Public Policy Blog
Make a Pledge to Save
By Janie Ginocchio We’ve recently talked about taking advantage of a new savings opportunity in Arkansas by using split direct deposit for state tax refunds, and in previous blog posts we’ve talked about making a New Year’s resolution to save as well as best practices...
New Pandemic Relief Bill to Help CDFIs Serve the Underserved
By Janie Ginocchio On Dec. 21, Congress passed a pandemic relief and economic stimulus bill that includes $12 billion for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Deposit Institutions (MDIs) to help ensure funding reaches very small businesses...
Take Advantage of Tax-Time Savings Opportunities
By Janie Ginocchio In April 2019, we announced that Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Act 774 of 2019, which required two direct deposit lines on the state income tax form so you could split your state refund into two bank accounts. This year, we facilitated the passage of...
Southern Bancorp Community Partners announces policy brief and webinar addressing debt in Mississippi
LITTLE ROCK, ARK – Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP) recently published Deferred Dreams: How Unmanageable and Abusive Debt Hinder Savings and Economic Security in Mississippi, a policy brief that explores how historic levels of debt have proved an impediment...
Tax Time is Savings Time in Mississippi
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signs a proclamation designating Mississippi Saves Week. Last week, Governor Reeves signed HB 597 into law, adding a second line for savings for the 2021 tax year. By James Owen Mississippians have a powerful new tool to save money,...
Southern Bancorp Statement on CFPB Decision to Remove Payday Lending Rule
On July 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it had revoked the mandatory underwriting provisions of the 2017 Payday Lending Rule. This removed the requirement that payday lenders first determine a potential borrower’s ability to repay...