Mortgage market stagnation, a tougher job market for Black and Hispanic graduates, NCRC opposes H.R. 6955 and more.

NCRC ([link removed] )

Just News

for August 14, 2026

News and views from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. Find more at ncrc.org ([link removed] ) .

For continuous updates, follow us on Twitter ([link removed] ) , Facebook ([link removed] ) , LinkedIn ([link removed] ) , Instagram ([link removed] ) and TikTok ([link removed] ) .

In Memoriam

NCRC Mourns Loss Of Board Vice Chair Irvin Henderson

By NCRC

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) mourns the passing of Irvin Henderson, a devoted champion of NCRC’s mission who had been part of the organization since its founding in 1990 as a founding board member, served as one of NCRC’s first board chairs and most recently served as vice chair. “We are deeply saddened by Irvin’s sudden passing,” said Jesse Van Tol, NCRC’s president and CEO. [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

News

NCRC Awards $1.34 Million in Field Empowerment Fund – Housing Counseling Services Grants to 95 NCRC Member Organizations

By NCRC

The Field Empowerment Fund (FEF) enables NCRC network members to level up established housing counseling service lines. With the award of this grant cycle, NCRC has provided $9.46 million to 154 NCRC member organizations through the fund since its inception in 2021. [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

NCRC, Woodstock Institute And Rise Economy Oppose OppFi’s Proposed Merger With BNC Bank

By NCRC

NCRC, Woodstock, and Rise Economy submitted a comment letter strongly objecting to the merger of BNC Bank with OppFi, Inc, a high-cost lender that offers unaffordable loan products to consumers and small businesses. The proposed merger would allow OppFi to abandon its “rent-a-bank” model and gain direct access to the banking system. [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

NCRC Submits Comment On Federal Reserve Proposal Regarding The Creation Of Payment Accounts

By NCRC

NCRC submitted a comment letter regarding a proposal to expand Federal payments system access to eligible nonbanks such as fintech payment apps, cryptocurrency companies, and other financial technology firms, urging the Federal Reserve to require applicants to meet consumer protection and community-serving requirements. [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

Research

The Proposed 2026 CRA Rollbacks: Key Takeaways And Why It Matters

By NCRC

In response to the proposed rule the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation recently announced, NCRC prepared a primer on key takeaways and how the proposal would weaken bank obligations to invest, lend and provide services in low- and moderate-income communities and reduce transparency and accountability. [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

Nashville Summit Report Series: August 2026. Barriers & Solutions for Workforce Development

By Devin Thompson

While the workforce development ecosystem shares many challenges with other sectors, the dialogues uncovered unique structural flaws that specifically penalize economic mobility and block access to high-quality careers. These barriers center on misaligned incentives, exclusionary practices and policy restrictions that shrink the labor pool. [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

Bank Branch Trends For 2026 (2nd Quarter): Continued Growth In The Southeast And Southwest Metros

By Jason Richardson

The nation’s bank branch network changed little compared with the first three months in the second quarter of 2026, with 261 openings and 248 closings. This is the third straight quarter of net gains in branches, something that we haven’t seen since 2009. It has been a long time since we could say bank branches were growing in this country. 17 years ago, the Great Recession ended seven years of continuous branch growth. [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

Views

Minnesota Consortium Of Community Developers Secure Millions For Affordable Housing And Small Business Development

By Kaitlyn Ridel

Like most states, Minnesota is facing an affordable housing shortage with over 100,000 residences needed for low-income residents. The Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers, a network of community development organizations, is working to fill this gap. [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

A Place At The Table: What Black Immigrant Entrepreneurs Teach Us About The American Dream

By Oyindoubra Akika

For many immigrants, home is not simply a place they leave behind. It’s something they carry with them and, sometimes, find in familiar foods, shared traditions and communities thousands of miles away. By 2000, Columbus, Ohio was home to more than 11,000 African-born residents as a result of a wave of immigration that had occurred in the 1990s. Joanne Mapis was one of them, carrying the tastes and traditions of home with her as she began building a life in a new city. [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

Events

Understanding Reverse Mortgages: Products, Risks And Counseling Best Practices

August 20 , 2-3:30 pm ET

Reverse mortgages can provide older homeowners with an important financial resource, but they are also among the most complex mortgage products housing counselors’ encounter. Counselors should understand how reverse mortgages work and how to help clients evaluate whether a reverse mortgage is the most appropriate solution based on their goals, financial circumstances, and long-term housing plans.

Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Strategies for Housing Counselors

August 25 , 2-3:30 pm ET

Natural disasters and emergencies can have devastating financial and housing impacts on individuals and families, making the role of housing counselors more important than ever. This training equips housing counselors with the knowledge and practical strategies needed to prepare clients before a disaster, respond effectively during a housing crisis, and support long-term recovery efforts. Participants will learn about disaster preparedness planning, available federal, state, and local recovery resources, housing assistance programs, insurance considerations, documentation requirements, foreclosure prevention strategies, and methods for helping clients rebuild financial stability after a disaster. Through real-world scenarios and practical guidance, counselors will strengthen their ability to assist households in navigating recovery while promoting resilience and long-term housing stability. [Register here ([link removed] ) ]

PR For Small Businesses: Get Media Attention That Builds Credibility

September 8, 10-11 am ET

Learn how to get your small business noticed by the media to build credibility, attract customers and grow your brand. This session covers crafting compelling stories, reaching out to journalists, leveraging press releases and using media coverage to enhance your reputation. [Register here ([link removed] ) ]

In The News

Member Spotlight: National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC)

By Izzy Woodruff, Grounded Solutions Network

The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) was passed in 1977 to combat redlining, and it remains a crucial driver of affordable housing investment throughout the country. CBAs help banks meet the CRA’s requirements, and they are central to NCRC’s mission to advance a Just Economy in which people can build wealth and provide for their families with stability and dignity. To that end, NCRC also strongly advocates for access to housing because, as Van Tol explains, “housing plays such a critical role in a Just Economy, and homeownership is one of the major paths to building wealth.” [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

In Reversal, Banks Now Open More Branches Than They Close

By Nathan Place, American Banker

"The conventional wisdom for many years has been that branches were outdated, and that they were going away. … Instead, what we've seen now is growth over the last three quarters." —Jason Richardson, senior director of research at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

Resources

Work And Meet At The Just Economy Club

It's a DC hub for nonprofits and the social sector, around the corner from the White House. Move your team into a private office or host your meetings and events. [Read more ([link removed] ) ]

Learning & Training Hub

Register for NCRC's catalog of professional development courses. [Learn ([link removed] ) more ([link removed] ) ]

Research And Reports

We have an extensive library of research and reports that dates back many years! [View all ([link removed] ) ]

Fair Lending Tool

Use our interactive tool to produce a report on mortgages, small business lending and bank branch networks for any city, county or metro area in the nation. [Access the tool here ([link removed] ) ]

Sign And Share The Just Economy Pledge

Help us expand the movement for a Just Economy. [Sign and Share ([link removed] ) ]

Member Hub

NCRC members: Don't forget you have access to our member hub ([link removed] ) ! Learn more about membership here ([link removed] ) . You can join as an organization or an individual ([link removed] ) .

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