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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 calls for withdrawal of misguided GSE directives

ICBA is calling for the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to immediately rescind the decision to charge a 0.5 percent fee on refinance mortgages.
August 17, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Housing Finance/GSEs 

Improve your digital presence webinar

Join us for ICBA Bancard’s webinar, presented by Fintel Connect to learn how to improve your digital presence with a campaign-driven approach to winning customers online.
August 17, 2020 | News   Marketing 

Fed article explores “token-based and “account-based” digital currency distinctions

A New York Fed blog by Rod Garratt, Michael Lee, Brendan Malone, and Antoine Martin explores common distinctions made between “token-based” and “account-based” digital currencies.
August 17, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Cybersecurity 

Blog discusses intersection between fintech and regulation

Unless you have been living on a desert island for the past few years, you would be hard-pressed to miss the technological revolution that is sweeping our nation’s financial system and the larger global economy, ICBA’s Chris Cole and Charles Potts write in a recent Main Street Matters blog.
August 17, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

Regulators clarify enforcement actions for BSA/AML violations

The federal financial regulatory agencies issued a joint statement clarifying their enforcement approach for Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering obligations and the circumstances under which an agency would take action to address BSA/AML deficiencies.
August 17, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   BSA/AML 

Visa U.S. Economic Outlook (August 2020)

After solid job growth and robust consumer spending readings in May and June, the U.S. economy was cruising along at a decent speed of recovery.
August 17, 2020 | News  

ICBA Responds to GSE decision to impose 50bp fee on mortgage refinances

Plans to impose a 50 basis point fee on most refinance mortgages delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after Sept. 1 will unnecessarily raise the cost of mortgage credit for consumers.
August 14, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Housing Finance/GSEs 

Op-ed notes rising credit union acquisitions in the Midwest

The recent purchase of West End Bank by 3Rivers Federal Credit Union last month, is part of a disturbing trend of large, billion-dollar credit unions buying small community banks, writes Thomas Aiello of the National Taxpayers Union.
August 14, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

ICBA ThinkTECH partner named top accelerator program by Finovate

ICBA’s ThinkTECH Accelerator partner, The Venture Center, will be recognized during the Finovate fall virtual conference in September for its efforts to nurture quality fintech companies and prime them for success.
August 14, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Grassroots push continues amid stimulus debate

As negotiations over the next emergency stimulus package continue, ICBA is calling on community bankers to urge needed reforms.
August 14, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA Statement on Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Decision to Impose 50 Basis Point Fee on Mortgage Refinances

The Independent Community Bankers of America today issued a statement regarding the recent decision made by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to impose a 50 basis point fee on most refinance mortgages that are delivered to the GSEs as of September 1, 2020.
August 13, 2020 | Press Release   Mortgage Rules Housing Finance/GSEs 

ICBA kicks off ThinkTECH 3.0

ICBA announced the kickoff of its third ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program in partnership with The Venture Center.
August 13, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Blog discusses intersection between fintech and regulation

Unless you have been living on a desert island for the past few years, you would be hard-pressed to miss the technological revolution that is sweeping our nation’s financial system and the larger global economy, ICBA’s Chris Cole and Charles Potts write in a new blog post.
August 13, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Cybersecurity 

Kennedy to FDIC: Stop companies from taking advantage of ILC loophole

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) wrote to FDIC Chairman Jelena McWilliams urging her not to allow industrial loan companies to exploit a loophole in the Bank Holding Company Act during the coronavirus pandemic.
August 13, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness Lending 

CISA issues alert on SBA COVID-19 relief website attack

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an alert concerning an unknown malicious cyber actor spoofing the Small Business Administration's COVID-19 relief webpage via phishing emails.
August 13, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness Cybersecurity 

SBA issues interim final rule on loan review, updates FAQs

The SBA released an interim final rule on appeals of SBA loan review decisions under the Paycheck Protection Program that outlines the process for borrowers to appeal adverse SBA decisions.
August 12, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA seeks extension on ECOA RFI deadline

ICBA joined other groups urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau not to rush potential changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
August 12, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

Fintech Application Period Kicks Off for ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator

ICBA today opened the application period for its third ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program in partnership with The Venture Center. The latest iteration of this global fintech accelerator continues ICBA’s mission to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish.
August 12, 2020 | Press Release  

HUD sets aside funding to help low-income households amid COVID-19

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced $472 million in CARES Act funding to help low-income families during the coronavirus pandemic.
August 12, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness Housing Finance/GSEs 

Smaller lenders lead on PPP: SBA data

Lenders under $10 billion in assets have made some 2.74 million Paycheck Protection Program loans worth more than $233 billion through both rounds of funding, the SBA reported.
August 12, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA’s Romero Rainey to policymakers: streamline PPP forgiveness process

Policymakers need to simplify the onerous forgiveness process for small businesses to ensure the Paycheck Protection Program fulfills its purpose to support the nation’s top job creators, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey writes in a new op-ed in The Hill.
August 11, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy 

ICBA to CFPB: extend GSE patch

ICBA filed a comment letter urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to extend its policy exempting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage loans from the bureau’s Qualified Mortgage rule to January 2022 or one year from the finalization of any proposed rule.
August 11, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Housing Finance/GSEs 

OCC reduces assessments due to COVID-19

The OCC is reducing assessments due to the OCC on Sept. 30, 2020, because of the COVID-19 emergency.
August 11, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

Main Street, Inc. Acquires Marketing Technology Software Provider Onovative

Main Street, Inc., a leading provider of data-driven print services to community financial institutions across the nation, announced today the acquisition of Onovative, an automated marketing technology software provider based in Louisville, Kentucky.
August 11, 2020 | News  

ICBA payments brief focuses on small biz

ICBA's latest Payments Executive Brief focuses on how community banks can use payments to take advantage of small-business opportunities.
August 11, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

PPP forgiveness platform now live

The Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness platform is live and scheduled to begin accepting loan-forgiveness applications and decisions today.
August 10, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness Lending 

Visa American Mood Trend (August 2020)

Visa’s economists report on the dip in consumer confidence in July, how back-to-school spending will differ in 2020, and expectations for business conditions over the next six months.
August 10, 2020 | News  

Grassroots push continues amid stimulus debate

As negotiations over the next emergency stimulus package continue, ICBA is calling on community bankers to urge needed reforms.
August 10, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA seeks clear rules on PPP agent relationships

ICBA called on the Treasury Department and SBA to clarify rules on Paycheck Protection Program fees paid to agents that assist borrowers or lenders.
August 10, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

USDA survey measuring areas for improvement

The USDA announced a new annual survey of farmers, ranchers and private forestland owners.
August 10, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture 

SBA details PPP forgiveness platform

A Small Business Administration user guide offers details on the Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness platform scheduled to go live this Monday, Aug. 10.
August 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

TCM Bank Announces New Board Members

TCM Bank, N.A., a subsidiary of ICBA Bancard, announced that Gregory Hohl, chairman and president of Wahoo State Bank in Wahoo, Nebraska, and Jeff Newgard, president and CEO of Bank of Idaho in Idaho Falls, were elected to the TCM Bank board of directors.
August 07, 2020 | Press Release  

ICBA Names Michael Marshall as Director of Regulatory, Legal Affairs

The Independent Community Bankers of America announced today the hire of its government relations legal intern Michael Marshall as director of regulatory and legal affairs.
August 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Bipartisan bill offers relief to USDA borrowers

ICBA-supported legislation to provide loan relief to rural communities was introduced in the House and Senate.
August 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture Crisis Preparedness 

FHFA: landlords must inform tenants of protections

The Federal Housing Finance Agency said multifamily property owners with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac that enter into forbearance agreements must inform tenants in writing about tenant protections during the forbearance and repayment periods.
August 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Federal Housing Finance Agency 

Fed announces details of real-time payments service

The Federal Reserve Board released details of its forthcoming FedNow real-time payments service, which it is seeking to launch in 2023 or 2024.
August 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Payments 

ICBA urges PPP reforms ahead of expiration

ICBA expressed strong support for Senate Small Business Committee Chairman Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) efforts to renew and simplify the Paycheck Protection Program before it expires tomorrow.
August 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA continues pushing key stimulus policies

With Congress and the Trump administration negotiating the next stimulus package, ICBA continues calling on community bankers to urge needed reforms.
August 06, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

Senate panel approves NCUA, SEC nominees

The Senate Banking Committee approved the nominations of Kyle Hauptman for the National Credit Union Administration Board as well as Hester Peirce and Caroline Crenshaw to be members of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
August 06, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

Cybersecurity agency releases resiliency guide

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency this week issued a fact sheet highlighting cyber resiliency resources provided by the federal government, industry, and trade associations.
August 06, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Cybersecurity 

USDA extends deadlines, defers interest accrual

USDA's Risk Management Agency said it will authorize approved insurance providers to extend deadlines for premium and administrative fee payments.
August 06, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture 

FinCEN issues FAQs on customer due diligence

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued responses to three frequently asked questions regarding customer due diligence requirements for covered financial institutions.
August 04, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

Independent Banker covers core negotiations

The August issue of Independent Banker magazine focuses on how community banks can get the most out of contract negotiations with core providers.
August 04, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy 

ICBA posts guide on Economic Injury Disaster Loan liens

ICBA posted a new guide to Small Business Administration lien requirements on Economic Injury Disaster Loans after seeking SBA input on its treatment of EIDLs.
August 04, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Small biz switching to community banks: WSJ

Many small businesses have switched from large banks to community banks amid the COVID-19 pandemic because of their successful implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program, The Wall Street Journal reported.
August 04, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness 

Agencies issue principles as loan-accommodation periods end

Federal regulators released risk management and consumer protection principles for financial institutions to consider while working with borrowers as initial coronavirus-related loan accommodation periods come to an end.
August 04, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA continues support for House PPP forgiveness bill

ICBA and other groups expressed strong support for the House version of ICBA-advocated legislation to forgive Paycheck Protection Program loans under $150,000.
August 03, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA backs legal challenge to OCC fintech charter

ICBA filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the New York Department of Financial Services lawsuit challenging the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's special-purpose national bank charter for fintech companies.
August 03, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   OCC 

House passes postal banking amendment

The House passed an ICBA-opposed amendment to a 2021 spending bill that would fund a postal banking pilot program at the U.S. Postal Service.
August 03, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Government Banks 

ICBA backs limited scope of debt-collection rule

ICBA said it supports how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau structured its notice of proposed rulemaking on disclosures for collecting time-barred debt, or old debt that is no longer legally collectible.
August 03, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 

FHFA extends policy on forbearance loan purchases

The Federal Housing Finance Agency extended a temporary policy that allows for the purchase of certain single-family mortgages in forbearance that meet specific eligibility criteria.
August 03, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Mortgage Rules 

7 best practices to help avoid audit missteps

An audit tells a community bank whether it’s adhering to regulations and objectives. However, a lack of preparation and poor scoping techniques, among other factors, can lead to wasted time. Here’s how to ensure a helpful audit process.
August 01, 2020 | Independent Banker   Compliance 

ICBA continues pushback against postal banking amendment

ICBA continued pushing back against a pending amendment to a 2021 spending bill that would fund a postal banking pilot program at the U.S. Postal Service.
July 31, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Government Banks 

Stimulus grassroots push continues

ICBA continues calling on community bankers to use its Be Heard grassroots action center to urge Congress to advance ICBA's specific recommendations in the next stimulus package
July 31, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA Reinsurance Announces New Board Member

ICBA Reinsurance, the captive reinsurance company of the Independent Community Bankers of America, today announced that William Loving, president and CEO of Pendleton Community Bank Inc. in Franklin, West Virginia, was elected to the ICBA Reinsurance board of directors.
July 31, 2020 | Press Release  

ICBA Brief Backs Legal Challenge to OCC Fintech Charter

The Independent Community Bankers of America filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the New York Department of Financial Services lawsuit challenging the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's special-purpose national bank charter for fintech companies.
July 31, 2020 | Press Release   Commerce & Banking 

CFPB posts new HMDA FAQs

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released new frequently asked questions on the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.
July 31, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

Next ICBA advocacy briefing set for Monday

ICBA scheduled its next Community Bank Briefing on Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness and other regulatory issues.
July 31, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA seeks clarity on Economic Injury Disaster Loan liens

ICBA is seeking clarity from the SBA on its treatment of Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
July 31, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy 

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