Regulation

The biggest questions following the former chairman's resignation aren't about regulation but whether the agency can recapture a spirit of bipartisanship and collaboration.

The agency said federal thrifts must abide by the same rules as national banks pertaining to membership in payment systems and codified policies on acceptable derivatives practices among a slew of technical changes.

The president-elect has legal backing to fire Director Kathy Kraninger thanks to a recent court ruling, but Republicans are prepared to challenge his ability to choose her successor.

In an open letter, industry veteran Thomas Vartanian outlines the steps the administration can take to encourage innovation, better detect cyber threats and modernize regulation.

Participation in the Paycheck Protection Program and other emergency lending during the pandemic has swelled many small banks’ balance sheets. Federal regulators are giving them a temporary pass on supervisory requirements tied to their size.

The former chairman recently butted heads with colleagues over the agency’s budget plans, and the Senate is expected to vote to confirm a successor early next month.

Some large banks have come under fire from the GOP for curbing services to firms in controversial industries, such as firearms and fossil fuels. A proposal by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency aims to block banks from taking such stances.

Banks are responsible for reporting their business customers' beneficial owners, but a bill that would shift that anti-money-laundering duty to businesses themselves has been added to a must-pass defense spending package.

Lenders want Congress to bring back incentives used during the last recession, such as bigger subsidies and reduced fees, to jump-start participation in the Small Business Administration's flagship 7(a) program.