FED Expands Main Street Lending Program for SMEs to Ease COVID Impact
FED expanded its Main Street Lending Program to allow more small and medium-sized businesses to be able to receive support. The key changes involve lowering the minimum loan amount for certain loans to USD 250,000, increasing the maximum loan limit for all facilities, adjusting the principal repayment schedule to begin after two years, and extending the term to five years, thus providing borrowers with greater flexibility in repaying the loans. FED expects the program to be open for lender registration soon and to be actively buying loans shortly afterward.
The Main Street Lending Program was established with the approval of the Treasury Secretary and with USD 75 billion in equity provided by the Treasury Department from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The program consists of Main Street Expanded Loan Facility, the Main Street New Loan Facility, and the Main Street Priority Loan Facility, the terms sheets for which have also been published. FED extensively sought feedback and revised the Main Street Program accordingly. The Main Street Lending Program intends to purchase 95% of each eligible loan that is submitted to the program, provided that the required documentation is complete and the transactions are consistent with the requirements of the relevant Main Street facility. The program will also accept loans that were originated under the previously announced terms, if funded before June 10, 2020. Non-profit organizations also play a critical role throughout the economy; therefore, FED is working to establish a program for these organizations as well.
Related Link: Press Release
Keywords: Americas, US, Banking, COVID-19, Credit Risk, CARES Act, SME, Loan Repayment, Main Street Lending Program, FED
Related Articles
BIS and Central Banks Experiment with GenAI to Assess Climate Risks
A recent report from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub details Project Gaia, a collaboration between the BIS Innovation Hub Eurosystem Center and certain central banks in Europe
Nearly 25% G-SIBs Commit to Adopting TNFD Nature-Related Disclosures
Nature-related risks are increasing in severity and frequency, affecting businesses, capital providers, financial systems, and economies.
Singapore to Mandate Climate Disclosures from FY2025
Singapore recently took a significant step toward turning climate ambition into action, with the introduction of mandatory climate-related disclosures for listed and large non-listed companies
SEC Finalizes Climate-Related Disclosures Rule
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finalized the long-awaited rule that mandates climate-related disclosures for domestic and foreign publicly listed companies in the U.S.
EBA Proposes Standards Related to Standardized Credit Risk Approach
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has been taking significant steps toward implementing the Basel III framework and strengthening the regulatory framework for credit institutions in the EU
US Regulators Release Stress Test Scenarios for Banks
The U.S. regulators recently released baseline and severely adverse scenarios, along with other details, for stress testing the banks in 2024. The relevant U.S. banking regulators are the Federal Reserve Bank (FED), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Asian Governments Aim for Interoperability in AI Governance Frameworks
The regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence (AI), including the generative kind, is evolving rapidly, with governments and regulators aiming to address the challenges and opportunities presented by this transformative technology.
EBA Proposes Operational Risk Standards Under Final Basel III Package
The European Union (EU) has been working on the final elements of Basel III standards, with endorsement of the Banking Package and the publication of the European Banking Authority (EBA) roadmap on Basel III implementation in December 2023.
EFRAG Proposes XBRL Taxonomy and Standard for Listed SMEs Under ESRS
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), which plays a crucial role in shaping corporate reporting standards in European Union (EU), is seeking comments, until May 21, 2024, on the Exposure Draft ESRS for listed SMEs.
ECB to Expand Climate Change Work in 2024-2025
Banking regulators worldwide are increasingly focusing on addressing, monitoring, and supervising the institutions' exposure to climate and environmental risks.
