Opinions

In his current position as chair of the National Credit Union Administration, J. Mark McWatters has publicly advocated for cutting back the CFPB’s oversight of the credit union industry.

A regulatory relief package is likely to come out of the Senate in the new year, and lawmakers could follow it up with a housing finance reform push. But the midterm elections could cause some reform initiatives to grind to a halt.

Credit card debt hit $807 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016, with consumer balances on average exceeding $4,800, according to a report released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The GSEs are on their way to paying back the money they owed the government under the original bailout deal made at the height of the financial crisis, making 2018 an opportune time for an overhaul of the housing finance market.

Executives from across the credit union movement offered a largely positive take on the possible appointment of NCUA Chairman J. Mark McWatters to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

From the identity of bankers in the 21st century to the regulatory turmoil in Washington to the huge impact of technology on the industry, readers expressed an array of strong opinions about what happened in 2017.

J. Mark McWatters, chairman of the National Credit Union Administration, is said to be in contention to take over as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The Trump administration's Financial Stability Oversight Council is likely to remove the systemically important financial institution label for the remaining nonbanks on the list, but it might consider adding other firms such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

State and federal regulators finally approved the Mississippi bank’s acquisitions of Ouachita Bancshares and Central Community after anti-laundering and CRA matters were resolved. BancorpSouth’s CEO says he may pursue more deals.

Legislation advanced by the Senate banking panel has a good shot at passage, as long as lawmakers remain focused on helping community banks — not Wall Street.