FIL-12-2024 – Supplemental Rulemaking Related to Conforming and Technical Changes to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Regulations and the CRA Sunshine Regulations
March 22, 2024 / Source: FDIC
Summary: On March 21, 2024, the FDIC, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the Agencies), issued an interim final rule and a final rule (together, supplemental rulemaking) related to the Agenciesâ Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) final rule issued on October 24,…
Review of the FDICâs Ransomware Readiness
March 21, 2024 / Source: OIG
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General has issued a report on its Review of the FDICâs Ransomware Readiness. Ransomware can severely impact business processes and leave organizations without the data needed to operate or deliver mission-critical services. The organizations affected often experience reputational damage, significant remediation costs, and interruptions in their ability…
FTC to Hold Virtual Informal Hearing on April 24, 2024 As Part of its Review of the Proposed Rule Prohibiting Junk Fees
March 21, 2024 / Source: FTC
The Federal Trade Commission will hold a virtual informal hearing on April 24, 2024, on its proposed Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, commonly known as junk fees. During the hearing, which will be open to the public and viewable on the FTCâs website, interested organizations will have the opportunity to provide oral statements. On October…
FDIC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Revisions to its Statement of Policy on Bank Merger Transactions
March 21, 2024 / Source: FDIC
WASHINGTON â The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Board of Directors today approved a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on proposed revisions to the agencyâs Statement of Policy (revised SOP) on Bank Merger Transactions. âThis proposed Statement of Policy would update, strengthen, and clarify the FDICâs approach to evaluating mergers under the Bank Merger Act,â said…
One Year In: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium Cut Saves Borrowers $600 Million
March 20, 2024 / Source: HUD
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today marks the one-year anniversary of its implementation of a 35 percent cut in the price of the Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) paid by borrowers with Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages. The reduction became effective on March 20, 2023, for all borrowers using FHA-insured mortgage financing to…
READOUT: FinCEN Director Gacki Encourages Transparency in the U.S. Financial System During International Anti-Money Laundering Conference
March 20, 2024 / Source: FinCEN
MIAMIâFinancial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Director Andrea Gacki joined public and private sector financial industry leaders this week at the Financial and International Business Associationâs (FIBA) annual anti-money laundering conference to discuss regulatory expectations and best practices to prevent financial crimes. Director Gacki participated in a fireside chat during which she highlighted several initiatives FinCEN…
Treasury Targets Multiple Procurement Networks Supporting Iranâs Proliferation-Sensitive Programs
March 20, 2024 / Source: Treasury
WASHINGTON â Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasuryâs Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted three procurement networks ââ based in Iran, TĂźrkiye, Oman, and Germany ââ that have supported Iranâs ballistic missile, nuclear, and defense programs. These networks have procured carbon fiber, epoxy resins, and other missile-applicable goods for Iranâs Islamic Revolutionary Guard…
OCC Reports Mortgage Performance for Fourth Quarter of 2023
March 19, 2024 / Source: OCC
WASHINGTONâThe Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported on the performance of first-lien mortgages in the federal banking system during the fourth quarter of 2023. The OCC Mortgage Metrics Report, Fourth Quarter 2023 showed that 97.2 percent of mortgages included in the report were current and performing at the end of the quarter, an increase…
New Treasury Department Data Show Homeowner Assistance Fund Kept More Than 500,000 Families In Their Homes
March 19, 2024 / Source: Treasury
WASHINGTON â Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) data through December 31, 2023, which shows the American Rescue Plan (ARP) program has distributed $6.6 billion to more than 500,000 homeowners at risk of foreclosure to keep families in their homes and increase housing stability. Through the end of 2023, HAF recipients expended…
FDIC Demands Three Companies Cease Making False or Misleading Representations about Deposit Insurance
March 19, 2024 / Source: FDIC
WASHINGTON â The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) issued letters demanding three companies and certain associated parties cease and desist from making false and misleading statements about FDIC deposit insurance. The FDIC is demanding that PrizePool, Inc. (PrizePool), AmeriStar, LLC (AmeriStar), and HighLine Gold, LLC (HighLine Gold) take immediate corrective action to address these false…
State UDAAP Developments
March 19, 2024 / Source: CFPB
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) does not have a monopoly when it comes to policing abusive conduct. In 2010, when Congress passed the Consumer Financial Protection Act, it made sure that state attorneys general, state regulators, and certain banking regulators were also empowered to root out harmful corporate misconduct. States in particular are at…
For the First Time in 15 Years, Federal Housing Administration Increases Loan Limits to Expand Financing for Manufactured Homes
March 19, 2024 / Source: HUD
WASHINGTON – Today, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced new loan limits for its Title I Manufactured Home Loan Program. The increased amounts use new methodologies for calculating and updating the programâs limits, which were announced in a final rule published on February 29, 2024. The increases better align with current market prices and are expected to encourage more lenders to…
FinCEN Publishes an Administrative Ruling Regarding Customer Identification Program and Customer Due Diligence Requirements for Designated Beneficiaries of Individual Retirement Accounts
March 17, 2024 / Source: FinCEN
CDD_and_CIP_Requirements_for_Beneficiaries_of_IRAs_03152024_508_vf.pdf288.58 KB FIN-2024-R001 FinCEN Publishes an Administrative Ruling Regarding Customer Identification Program and Customer Due Diligence Requirements for Designated Beneficiaries of Individual Retirement Accounts Issued Date March 15, 2024 Financial Institution Securities and Futures
Treasury Department Announces New Funding to Support Small Businesses in Six States and Three U.S. Territories as Part of the Biden-Harris Administrationâs Investing in America Agenda
March 17, 2024 / Source: Treasury
WASHINGTON â As part of the Biden-Harris Administrationâs Investing in America Agenda, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced six new awards to states and two new awards to territories under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Technical Assistance Grant Program, totaling more than $27 million. These awards will be used to provide…
Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action against JPMorgan Chase & Co. and fines the firm approximately $98.2 million for an inadequate program to monitor firm and client trading activities for market misconduct
March 14, 2024 / Source: FRB
The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday issued an enforcement action against JPMorgan Chase & Co. and fined the firm approximately $98.2 million for an inadequate program to monitor firm and client trading activities for market misconduct. The Board’s action requires JPMorgan Chase to review and take corrective action to address the firm’s inadequate monitoring practices,…
Prepared Remarks of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra at the Financial Data Exchange Global Summit
March 14, 2024 / Source: CFPB
Today, I want to discuss the status of where we are on accelerating Americaâs shift to open banking, with a focus on the role of standard setters and standard-setting. I then want to discuss some of the dangers of how the standard-setting process can be weaponized in an anticompetitive way. Iâll close with how standard-setting…
HUD Invests Nearly $70 Million to Empower Tribal Communities Across the Nation
March 14, 2024 / Source: HUD
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the allocation of nearly $70 million to 38 Tribal communities through the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) program to support the development of housing for families living on Indian reservations and in other Indian areas. This allocation marks the second round of…
HUD Launches Website to Combat Source of Income Discrimination for Families Using Housing Vouchers
March 13, 2024 / Source: HUD
WASHINGTON – Today, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, Richard J. Monocchio, announced the launch of HUDâs new website detailing protections against Source of Income (SOI) discrimination for families with Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs). SOI discrimination is the practice where landlords, owners, and real estate brokers refuse to rent to current or prospective…
New U.S. Department of the Treasury Analysis Continues to Show Inflation Reduction Act Achieving Key Goal of Driving Investment to Rural, Underserved Communities
March 13, 2024 / Source: Treasury
WASHINGTON â Today, ahead of U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellenâs visit to Advanced Nano Products in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the U.S. Department of the Treasury published new analysis on the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act in continuing to drive clean energy investment to communities that have been underserved and at the forefront of fossil…
Agencies Take Temporary Action on Appraisal Requirements in Area Affected by Hawaii Wildfires
March 13, 2024 / Source: FDIC
To help facilitate recovery efforts from wildfires in Hawaii last year, four federal financial institution regulatory agencies today temporarily paused certain appraisal requirements for real estateârelated transactions in Maui County. This temporary action is expected to allow banks and credit unions to work with families and businesses without obtaining an appraisal. Banks and credit unions…
HUD Awards $2.75 Million to Train and Equip Skilled Housing Counseling Professionals
March 12, 2024 / Source: HUD
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developmentâs (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling announced today it has awarded $2.75 million in grants to seven nonprofit organizations to fund training and education for current and prospective HUD-certified housing counselors. âOur nationâs housing counselors are important to helping people of all backgrounds get the guidance and…
Acting Comptroller Discusses Operational Resiliency
March 12, 2024 / Source: OCC
WASHINGTONâActing Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu today discussed the importance of operational resiliency in remarks at the Institute of International Bankers Annual Washington Conference. In his remarks, Mr. Hsu discussed the growing risks of disruptions that may impede the provision of financial services or adversely impact systems. He also discussed considerations to strengthen…
Bitcoin Fog Operator Convicted of Money Laundering Conspiracy
March 12, 2024 / Source: Dept of Justice
Operator of Notorious Darknet Cryptocurrency âMixerâ Laundered $400M in Cryptocurrency Since 2011 A federal jury in Washington, D.C., convicted a dual Russian-Swedish national today for his operation of the longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet. âRoman Sterlingov thought he could use the shadows of the internet to launder hundreds of millions of dollars…
FSOC and the Brookings Institution to host Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Financial Stability on June 6-7, 2024
March 11, 2024 / Source: Treasury
WASHINGTON â The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) in partnership with the Brookings Institution, will host a two-day conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Financial Stability. AI in financial services has grown rapidly. Innovations in AI can offer many benefits, such as reducing costs and improving efficiencies, but they can also introduce or exacerbate risks…
Remarks by Vice Chairman Travis Hill at the Mercatus Center on âBankingâs Next Chapter? Remarks on Tokenization and Other Issuesâ
March 11, 2024 / Source: FDIC
Thank you to the Mercatus Center for having me today. I am going to devote most of my remarks to a discussion of tokenization and the future of our financial system, and then will conclude by briefly discussing a few discrete issues related to bank failures. Tokenization Money and payments have been evolving for as…