Fed's Brainard Includes ABA-Favored Ideas in CRA Reform Outline (4/18/18)
Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard articulated a number of "outcomes that we will work toward" that align closely with ABA's advocacy on Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) reform. Speaking at an event in Baltimore, Brainard said that regulators would work to modernize the definition of assessment areas, tailor CRA regulations based on a variety of bank characteristics and provide greater consistency in exams and ratings across and within agencies. Specifically, she noted that technology and consumer preferences have limited the usefulness of the CRA regulatory concept of assessment areas. Read ABA's white paper. For more information, contact ABA's Krista Shonk. See ABA's CRA Topics page 
for more on CRA.
ABA, Trade Groups Urge Long-Term NFIP Reauthorization (4/18/18)
ABA and several other financial trade groups urged the leaders of the congressional banking committees to work toward a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program before it expires on July 31. "While the program can certainly be improved, its existence prevented [2017 hurricane-related] losses from being significantly worse," the groups said. "As we approach the 2018 hurricane season, we believe it is important for Congress to ensure that the program be reauthorized on a multi-year effort as quickly as possible." See ABA's Flood Insurance Topics page for more on flood.