Prosperity Bancshares finalizes the second of three acquisitions it's announced since July; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation appoints a new chief information security officer for its American operations; Huntington Bancshares, Third Coast Bancshares and Heritage Financial completed acquisitions; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Fintech and crypto groups said in comment letters to the Federal Reserve that the proposed "skinny" master account is too limited and could keep firms dependent on banks. Banking groups asked for more time to comment.

American Banker's 2026 Predictions report finds that nonbank entities and check fraud are major threats to local banks in the coming months.

Noelle Acheson argues that growing demand for dollar-denominated stablecoins is going to give the Treasury Department increasing influence over the direction of the U.S. economy, perhaps at the cost of the Federal Reserve.

In a contentious House Financial Services Committee oversight hearing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sidestepped questions on the Trump family crypto conflicts of interest and inflation with pugnacious responses to Democratic lawmakers' questions.

Former Fed Gov. Kevin Warsh is a relatively known quantity to financial markets, but his embrace of President Trump's agenda and the White House's own contentious relationship with the central bank make it hard to know with certainty where — or even whether — he will lead the Fed.

President Trump's announcement Friday morning that former investment banker and Fed Governor Kevin Warsh would be his selection as the next chairman of the Fed ends months of speculation and gives the president a key ally at the central bank.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said recent data suggests less tension between the employment and inflation sides of the central bank's dual mandate, reducing the need for an immediate policy change.

The Federal Reserve's rate-setting committee kept its benchmark interest rate steady Wednesday amid an intensifying effort from the White House to gain a governing majority on the central bank's board.

As the Federal Open Market Committee announces its near-term interest rate plans Wednesday, market watchers expect the central bank to hold interest rates steady as policymakers seek greater clarity on the health of the economy.

State regulators say proposed changes by the Federal Reserve that would make state bank examiners the primary boots on the ground will make bank examinations faster, but could cause some issues to go overlooked.

The Brazilian digital bank Banco Inter now has a license from the Federal Reserve Board and the state of Florida to establish a virtual "branch" in Miami.

Observers said the Supreme Court likely will allow Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook to remain at her post while she challenges her purported removal by President Donald Trump. But her continued presence would slow, rather than stop, the president's quest for a voting majority on the central bank board.

The Supreme Court Wednesday appeared skeptical of the Justice Department's argument that removal of a Federal Reserve governor is unreviewable or that the president's preference for Fed governors outweighs the harm to the Fed from curbing the central bank's political independence.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman warned that labor market conditions could weaken further and said the central bank should avoid signaling a pause in monetary policy.

A handful of former Fed officials noted that the markets' measured response to a probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell was a result of pushback from Trump allies.

Federal Reserve Gov. Stephen Miran said he doesn't "really buy" the view that a potential indictment of Fed Chair Jerome Powell would affect the central bank's monetary policy.

The Federal Reserve announced it had approved the merger, marking the final regulatory hurdle the banks needed to clear. But a lawsuit seeking to stop the deal is still ongoing.

President Trump Tuesday told reporters he would not delay announcing his pick to fill a new vacancy on the Federal Reserve Board despite threats from Republican Senators to block any Fed nomination until a recently-disclosed Justice Department investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell is resolved.

Top executives at the nation's largest bank spoke Tuesday about shifting dynamics in the credit card business, Federal Reserve independence, the bank's plan to increase spending in 2026 and its large portfolio of loans to nonbank financial institutions.