets 

Independent Banker spotlights importance of change management

As new technologies and solutions ebb and flow, change-management strategies are critical to ensure community bank success, according to the latest Independent Banker.
July 08, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Fed to Congress: No rate cut until inflation comes down

The Federal Reserve does not plan to reduce target interest rates until inflation comes down more, according to its latest Monetary Policy Report to Congress.
July 08, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Inflation 

Senate hearing this week on FDIC chair nomination

Senate hearing this week on FDIC chair nomination
July 08, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA to CISA: Exempt community banks from cyber reporting proposal

ICBA called on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to exempt community banks from new cyber reporting rules.
July 05, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Digital Assets 

Basel Committee moves forward on crypto standards

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision announced that it has reviewed the comments on its proposed crypto asset exposure disclosure and amendments to its standard on banks’ exposure to crypto assets.
July 05, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Digital Assets 

Best Community Banks to Work For nominations due today

Nominations for Independent Banker magazine’s 2024 Best Community Banks to Work For awards are due today. Eligible community banks must submit nominations by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time).
July 05, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA: FinCEN underestimates suspicious activity reporting burden

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network underestimates the amount of time and resources community banks dedicate to reporting suspicious activity, ICBA told the agency.
July 03, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance Financial Crimes Enforcement Network 

CISA adds cyberattack vulnerability to catalog

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency added the Cisco NX-OS Command Injection Vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.
July 03, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Cybersecurity 

CFPB spotlights violations from recent exams

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said that its recent examinations revealed unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts at companies servicing auto loan and student loans; Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations by debt collectors; and issues with medical payment products.
July 03, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Compliance 

Independent Banker showcases top lenders of 2024

This month’s Independent Banker magazine recognizes the top lenders of 2024, the top community bank loan producers based on 2023 FDIC data.
July 02, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Op-ed: Credit unions unfairly using tax breaks

Large credit unions are using the savings from their federal tax exemption to acquire taxpaying community banks at an alarming rate, Mississippi Bankers Association President and CEO Gordon Fellows writes in a new op-ed.
July 02, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

Agencies release updated mortgage survey data

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Housing Finance Agency published updated loan-level data collected through the National Survey of Mortgage Originations.
July 02, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 

Fed’s Bowman cites concerns with credit union bank acquisitions

Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman raised concerns with credit union acquisitions of banks, noting the tax-exempt financial firms are exempt from the Community Reinvestment Act.
June 28, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA urges senators to co-sponsor bill to close ILC loophole

ICBA urged senators to co-sponsor ICBA-advocated legislation to permanently close the industrial loan company loophole.
June 28, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Grassroots/Be Heard 

Data privacy bill markup canceled

The House Energy and Commerce Committee canceled the scheduled markup of the American Privacy Rights Act following concerns about the bill.
June 28, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Climate 

GM withdraws ILC charter application

General Motors withdrew its ICBA-opposed application for deposit insurance, suspending its bid to form an industrial loan company.
June 27, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Sen. Stabenow: It’s time to pass a farm bill

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) called for negotiations on the next farm bill.
June 27, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Farm Bill 

Fed’s Bowman recommends Basel III Endgame changes

Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman said she sees a path forward for implementing proposed Basel III Endgame capital rules that addresses concerns with their effectiveness and efficiency.
June 27, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

New ICBA podcast on check fraud

The latest episode of ICBA’s “Independent Banker” podcast, sponsored by FIS, discusses why check fraud has become such a problem.
June 26, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

CFPB extends compliance dates for 1071 rule

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an interim final rule to extend compliance deadlines for its 1071 small-business rule following a Supreme Court ruling that ended a temporary injunction on the rule.
June 26, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Compliance 

Credit Analyst Institute heads to Texas

ICBA's Credit Analyst Institute, scheduled for Aug. 11-14 in Grapevine, Texas., will examine the evolving role of the credit analyst and dive into the intricacies of financial analysis, business risk, legal liability, and customer relationship needs.
June 26, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA opposes Freddie Mac pilot to purchase second mortgages

ICBA announced its opposition to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s conditional approval of Freddie Mac’s proposal to engage in a pilot program to purchase certain single-family closed-end second mortgages.
June 25, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Federal Housing Finance Agency 

Q2 Community Bank Briefing on Thursday

ICBA this week is hosting a complimentary community bank briefing on key congressional and regulatory developments.
June 25, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Treasury announces push to lower housing costs

The Treasury Department announced initiatives to increase the supply of housing.
June 25, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Department of Treasury 

ICBA opposes approval of new industrial loan company

Following the FDIC’s approval of the formation of Thrivent Bank, a new industrial loan company based in Utah, ICBA reiterated its strong opposition to the ILC loophole.
June 24, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 

CDFI Fund extends deadlines for certification application

The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund extended the application deadlines outlining when current CDFIs must reapply for CDFI certification using the revised version of the application.
June 24, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   CDFI 

Fed issues ICBA-requested extension on Fedwire comment period

The Federal Reserve extended until Sept. 6 the comment period on its proposal to expand Fedwire Funds Service and National Settlement Services operating hours. Comments on the proposal were originally due by July 8.
June 24, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Agencies finalize rule on automated valuation models

Federal financial services regulators issued a final rule to implement quality control standards for automated valuation models, or AVMs, which mortgage lenders use to value real estate collateral.
June 21, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Compliance 

FDIC finalizes new resolution filings for banks over $50B

The FDIC approved a final rule to require resolutions plans for banks with at least $100 billion in assets and “informational filings” for banks over $50 billion.
June 21, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Deposit Insurance 

Banking agencies propose amending BSA requirements

Federal banking regulators issued a proposed rule that would amend Bank Secrecy Act requirements for anti-money-laundering and countering-the-financing-of-terrorism programs.
June 21, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   BSA/AML 

ICBA urges unified, streamlined bank merger review process

ICBA told the FDIC that its bank merger review process requires significant revisions to be streamlined and equitable to community banks.
June 20, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

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