Treasury Department

As banks accept new applications for the paycheck program, they are dogged by complaints that they prioritized wealthy borrowers. But lenders likely fast-tracked clients they knew best under difficult circumstances, observers say.

Economists also expect the Fed's balance sheet to more than $10 trillion as policymakers look to lift the country from a recession brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Treasury secretary said recent government moves will help the firms get through the risk of millions of borrowers missing their loan payments.

Financial institutions could testify before the bipartisan commission overseeing the unprecedented economic aid for industries hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. But without subpoena authority, the panel’s impact may be limited.

The program, created in response to the 2008 financial crisis, generated $19 billion in small-business loans. It could be used as a viable path out of the coronavirus pandemic.

The administration and Congress are said to be close to adding $310 billion to the small business loan program; the department is looking at whether it can prevent banks from seizing government checks.

The head of the Senate panel overseeing Federal Reserve and Treasury Department efforts to boost the U.S. economy urged the agencies to remember their disclosure requirements.

In some cases, financial institutions are required by court order to divert funds to private creditors. But the industry has added its voice to a consensus for a legislative update to ensure Americans receive their full amount.

Many banks were hitting their limits for lending to small businesses devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. They say the Fed's decisions to help fund additional loans and relax capital requirements will resolve many of their problems.

The lending facility is for companies with more than 500 employees that are disqualified from the relief program for small businesses and too small for federal loans reserved for larger companies.

The Small Business Administration said lenders approved $71 billion in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program in less than five days.

Soaring demand for loans from firms hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic has led to predictions that the program could soon run out of funds.

Ginnie Mae and the FHA provided temporary liquidity relief for mortgage servicers bracing for higher delinquencies, but the industry continues to pressure Treasury and the Fed to provide more comprehensive support.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said that $349 billion will likely not be enough meet loan demand from small businesses seeking a lifeline to help them weather the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus outbreak.

While the federal government is touting the early success of the Paycheck Protection Program, community banks are complaining about headaches and glitches.

The U.S. Treasury is talking to digital payments providers about quick ways to disburse funds to recipients of stimulus checks within a couple of weeks, but payments industry experts foresee troubling security issues even with most of the obvious options.

Many bankers find crucial parts of the SBA effort to help businesses hurt by the coronavirus outbreak to be unclear and onerous. If those issues go unresolved, participation could suffer.

After budget cuts and a strategic transition, the interagency body conceived by Dodd-Frank to identify systemic threats has largely been silent as the pandemic roils the economy.

With economists fearing high unemployment stemming from the pandemic, the housing finance system is grappling with how it will recoup lost revenue from delinquencies, forbearance plans and other tremors.

Financial services personnel were among critical infrastructure groups that the Department of Homeland Security said were crucial for “public health and safety as well as community well-being” during the pandemic.