Coin Task Force Issues New Tools to Increase Coin Circulation

Federal Reserve

A Federal Reserve U.S. Coin Task Force has developed a toolkit for financial institutions and retailers in an effort to push more coins into circulation.

In forming the task force earlier this year, Fed officials said that with many retail businesses where coins are used closed due to the coronavirus crisis, the normal coin circulation network has been disrupted. They said that there is not a shortage of coins, adding that more than $40 billion in coins are in circulation, but many of them are not being used.

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Sen. Schatz Introduces Legislation to Create CDFI Emergency Fund

Senate

Amid signs that federal pandemic assistance funds have not reached businesses that need them the most, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) this week introduced legislation creating a new $2 billion emergency fund for Community Development Financial Institutions.

The legislation, S. 4430, would automatically provide capital for CDFIs during a natural disaster or economic crisis. The legislation is cosponsored by nine Democrats and Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

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Democratic Draft Platform: Renew Glass-Steagall, Explore Postal Banking

Elections

A draft of the 2020 national Democratic platform calls for an “up-dated and modernized version” of the Glass-Steagall Act and for an examination of postal banking.

The draft document, which the Democratic National Committee is scheduled to consider on Monday, said the party will push for “a new economic contract that provides access for all to reliable and affordable banking and financial services.”

It also calls for beefing up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and doubling funding for the Community Development Financial Institutions program.

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NCUA Encouraging Credit Unions to Make Small-Dollar, Short-Term Loans

NCUA

Amid the pandemic crisis, credit unions and banks should offer members and customers safe short-term, small-dollar loans that would mitigate the need for borrowers to re-borrow to repay loans, federal banking regulators, including the National Credit Union Administration, said Wednesday.

“Federally supervised financial institutions are well-suited to meet the credit needs of customers affected by the current COVID-19 emergency,” the NCUA, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Reserve Board and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said in a joint statement.

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Federal Reserve Board Does Not Intend To Reimpose Limits on Savings Withdrawals

Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve has no plans to reinstitute a rule that limits consumers to six transactions a month from their savings account.

Last month the Fed released an interim final rule revising so-called “Regulation D,” which imposed the limit. At the time, Fed officials indicated the rule was being loosened because of the coronavirus crisis. Consumers likely have a more urgent need for access to their funds by remote means, the Fed said.

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