Banking

The SBA issues guidance on Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness; after staffing up for PPP, Bank of America may need to delay investments to meet cost targets; American Express has leaned hard on cloud tech to help employees work at home during the pandemic.

Several Senate Banking Committee members from both parties are facing tough reelection challenges in a year when control of the entire chamber — and the banking policy agenda — may be up for grabs.

Many lenders are paying close attention to liquidity and capital ratios. Others are trying to avoid overtaxing employees who process, service and handle forgiveness of the loans.

The new regulation is intended as a workaround for banks affected by the 2015 decision that created legal uncertainty for loans sold across state lines.

Even after the Fed eased some limitations in April to promote emergency lending, the bank has had to make some “tough choices” to heed the $1.95 trillion growth ceiling set by regulators in the aftermath of its phony-accounts scandal.

European authorities have told banks for the first time to take account of environmental risks in lending decisions, ramping up pressure on the financial industry to respond to climate change.

The bill, which now goes to the Senate, would give small businesses greater flexibility in how they use the funds; not everyone's on board with Otting's signature achievement.

The congressional showdown over the pace of rulemaking during the pandemic is a hardening of older positions on banking policy ahead of the 2020 elections, observers said.

Stu Lubow, who succeeded Kenneth Mahon, gained more responsibilities. Mahon remains Dime's CEO.

The website, ppp.bank, will help borrowers in the Paycheck Protection Program apply for loan forgiveness.

Customers' increased use of digital channels during the pandemic could compel the Minneapolis company to rethink its branch strategy, CEO Andy Cecere said.

The latest Credit Union Trends Report from CUNA Mutual Group predicts interest rates will be at record lows for at least two years and earnings are also likely to take a hit from record-high unemployment.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston published details on the terms for lenders and borrowers to participate in the facility intended to provide coronavirus relief funds to middle-market firms.

The measure, which garnered near-unanimous support, would triple the period during which businesses can spend their coronavirus relief funds and make it easier for loans to be forgiven.

Even digitally savvy organizations face a vexing dilemma when sending emergency funds: The neediest recipients often have little other option than to receive paper checks.

There are several ways the coronavirus has shown that traditional manual, paper-based AP processes are not up to the task in 2020 and beyond.

COO says bank is on track to meet growth targets but expects more consumer lending losses; the mortgage agencies’ ability to raise $240 billion in capital before going private won’t be easy.

The congressional showdown over the pace of rulemaking during the pandemic is a hardening of older positions on banking policy ahead of the 2020 elections, observers said.

The reloadable debit card resembles a bank account with new high-yield savings account and other tweaks.

Expenses soared in the rush to deploy emergency loans to small businesses, and now Bank of America may need to delay some investments if it hopes to meet cost targets, CEO Brian Moynihan said.