The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which became law on July 10, seeks to boost housing supply while providing regulatory relief to banks and easing requirements for "de novo" institutions — which are brand new, not the result of mergers, etc. — to encourage growth. Supported by the Independent Community Bankers of America, the bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen community banks and expand local lending, combating the long-term decline in new bank formations. According to the recently released 2026 Report on Employer Firms, 28% of the surveyed small business owners said they went to small community banks. That number has steadily fallen from 39% in 2020.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal; 7/12/2026