A group of three Democratic lawmakers — Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) and Dwight Evans (D-Pa.) — yesterday introduced H.R. 3741, a bill that would codify and enhance the Minority Bank Deposit Program, which encourages minority- and women-owned banks and credit unions serving low-income communities to become depositaries and financial agents. The program was created by the Treasury Department in 1969 to help facilitate access to reliable and stable funding sources for these institutions to better serve their local communities.
Home builder confidence declines in February
Builder confidence in the market for single-family homes in February was 42, down from 47 the previous month, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.