Senate Passes Legislation Changing Business PPP Rules; Bill Goes to President
The Senate passed legislation Wednesday that would allow businesses to use a larger percentage of Paycheck Protection Program loans for non-payroll purposes.
Senators Introduce Plan to Protect Economic Impact Payments from Garnishment
A bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation that would prohibit the garnishment of economic impact payments that individuals received from the federal government.
Hood Asks Congress to Boost Member Business Lending Cap and Decrease Capital Requirements
Amid some opposition from a key Democrat, NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood told the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday that Congress should decrease capital standards for credit unions, as they respond to economic problems caused by the coronavirus crisis.
Hood said that he would like Congress to authorize a temporary reduction in minimum capital requirements—reducing the level at which credit unions are considered well capitalized from a net-worth ratio of 7% to 6%. He said that the level for “adequately capitalized” credit unions should be cut from 6% to 5%.
Postal Banking Returns
Postal banking is back.
As policymakers battle over how to deal with the mounting losses facing the United States Postal Service, supporters of a plan to allow post offices to provide basic financial services are renewing their arguments that postal banking could help save the system.
Hood to Testify at Senate Banking Committee Hearing
NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood will join other financial regulators when they testify before the Senate Banking Committee on May 12.
Democratic Senators Demand Kraninger Abandon Payday Loan Rulemaking
Democratic senators on Monday demanded that CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger abandon efforts to overhaul the agency’s controversial payday lending rule, contending that political appointees exerted improper influence in the process.
Harper: Don’t Change CU Capital Standards
Clashing with NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood, board member Todd Harper is asking Congress not to reduce credit union capital standards in response to the coronavirus crisis.
“Reductions in capital standards could ultimately lead to greater losses for the Share Insurance Fund, which all surviving federally insured credit unions would need to pay,” Harper wrote to leaders of the House and Senate committees with NCUA oversight powers.
Hood Sends Crapo Pandemic Response Wish List
Congress should expand the ability of all credit unions to serve underserved areas, NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood wrote this week, as he sent Senate Banking Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Id.) a list of legislative changes he believes will help the agency respond to the coronavirus crisis.