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Treasury pledges to continue cracking down on crypto terrorist-financing
The Treasury Department pledged to continue targeting the use of crypto-assets to finance terrorism amid increased scrutiny in the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Agency webinar tomorrow on ransomware mitigation
Regulators are hosting a webinar at 2 p.m. (Eastern time) tomorrow to provide updates on recent ransomware trends and mitigations.
IRS extends flexibilities on e-signatures, encrypted email
The Internal Revenue Service extended certain temporary flexibilities enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, including its acceptance of digital signatures.
Barr: Fed backs cross-border harmonization efforts
The Federal Reserve supports international efforts to make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, more transparent, and more accessible globally, Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr said.
ICBA advocacy leads to nationwide 1071 injunction
A federal court granted an ICBA request to expand injunctive relief from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Section 1071 final rule to all community banks nationwide.
Lawmakers ask DOJ to target crypto’s role in terrorist financing
Two key members of Congress urged the Justice Department to evaluate the extent to which the Binance and Tether crypto firms are supporting terrorism by violating sanctions and the Bank Secrecy Act.
ICBA Advocacy Leads to Nationwide Community Bank Relief from 1071 Small-Business Rule
ICBA, IBAT and Texas First Bank today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas has granted their request to expand injunctive relief from the Consumer Financial...
Fed proposes debit card interchange cuts
The Federal Reserve Board issued a proposal to lower the maximum interchange fee that covered debit card issuers may receive for debit card transactions.
Fed’s Waller: CBDC pitch unconvincing
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he has yet to be convinced there is a market failure that a central bank digital currency would resolve.
Gensler: Crypto investors no less deserving of securities protections
There is nothing about the crypto-asset securities markets that suggests investors and issuers are less deserving of the protections of U.S. securities laws, Securities and Exchange Commission...
ICBA Statement on Federal Reserve Proposal on Debit Card Interchange
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on today’s Federal Reserve Board proposal to update Regulation II rules on...
Agencies finalize climate risk guidance for large banks
The federal banking regulators published interagency principles for climate-related financial risk management for financial institutions with $100 billion or more in total consolidated assets.
ICBA launching survey on recent regulatory changes
ICBA in the coming days will launch a survey on the value of community banks, small-business lending, and the regulatory environment.
ICBA Statement on Interagency Climate Risk Guidance for Large Banks
ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on today’s release of interagency guidance for climate-related financial risk management for large financial institutions.
ICBA Statement on Community Reinvestment Act Final Rule
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on today’s interagency final rule on Community Reinvestment Act modernization.
House GOP elects Rep. Mike Johnson as new speaker
House Republicans elected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) as the 56th speaker of the House of Representatives.
CFPB targets credit card interest, fees in latest report
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said total outstanding credit card debt eclipsed $1 trillion last year for the first time since the CFPB began collecting this data.
Regulators approve Community Reinvestment Act final rule
Federal regulators issued an interagency final rule to reform Community Reinvestment Act regulations.
Fed meeting today on revising debit interchange fee cap
The Federal Reserve Board is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) today on proposed revisions to the agency’s debit interchange fee cap.
Agencies acting today on CRA, climate rulemakings
Federal agencies today are set to act on Community Reinvestment Act reform and climate risk.
New risk management subgroup on ICBA Community
ICBA launched a new risk management subgroup on its ICBA Community online platform.
AI webinar bundle starts this week
ICBA this week kicks off a new webinar series to provide community bankers a primer on artificial intelligence.
Blog post: the evolving domestic regulatory environment for digital assets
A new ICBA blog post discusses the pursuit of policy initiatives around digital assets by prudential regulators, the White House, and the Treasury Department.
ICBA, groups urge Fed to reject changes to debit card interchange fees
ICBA and other groups urged the Federal Reserve Board to reject merchant requests for further changes to Regulation II governing debit card interchange fees during this week’s board meeting.
Agencies set to act on CRA, climate rulemakings
Federal agencies this week are set to act on Community Reinvestment Act reform and climate risk.
Regulators extend comment deadlines on megabank capital proposals
Federal regulators extended the comment deadline on their proposal to implement stricter regulatory capital standards on banks over $100 billion in assets while the Federal Reserve collects...
New Letter: ICBA, Financial Trades Call on Fed to Reject Requests for Changes to Debit Card Interchange Fees
ICBA and a coalition that includes organizations representing the vast majority of federally-regulated financial institutions urged the Fed to reject merchant requests for further changes to...
FinCEN proposes designating crypto mixers as money-laundering concern
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a proposed rule that identifies international convertible virtual currency mixing as a primary money-laundering concern.
CFPB issues 1033 proposal on sharing consumer data
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released its proposal to implement standards for sharing consumer financial data under Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
ICBA Statement on Today’s CFPB Proposed Rule on Sharing Consumer Financial Data
ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on today’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposal to implement Section 1033 standards for sharing consumer...
Senate passes ICBA-advocated resolution to scrap CFPB 1071 rule
ICBA commended the Senate for passing an ICBA-advocated resolution to nullify the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Section 1071 small-business data collection and reporting requirements.
Administration, Congress target crypto role in terror attacks
Policymakers announced efforts to address the role of crypto-assets in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
ICBA Commends Senate for Passing Resolution to Scrap CFPB’s 1071 Small-Business Reporting Rule
ICBA today commended the Senate for passing an ICBA-advocated resolution (S.J.Res.32) to nullify the CFPB’s Section 1071 small-business data collection and reporting requirements.
Senate slated to vote today on 1071 reversal
With the Senate scheduled to vote today on a resolution to block the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Section 1071 rule, ICBA is urging community bankers to urge their senators to support the...
Fed meeting next week on revising debit interchange fee cap
The Federal Reserve Board scheduled a meeting for next week on proposed revisions to the agency’s debit interchange fee cap.
Agencies issue anti-ransomware guidance
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and other agencies released an updated version of the joint #StopRansomware Guide. The update includes new prevention tips, revised response...
ICBA backs DeFi policy recommendations
ICBA expressed support for the International Organization of Securities Commissions’ recommendations for establishing policies on decentralized finance.
Agencies meeting next week on CRA reform, climate risk
The Federal Reserve Board and FDIC board of directors scheduled meetings for next week on two high-profile regulatory issues: the Community Reinvestment Act and climate risk.
Fed’s Bowman: CBDC benefits remain unclear
Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman said she has yet to see a compelling argument that a U.S. central bank digital currency could address payments system problems more effectively,...
New blog post: Crypto concerns renew digital assets policy debate
A new ICBA blog post recaps the significant upheaval in the digital assets market over the past year and what it means for Washington’s response.
FHFA’s Thompson addresses rise in enterprise repurchase requests
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson recognized mortgage lenders’ concerns with rising repurchase requests from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, though she said requests have declined...
ICBA plan to promote mortgage affordability makes news
ICBA’s joint proposal to reduce mortgage rates by an estimated 100 to 150 basis points is making news.
FHFA expands ‘rep and warrant’ relief to loans with COVID-19 forbearance
The Federal Housing Finance Agency said it will revise the treatment of active single-family mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for which borrowers elected a COVID-19 forbearance under...
FHFA issues new set of appraisal data
The Federal Housing Finance Agency published a new set of data points and trends found in appraisal reports.
The Community Bankers Association of Kansas endorses CRA Partners
The Community Bankers Association of Kansas recently endorsed CRA Partners as a means to help reduce incidents of crime in area nursing homes, while offering banks the opportunity to earn CRA credit.
CFTC charges head of failed crypto bank with fraud
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission charged the former head of failed crypto brokerage firm Voyager Digital with fraud and registration failures in connection with the digital asset platform.
Payments council releases instant payments operational guide
The U.S. Faster Payments Council released a new resource for banks working to implement instant payments.
ICBA Statement on Today’s CFPB Advisory Opinion
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on today’s guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Senate hearing tomorrow on CDFIs
The Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow for a subcommittee hearing on community development financial institutions.
Credit unions labeling themselves community banks: Romero Rainey
Community bankers have for years warned of the expansion of credit union powers, but Navy Federal Credit Union’s new “Community Bank” brand indicates credit unions recognize they’ve gone too far,
ICBA National Campaign Toolkit offers audio materials
The ICBA National Campaign Toolkit features numerous assets for community banks and state partners, including customizable audio ads.
CFPB, DOJ: Law protects credit applicants regardless of immigration status
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Justice Department said in a joint statement that all credit applicants are protected from discrimination under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act,...
ICBA Proposes Solution to Promote Mortgage Affordability
(ICBA), Community Home Lenders of America, and National Association of REALTORS today proposed a solution to reduce historically high long-term mortgage rates relative to long-term Treasury bonds.
CFPB issues guidance on fees for providing account information
ICBA said it is reviewing new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guidance requiring banks and credit unions over $10 billion in assets to provide account information requested by customers...
FDIC launches deposit insurance awareness campaign
The FDIC launched a national campaign to increase the public’s awareness of deposit insurance and how it can protect people’s money in the event of a bank failure.
Bowman: Regulators should avoid harming bank viability
Banking regulators should ensure changes to the regulatory framework do not harm the long-term viability of banks, especially midsized and smaller banks, Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman said.
Fed’s Bowman: Advocacy on CDFI proposal making a difference
Federal Reserve Board Governor Michelle Bowman recognized community banker concerns with proposed changes to the community development financial institution certification application.
ICBA supports bill to establish USDA Express loan program
ICBA expressed support for a recently introduced House bill based on an ICBA proposal to speed up approval times for USDA loans and thereby enhance access to credit in rural communities.
Agencies issue additional guidance on open-source security
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and other agencies issued a fact sheet on improving security of open-source software in operational technology and industrial control systems.
Nacha expanding spot checks of ACH Contact Registry info
Nacha encouraged financial institutions to ensure their information in the ACH Contact Registry is correct and up to date.