The central bank is only now nearing the launch of the credit facilities after the effort was announced in April. But Chairman Jerome Powell said loans have been available through other means.

Twitter Inc. and Square Inc. will observe Juneteenth or June 19 as a company holiday going forward to commemorate the ending of slavery in the U.S., according to a tweet from Jack Dorsey, chief executive officer of both companies.

A blueprint that includes more CRA and tax credits for lower-income African Americans would help a demographic disproportionately harmed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The global protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death should serve as a reminder that the banking industry must do more to support minority employees and customers.

The changes are meant to make the program more attractive for both business borrowers and the banks that make the loans; as workers trickle back to offices on Wall Street, they'll see a different landscape due to coronavirus concerns.

Industry figures have begun to speak out in support of demonstrations in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and other African Americans, and new data is expected to show how the coronavirus impacted balance sheets.

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks says financial institutions are needed more than ever to “sustain existing businesses” and help entrepreneurs rebuild. Meanwhile, reforming the Community Reinvestment Act, he says, can “unblock opportunities” in minority neighborhoods.

Lenders have a role to play in the national reconciliation that must follow the recent racial unrest — providing greater access to capital for African Americans and other underserved groups so they can build wealth, activists said at a panel discussion hosted by Berkshire Bank in Boston.

The Credit Union National Association has been directed to work with the entire industry to find ways to address discrimination experienced by African Americans.

Credit union executives have led teams through past crises, but the pandemic has created new economic stresses and mental strain that CEOs must address.

The bank’s Asia-Pacific chief backs law giving greater mainland control over the territory; the Center for Responsible Lending said big banks took in almost $12 billion in overdraft fees last year, with the bulk of it paid by lower-income customers.

The demonstrations following George Floyd's death in police custody are forcing the industry to grapple with how it can — or if it should —advocate for equality and better race relations.

Financial institutions are trying to determine how to best protect branches as some demonstrations following George Floyd's death turn violent.

The program is intended to aid businesses hit hard by pandemic-induced lockdowns, but lenders are lobbying to have the rules relaxed to help owners of stores and offices damaged by recent riots and looting.

Rodney Hood, the first African American to lead a banking agency, said in a deeply personal statement that he was "familiar with the anger and frustration that comes with the everyday challenges and realities surrounding race."

Tom Shoemaker initially took the helm in 2017 on an interim basis after the Albuquerque, N.M.-based credit union called off a merger.

Many of the cultural changes instituted by Hisham Salama, one of American Banker’s 2020 digital bankers of the year, have led to a more agile tech team and higher customer satisfaction scores.

Bankers spent Monday cleaning up damaged branches, wondering if their small-business clients will need more emergency aid and contemplating how the racial and economic inequalities highlighted by days of violent protests nationwide can be corrected.

Patricia Sarne was named CEO of San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union after former chief executive Tim Baldwin retired.

Thomas O'Brien will take the helm at Sterling Bancorp, which is dealing with internal control issues and probes by the OCC and Justice Department into its mortgage operations.