This bill mandates the Secretary of the Treasury, through the Office of Consumer Policy, to establish a grant program within one year of enactment. The primary purpose of this program is to fund eligible entities that provide financial coaching services to consumers, aiming to enhance financial well-being and strengthen the capacity of community-based providers. It seeks to address challenges faced by low- and moderate-income households in managing finances, reducing debt, and building savings by increasing access to trusted, high-quality financial guidance. Eligible entities for these grants include nonprofit, community-based organizations , community development financial institutions , and minority depository institutions . These organizations must have been in operation for at least one year and predominantly serve specific communities, such as those in low-income census tracts, areas with a high percentage of racial or ethnic minorities, rural areas, or individuals making at or below 120 percent of the Area Median Income. The bill authorizes $100,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, with funds allocated for both general organizational purposes and subgrants to other eligible entities. Beyond direct funding, the legislation also directs the Office of Consumer Policy to elevate best practices in the financial coaching industry. This includes facilitating the development of standardized protocols for credentialing financial coaches and the agencies that employ them. By supporting these initiatives, the bill aims to improve service quality, promote professional development, and ultimately foster greater household financial resilience and economic mobility across the nation.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Finance and Financial Sector
Improving Access to Financial Coaching Act of 2026
USA119th CongressHR-8373| House
| Updated: 4/20/2026
This bill mandates the Secretary of the Treasury, through the Office of Consumer Policy, to establish a grant program within one year of enactment. The primary purpose of this program is to fund eligible entities that provide financial coaching services to consumers, aiming to enhance financial well-being and strengthen the capacity of community-based providers. It seeks to address challenges faced by low- and moderate-income households in managing finances, reducing debt, and building savings by increasing access to trusted, high-quality financial guidance. Eligible entities for these grants include nonprofit, community-based organizations , community development financial institutions , and minority depository institutions . These organizations must have been in operation for at least one year and predominantly serve specific communities, such as those in low-income census tracts, areas with a high percentage of racial or ethnic minorities, rural areas, or individuals making at or below 120 percent of the Area Median Income. The bill authorizes $100,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, with funds allocated for both general organizational purposes and subgrants to other eligible entities. Beyond direct funding, the legislation also directs the Office of Consumer Policy to elevate best practices in the financial coaching industry. This includes facilitating the development of standardized protocols for credentialing financial coaches and the agencies that employ them. By supporting these initiatives, the bill aims to improve service quality, promote professional development, and ultimately foster greater household financial resilience and economic mobility across the nation.