Treasury Offers $40 Million for Community Banks
Published Date: 6/30/2026
Notice
Summary
The Bank Enterprise Award Program is offering $40 million in grants for FY 2026 to banks that help improve low-income communities. Banks can apply for awards ranging from $10,000 to $600,000, with about 180 awards expected. Don’t miss the key deadline on July 24, 2026, to submit your application and get your paperwork in order!
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 6 costs, 1 mixed.
$40M in BEA Grants Available
The BEA Program is offering $40,000,000 in grants for FY 2026 to FDIC‑insured banks and thrifts. Individual awards will range from $10,000 up to $600,000, and the CDFI Fund expects to issue about 180 awards.
Eligibility Limited to FDIC‑Insured Banks
Only FDIC‑insured banks or thrifts (Insured Depository Institutions) are eligible to apply. An Applicant must have been FDIC‑insured as of the first day of the Baseline Period, January 1, 2024, and must maintain FDIC insurance at the time of application.
Big Advantage for Certified & Small Banks
Certified CDFI banks get higher award percentages than non‑CDFI banks (example: consumer transactions use 18% for CDFI Applicants vs 6% for non‑CDFI Applicants). Small institutions (assets less than $412 million as of 12/31/2025) receive an asset size priority factor of 5, intermediate institutions a factor of 3, and large institutions a factor of 1.
Awards Based on 2024→2025 Activity Increase
Awards are computed from an Applicant's increase in Qualified Activities between the Baseline Period (January 1–December 31, 2024) and the Assessment Period (January 1–December 31, 2025). Only amounts fully disbursed during those periods are considered.
What Award Funds Can Pay For
Award funds must be used on Eligible Activities defined in 12 CFR 1806.300. Recipients may use up to 15% of their total BEA Award for Direct Administrative Expenses, but Indirect Costs are not allowable. Awards may not be passed through to third parties except in certain mergers/acquisitions with prior CDFI Fund consent.
Compliance, Debarment, and Default Rules
Applicants with certain regulatory or legal findings, debarment, delinquent Federal debt (per Do Not Pay), unresolved noncompliance/defaults, or default on a CDFI Fund loan within five years of the deadline are ineligible. Defaults on Allocation Agreements in the 12 months before the application deadline also make an Applicant ineligible.
Firm Application Deadlines and Registrations
Key deadlines: create AMIS account and submit SF‑424 in Grants.gov by July 24, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET); last day to contact program offices is July 29, 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET); final AMIS submission of the BEA Application and attachments is July 31, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET). Failure to meet registration or submission deadlines (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, AMIS, EIN/UEI) can make an Application ineligible.
Persistent Poverty County Commitment
Congress requires at least 10% of the CDFI Fund's appropriations be directed to Persistent Poverty Counties (PPCs). Applicants must indicate what percentage of their BEA Award they will commit to investing in PPCs, and any PPC commitment will become a performance goal in the Award Agreement. The performance period is one year.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-13200 — Funding Opportunities: Small Dollar Loan Program: FY 2026 Funding Round
The Small Dollar Loan Program is opening its FY 2026 funding round, offering $9 million to help community lenders provide small loans and support services. If you’re a community financial group, now’s your chance to apply for loan loss reserves or technical help grants, with awards ranging from $20,000 up to $350,000. Get ready—applications will be reviewed soon, and this funding can boost your ability to serve more people with affordable loans!
2026-13172 — Funding Opportunities: Bond Guarantee Program, FY 2026; Notice of Guarantee Availability
The U.S. Treasury is offering up to $500 million in bond guarantees for 2026 to help community lenders raise money for local projects. If you’re a qualified issuer, you need to apply by early July to get in on this chance. This program supports community development by making it easier to fund important neighborhood improvements before the end of the year.
2026-12187 — Notice of Information Collection and Request for Public Comment
The Treasury Department wants your thoughts on how it collects info for the New Markets Tax Credit Program, which helps investors support community projects. They’re aiming to keep paperwork easy and clear, so if you have ideas or concerns, speak up by August 17, 2026. This won’t cost you money but could change how info is tracked and shared.
2026-04682 — Amendment of Notice of Funds Availability for Community Development Financial Institutions Program; Revised Application Submission Deadline
The deadline to update applications for the Community Development Financial Institutions Program has been extended from October 27, 2025, to April 10, 2026, because of a government funding pause. This change affects applicants who made it to the later stages of the review process and want to improve their submissions. If you’re one of these applicants, you now have more time to get your updates in and compete for financial or technical help.
2026-04683 — Amendment of Notice of Funds Availability for Native American CDFI Assistance Program; Revised Application Submission Deadline
If you’re applying for money or help through the Native American CDFI Assistance Program, good news! The deadline to update your application has been pushed back from October 27, 2025, to April 10, 2026, because of a government funding pause. This gives applicants more time to polish their submissions and aim for those financial or technical awards.
2026-04669 — Notice of Information Collection and Request for Public Comment
The Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund wants your thoughts on their Bank Enterprise Award Program application form. This form helps banks show how they’re boosting loans and services in struggling communities. If you have ideas or concerns, send them in by May 11, 2026—no cost to comment, just your voice!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-13197 — Deregistration Under Section 8(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
Some investment funds, like the Value Line Core Bond Fund, are officially asking the SEC to stop being registered as investment companies because they've finished closing down and paid out their investors. If you want to speak up or ask for a hearing, you have until July 21, 2026. This means less paperwork and oversight for these funds, and no extra costs for investors now that the funds are done.
Next: 2026-13200 — Funding Opportunities: Small Dollar Loan Program: FY 2026 Funding Round
The Small Dollar Loan Program is opening its FY 2026 funding round, offering $9 million to help community lenders provide small loans and support services. If you’re a community financial group, now’s your chance to apply for loan loss reserves or technical help grants, with awards ranging from $20,000 up to $350,000. Get ready—applications will be reviewed soon, and this funding can boost your ability to serve more people with affordable loans!