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Discussion Paper
Hospital Access in the Fifth District and COVID-19
Having enough hospital capacity to treat critical patients has been a major concern during the COVID-19 outbreak. What does hospital capacity look like in the Fifth Federal Reserve District, and how might rural hospital closings impact the current crisis?
Discussion Paper
High and Dry: Banking Deserts Increased in the Fifth District During the Pandemic
The number of U.S. bank branches has been shrinking for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the rate of closures. After the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 allowed banks to open branches across state lines, branch networks spread steadily across the country. That expansion continued until the Great Recession, after which banks moved from growing their physical footprints to increasing their automated services, like ATMs and online banking.
Discussion Paper
Observing Recent Trends in Job Postings
The number of job postings dropped considerably in the United States and the Fifth District in March and April but showed signs of recovery in May. A look at the data reveals how labor demand has varied by types of jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussion Paper
Unemployment Benefits and Changes under the CARES Act
As part of the U.S. response to COVID-19, unemployment insurance recipients are receiving increased weekly payments. For many individuals in the Fifth District, these enhanced unemployment benefits are greater than the wages they earned while at work.
Discussion Paper
CDFIs on the Prize: Recent Federal Awards for Community Development Financial Institutions
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are mission-driven banks, credit unions, loan funds, and venture capital funds that expand financial access to low-and-moderate income (LMI) and underserved populations.In the past two years, after recognizing CDFIs' ability to reach and serve populations that were hard hit by the pandemic, Congress appropriated a total of $12 billion to the industry through three special programs. The money was allocated to the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The scale of these funds set aside for CDFIs is ...
Journal Article
District Digest
Many Americans take access to credit for granted. It's easy for them to underestimate the importance of credit. But without it, a person's economic advancement may become more challenging. For example, in many areas, the inability to secure an auto loan — and thus, a car — could limit employment options, access to healthy food, or medical care.Different people have disparate experiences in accessing credit. For those who are financially underserved, the market has produced credit alternatives. But many of those alternatives, such as payday lenders, offer unfavorable terms that often ...
Discussion Paper
Communities Are Still Facing Disruptions: Is Recovery in Sight?
Discussion Paper
Rural Spotlight: A Path to Redevelopment in West Virginia
Discussion Paper
COVID-19 Financial Support: Who’s Covered and Who’s Not?
Federal, state, and local government financial support for consumers in response to COVID-19 is widespread, but not universal. Who’s left out from existing governmental support programs?