Law and regulation

Fintech companies are asking a federal regulator to create a specialized charter that would allow them to comply with federal rules instead of facing a state-by-state licensing framework.

The Bank of England is among the central banks exploring possible uses of blockchain technology. In a recent speech, a BOE official noted how it would open access to central banks beyond commercial banks. "Everyone – including individuals – would be able to hold such balances," he said.

A recent op-ed warning of the risks to participation holders in bank failures missed several important points about today's loan market.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and our social media platforms.

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill Thursday that would subject the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to the appropriations process, among other things.

The federal agency expressed skepticism about industry-developed standards Thursday, suggesting that there is currently no way to enforce the rules or punish bad actors.

The clock is ticking to amend Dodd-Frank Act regulations before consumers in rural communities run out of borrowing options, community bankers from Kansas and Oklahoma told a House panel on Thursday.

Bankers are challenging the cost of a contentious Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. plan that would require banks to regularly update their insured deposit data, arguing it is much more expensive than the agency estimated.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has given community banks and other small companies more flexibility to issue private stock, but even more flexibility should be granted to fulfill congressional intent.

Regulators need to start paying attention to "denial-of-system" attacks as one of the triggers that could bring down a systemically important institution.

Fearing that housing finance reform has fallen off the congressional priority list, bank and housing trade groups sent a letter to Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt on Wednesday to draw attention to the issue.

Lenders are questioning the legal justification for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's putting a 36% annual percentage rate threshold in its payday proposal, claiming loans made at that rate are unprofitable. That figure has been the subject of intense debate in the past decade.

China has officially opened its doors to payment companies from beyond its borders, this week unveiling the formal rules for foreign companies applying for bank-clearing privileges.

Fintech firms and banks should collaborate on using alternative data sources to qualify more borrowers for small-dollar loans.

The Federal Reserve Board and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Wednesday gave the four systemically important foreign banks one additional year to file their living wills.

Without the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau setting specific debt collection guidelines — including what technology agencies can use — the industry will continue a practice that harms consumers: lawsuits.

Advocates of free trade and fighting protectionism are more likely to focus on industries like steel and agriculture, but they should also pay attention to the payments sphere.

Federal regulators issued a statement Tuesday reminding banks how they can protect themselves from cyberattacks.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., wrote to Visa on Tuesday to denounce an alleged new fee assessed by the company on credit and debit card issuers that see their business shift to a competing card network.

With Democrats already opposing a bill by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, to roll back Dodd-Frank, his chances of long-term success depend on support by Donald Trump. The two met to discuss the plan on Tuesday.