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The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection has issued an Advisory Opinion to clarify rules under Regulation B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act regarding special purpose credit programs. This opinion provides guidance to for-profit organizations on how to develop credit programs that serve specific social needs and explains what information must be included in programs' written plans. It aims to address regulatory uncertainties and encourage financial institutions to create programs that improve credit access for disadvantaged groups. The Advisory Opinion became effective on January 15, 2021.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has provided final guidance clarifying that its existing Guidelines for accessing accounts and services at the Federal Reserve Banks now include Excess Balance Accounts (EBAs). This means that EBAs, which allow eligible institutions to earn interest on surplus funds without affecting correspondent-respondent bank relationships, must adhere to the same risk-based principles and review standards as other accounts and services. The change prevents entities that don't qualify for standard Federal Reserve accounts from accessing the Reserve Bank's balance sheet indirectly through EBAs. Implementation of this guidance begins on December 12, 2024.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has decided to withdraw a proposed rule that aimed to stop banks and financial institutions from charging certain non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees, like those for declined debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals. The CFPB plans to take a broader look at how to protect consumers from these fees across various transaction types. This decision was made after receiving public feedback, which highlighted potential issues with other types of transactions not initially covered by the rule. The Bureau is now considering whether a wider rule could better address abusive fee practices.

FinCEN, part of the U.S. Treasury, is seeking nominations for new members to join the Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group (BSAAG) for three-year terms. They are inviting financial institutions, trade groups, and non-federal regulators or law enforcement agencies located in the U.S. These members will provide insights on compliance with laws like the Corporate Transparency Act and other regulations. Interested organizations can submit their nominations by January 6, 2025, and must include specific information about their eligibility and the value they bring to the group.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is asking for public comments on a proposal to extend, without any changes, the rules on recordkeeping related to leveraged lending for the next three years. This affects banks and financial institutions that make high-risk loans, helping them ensure such loans are done safely. The public has until June 27, 2025, to submit their opinions on various aspects of the proposal, such as its necessity, accuracy, and potential improvements. This effort aims to maintain fairness and reduce risks in the financial system while considering the operational costs for institutions.

The Department of the Treasury is seeking public feedback on their information collection requests related to the sale of financial instruments like bank checks and money orders. These rules are part of efforts to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act, which requires record-keeping for transactions involving $3,000 or more to prevent illegal activities. The public is invited to provide comments by January 2, 2025. This collection primarily impacts businesses and aims to track large cash transactions more effectively.

The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund under the Treasury Department has announced the availability of grants for the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program for the fiscal year 2025. These grants, which include Financial Assistance (FA) and Technical Assistance (TA), are aimed at aiding financial institutions that serve Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations to enhance their lending capacity. The program aims to strengthen both for-profit and non-profit community-based organizations to support various markets, and the awards are contingent on funding availability. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria and complete their submissions through designated platforms by the stated deadlines.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is inviting comments on the proposed renewal of an information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. This involves a revision of their annual stress test reporting template for financial institutions with assets of $250 billion or more, under the Dodd-Frank Act. The proposed updates aim to align with existing Federal Reserve reporting forms and exclude outdated or unnecessary components. Public comments are encouraged and can be submitted by various methods outlined in the notice until March 7, 2025.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has announced an adjustment to the cap on average total assets to determine if a Federal Home Loan Bank member qualifies as a "community financial institution" (CFI). This cap has been set at $1.5 billion, reflecting a 2.7% increase based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) from November 2023 to November 2024. This adjustment, effective from January 1, 2025, allows CFI status to be determined using unadjusted CPI-U data, as it is less prone to revisions than adjusted data.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is inviting public comments on the renewal of an information collection related to "Market Risk," as part of its ongoing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, in line with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. According to this rule, national banks and federal savings associations with significant market risk exposure are required to adhere to specific guidelines for managing and disclosing this risk. Public comments on the necessity, accuracy, and ways to improve the information collection process are due by June 17, 2025. The OCC aims to ensure that these financial institutions maintain sufficient capital adequacy for their market risk level through these regulations.