ICBA Applauds Final House Passage of Bipartisan Housing Bill with Pro-Community Bank Title

Washington, D.C. (June 23, 2026) - The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) applauded the House of Representatives for passing bipartisan housing relief legislation that includes a community banking title of ICBA-advocated regulatory reforms to promote lending and housing affordability, sending it to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

"ICBA and the nation's community banks commend the House for today's bipartisan vote passing amended housing legislation with pro-community bank regulatory reforms-a testament to the community banking industry's strong bipartisan support in Washington," ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. "We thank House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill and Ranking Member Maxine Waters for working closely with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren to prioritize this bipartisan legislation and secure full passage through Congress, which will help community banks to continue meeting the needs of local communities."

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.

The bipartisan legislation advances ICBA priorities laid out in its 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 now urges the House to take up and pass the Main Street Capital Access Act, comprehensive legislation championed by Chairman Hill that includes more than two dozen community bank priorities. ICBA looks forward to continuing to work with Congress and the administration to advance this important measure to help community banks better serve consumers, small businesses, farmers, and local communities.

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.