Policy News from American Banker

Congress' recent ban on nearly all forms of intoxicating hemp products signals a sharp political turn away from rescheduling, making the prospects for cannabis banking reform even more dim than they already were.

While banks welcome the "whole-of-government" approach that led the effort, private sector takedowns remain difficult without federal warrants.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Federal Reserve Board should reject the renomination of any regional Federal Reserve Bank presidents who have not lived in their districts for three years, signaling a potential confrontation when reappointments come before the board in February.

In a sternly worded letter, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Maxine Waters demanded to know why federal agencies haven't provided more guidance since the one-cent coin was discontinued. They accused the Trump administration of making an "abrupt and unilateral decision" without thinking it through.

As artificial intelligence boosts productivity gains, there is a danger that additional profits will accrue only to investors, leaving workers in the dust. A "10% for the people" tax could allow everyone to share in AI's benefits.

The Troy, Michigan-based lender and servicer faces at least seven lawsuits over a hack in June allegedly perpetrated by a known ransomware gang.

In a relatively mild oversight hearing in the House Financial Services Committee Tuesday morning, regulatory heads at the Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, National Credit Union Administration and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. outlined plans for reduced capital requirements and debanking enforcement.

The debate over the "macro" questions about cryptocurrency in the U.S. has been largely settled. We're now entering the "micro" phase, where specific rules and regulations will be written to chart the industry's future.

Democratic lawmakers, led by Senate Banking Committee ranking member Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., press 21 institutions for fee data after a federal agency halted disclosure requirements.

The global bank created an educational campaign designed to alert customers to the risk of AI-generated scam advertisements on social media.

Recent high-profile ethics violations by senior Federal Reserve officials, including new revelations concerning stock trades by former Fed Gov. Adriana Kugler, have sparked debate over the effectiveness of the central bank's oversight, even as some observers stress such cases remain rare.

The Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued a final rule Tuesday that softens leverage demands for the biggest and most systemically risky banks and lowers the community bank leverage ratio to 8%.

New guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released Monday afternoon would streamline Bank Secrecy Act exams for community banks. The agency issued a separate request for information on consolidation and contracting power among core service providers.

The binary charter rules that separate banks and nonbanks are no longer fit for purpose in a financial services industry where a broad array of companies offer banklike services. A new set of diverse charters is needed.

Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said in an exclusive interview with American Banker Monday that regulators must bring more new entrants into the banking industry, establish a level playing field between banks and fintechs, and shore up supervision amid mounting legal scrutiny.

GOP lawmakers say current thresholds subject regional lenders to overly stringent oversight designed for Wall Street giants

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said in its Quarterly Banking Profile report for the third quarter that bank earnings hit 2025 highs as falling provision costs, wider margins and steady credit quality lifted industry profitability.

Former U.S. Bank veteran files for a de novo charter to launch VALT Bank, a tech-heavy business lender targeting 'digitally demanding' small businesses.

Supplies of the one-cent coin are plummeting. Businesses can't give exact change. Banks are struggling to resupply them. And amid it all, the federal government has said almost nothing.

If the loophole in the GENIUS Act isn't closed, the flow of money into stablecoins will wind up reducing the Community Reinvestment Act funding that many underserved communities rely on for development.