ICBA Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Housing Bill with Pro-Community Bank Provisions

Washington, D.C. (June 22, 2026) - The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) applauded the Senate for today's bipartisan passage of its amended housing relief bill, which includes several ICBA-advocated community bank regulatory reforms to promote lending and housing affordability.

"ICBA and the nation's community banks commend the Senate for passing amended housing legislation and including pro-community bank regulatory reforms," ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. "We thank the members of the Senate and House who have prioritized this bipartisan legislation and worked to ensure the inclusion of ICBA-advocated reforms. We encourage lawmakers to get this critical measure to the president's desk to be signed into law."

The Senate legislation includes provisions supported by ICBA and state community banking groups to:

• Allow community banks to hold custodial deposits and more reciprocal deposits without them being considered brokered deposits, which are subject to restrictions.

• Provide an 18-month exam cycle and other exam relief for banks with up to $6 billion in assets.

• Promote the formation of de novo community banks by streamlining the application process.

• Create a two-year pilot program to promote the creation of de novo banks, especially in rural areas, by providing more regulatory, capital, and lending flexibility.

• Establish a Treasury Financial Agent program enabling partnerships between minority depository institutions, rural community banks, and other financial institutions.

• Require the federal banking agencies to study improving the growth, capital adequacy, and profitability of rural depository institutions.

Today's legislative package contains many items advanced in ICBA's open letter to the 119th Congress and in Romero Rainey's testimony last year at the House Financial Services Committee's first hearing of the 119th Congress. ICBA looks forward to continuing to work with Congress and the administration to enact these important measures.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation's community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

As local and trusted sources of credit, America's community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers' financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA's website at icba.org.