Policy & Regulation

The tiny community bank handled hundreds of millions of bulk cash shipments from Mexico without red-flagging any of them, the agency said. The bank has filed a motion to dismiss.

The Federal Open Market Committee cut the fed funds target again in December but signaled fewer cuts in 2025. There was some dissent. The markets are watching to see if the Federal Reserve pauses its easing cycle in January. Brian Rehling, head of global fixed-income strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, recaps and parses the previous day's FOMC meeting and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference.

Analysts are unsure what the Federal Open Market Committee will do with monetary policy in 2025. The panel projects two rate cuts, but some analysts expect more, and others see fewer.

Banks such as TD, Wells Fargo and Bank of America drew attention this year for money-laundering issues. That's one of several top regulatory news items in 2024.

The Federal Reserve is poised to make several key decisions during the year ahead that will impact monetary policy both in the near term and for years to come.

The Bank Policy Institute, the American Bankers Association and others said proposed changes would address "some if not all" of banks' concerns about stress tests, but they are filing the lawsuit to preserve their legal right to do so.

The Federal Reserve will seek comment on the current stress-testing regime with an eye toward increasing transparency and reducing volatility. Modifications would not go into effect until at least 2026.

The two companies continue to tick items off their year-end to-do list, which analysts hope will tee up the merger for finalization in early 2025. Regulatory approval remains a major question.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Walmart and payment app Branch Messenger, accusing them of illegally opening 1 million deposit accounts and charging $10 million in fees. Branch said the agency refused to engage in any meaningful way about the matter.

Bank of America must overhaul anti-money-laundering protocols and hire third-party consultants, but will not face growth limits, following OCC action for compliance deficiencies.