Credit Scoring Changes

HUD will adopt FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 for FHA loans. Jointly, the FHFA announced a pilot program allowing the use of VantageScore 4.0 exclusively for loans delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, future use of FICO 10T and new pricing based on the updated models.

SSA Online Accounts

The Social Security Administration has released a new resource to encourage banks and other financial institutions to inform their customers about online “my Social Security” accounts. The accounts allow individuals to review their earnings history and report missing or incorrect earnings to Social Security, and access spousal and survivor benefit estimates. Account creation also supports fraud prevention and identity protection.

Community Bank Leverage Ratio

The federal banking agencies have finalized an interagency rulemaking to expand the eligibility criteria for the community bank leverage ratio. The final rule is being adopted without change from the proposal issued in November 2025. The rule will lower the community bank leverage ratio from nine percent to eight percent, which will provide more flexibility for community banks to opt into the framework. 

The final rule also extends the grace period from two quarters to four quarters for a community bank that temporarily falls out of compliance. The framework allows community banks – generally those with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion – to adopt a relatively simple leverage ratio to measure capital adequacy, rather than calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios.

The final rule is effective July 1, 2026.

Data Privacy Bills

Rep. French Hill (R-AR), chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, and other House leaders have unveiled two data privacy bills. The SECURE Data Act would establish national privacy and data security standards enforced by the FTC and state attorneys general, according to a summary of the legislation. The legislation would exempt financial institutions and data covered by the Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA).

Pictured: Rep. French Hill

Meanwhile, the GUARD Financial Data Act would update the GLBA to account for advances in technology since the passage of the GLBA in 1999. The GUARD Act also would preempt state laws and create a national privacy standard for banks to follow rather than the current state and federal patchwork.

Federal Preemption and Interchange Fees

The OCC has issued an interim final order and an interim final rule to confirm the longstanding powers under federal law for national banks to charge certain fees, regardless of whether those fees are set by the bank or a third party. The preexisting powers under federal law have recently come into question because of the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act.

The Illinois law, which has been mired in litigation, seeks to ban credit and debit card issuers from charging interchange fees on the sales tax and tip portions of transactions. The OCC has declared that federal law preempts the Illinois law for national banks and federal savings institutions.  

Welcome to Our New Online Experience!

The NCBA experience just got a major glow-up. We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new online management system, designed to make managing your membership, event registrations, and resources faster and more intuitive than ever.

What’s New?

While you can still find everything you need at ncbankers.org, you’ll notice a fresh look and feel to many of the pages with more to come. To access the enhanced features of our member portal, everyone will need to establish a new login.

Getting Started is Easy:

• Existing Partners & Members: Your data is already securely mapped over! Simply visit members.ncbankers.org and click "Forgot Password" to set your new credentials and dive in.
• New Users: If you’re new to the NCBA community, follow the prompts to "Create an Account" on the portal page.

Note: Access to login accounts is currently exclusive to our Member Banks and Affiliate Members/Vendors, you’ll see that in the account creation drop down options.

Thank you for your patience and partnership as we transition to this improved digital experience. We can’t wait for you to explore the new pages! If you have specific questions for events please see those event contacts or general login issues please message teresa@ncbankers.org. 

Looking to skill up? For a limited time, North Carolina Bankers Association is making it easier than ever to invest in your professional growth. Sign up for one of the upcoming webinars from our partnered providers:

Need Credits? Earn CRCM, CPE, SHRM and More!

First Bank Appoints Andy Scott as Triangle Regional Executive

First Bank, a subsidiary of First Bancorp, has appointed Andy Scott as Triangle Regional Executive. Andy brings more than 25 years of banking experience and a strong track record of leadership across North Carolina to the role. He will lead the bank's growth and client engagement efforts throughout the Triangle, with a focus on delivering an elevated commercial banking experience and deepening community relationships.

Andy Scott
First Bank

PB Financial Corporation Declares Second Quarter 2026 Dividend

Ted E. Whitehurst, President and CEO of PB Financial Corporation, the holding company for Providence Bank, announced that the Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.62 per share on common stock outstanding to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 7, 2026. The dividend is payable on May 22, 2026.

Ted E. Whitehurst
PB Financial Corp

This is an increase of approximately 6.90% from the dividend paid during the 2nd quarter of 2025. This represents a $2.48 per share dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of approximately 3.79% (based on the closing price of $65.50 on April 23, 2026).

"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ but ‘That’s funny…’"

- Isaac Asimov