Opinions

WASHINGTON — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Tuesday named Michael Dean as the director of the agency's Atlanta region. He had been serving as acting director of the region since April.

This may be the year that banks finally adapt to the new risk landscape by shaking up their boards, bolstering cybersecurity and increasing vendor management.

This year is a rare chance for lawmakers to actually get something done due to the fact that it isn't an election year. But will anything happen? Bankers are hoping for changes to Dodd-Frank, while regulators are moving forward with other big changes. Following are the policymakers to keep an eye on in 2015.

Mortgage lenders are hoping the new Republican-controlled Congress will be more receptive to making changes to the "qualified mortgage" rule.

With Republicans now controlling both chambers of Congress and signals from Democrats that they are open to alterations, revisions to Dodd-Frank are at the top of the agenda in addition to other subjects, like terrorism insurance and housing finance reform.

JPMorgan Chase's parts are probably worth more to investors than the whole after regulators proposed tougher rules penalizing firms for size and complexity, according to Goldman Sachs.

Last year regulators tightened their grip on Wall Street, while banks were caught off guard by emerging cybersecurity and reputational risks.

The state that brought high-cost consumer loans to the rest of the country may finally be ready to reverse course.

A number of bankers and regulators are concerned about declining credit standards. The problem is real— and it is also endemic to credit markets.

An expected ballot measure, which is backed by a prominent Democrat and Republican, would serve as a referendum on South Dakota's decades-old decision to deregulate interest rates.