Dodd-Frank

Republican lawmakers will head the banking committees in both chambers next year – raising the prospects for deals on key legislation – but getting to the negotiating table is still the biggest hurdle for the next Congress.

Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker discusses why he distrusts a government-run system for unwinding banks, how community banks could thrive in the future, and why policymakers should consider better distinguishing between the biggest institutions and mid-size firms.

Banks could originate 300,000 more home loans per quarter and face only a slightly higher risk of default, according to a new report. But lenders are unlikely to loosen lending standards until they are sure that Fannie, Freddie and the FHA have eased up on buyback requests.

Although regulators say the bank's resolution plan still has "specific shortcomings," Wells Fargo appears closer than other banks in fulfilling the Dodd-Frank requirement.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has pushed back three key rulemakings – including the highly anticipated proposal on payday lending – until next year.

Before the CFPB imposes new rules on overdraft fees, it should consider whether restricting consumer access to this feature could drive people to more expensive alternatives like payday loans.

Consumer activists are targeting the use of arbitration clauses at Wells Fargo and PNC Financial Services Group.

WASHINGTON — The Financial Stability Oversight Council needs a more formal system for monitoring its process for designating nonbanks as "systemically important," a watchdog said Thursday.

The overly complex Dodd-Frank Act came about because policymakers failed to tie regulation and regulatory structure together effectively. The next step in financial reform should be to simplify — and perhaps consolidate — regulatory processes.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said DriveTime, which also has a lending unit, harassed delinquent borrowers and reported incorrect credit data.

House Republicans are hoping to force the Federal Reserve Board to be more open about its monetary policy decisions and strip away some of its new authorities added by the Dodd-Frank Act, according to Rep. Patrick McHenry, the House's chief deputy whip.

With an eye on eliminating mortgage buybacks and adhering to increasing regulatory compliance obligations, mortgage lenders are redoubling their sales training efforts for both rookie and veteran loan officers.

A number of Dodd-Frank and Basel III regulations will impact banks' investments in the CLO market, but the Volcker Rule poses unique challenges.

Some bankers have pronounced the data warehouse obsolete, but Dr. Jim Goodnight says it's more relevant than ever, as cheaper hardware and overlapping informational needs across the organization make sharing a large dataset companywide feasible and worthwhile.

MSB Financial Corp., a mutual thrift firm in Millington, N.J., plans to reorganize into a fully stock-owned company.

Republicans are unlikely to push the ball forward on reform of the federal housing agencies, but Congress has a number of other opportunities to make changes that will encourage mortgage lending.

Kelly King of BB&T is an M&A trailblazer, but he isn't doing so intentionally. In announcing plans to buy Susquehanna Bancshares, King said he believes more bankers are becoming more confident maneuvering the choppy regulatory environment.

Regulators are expecting financial institutions to provide detailed modeling of deposits and ever-greater documentation in the next round of stress tests, bankers and consultants say.

WASHINGTON — Policymakers should consider changing rules that limit the amount of debt that holding companies can carry in order to exempt more community banks from the restrictions, a senior Federal Reserve Board official said Friday.

Lawmakers could address several key bills for the financial industry this fall, including on terrorism risk insurance and a capital change for systemically important insurance companies, during what is anticipated to be a brisk lame-duck session.