Policy & Regulation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has made big changes in 2025, including cutting headcount, walking back Biden-era rules and guidance and resetting the agency's approach to  emerging technologies and crypto.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in an advisory opinion said that "covered" earned wage access products should not be considered an extension of credit under the Truth in Lending Act. It also said that expedited delivery fees and tips should not be considered finance charges.

It is long past time to revisit the regulatory regime implementing the Bank Secrecy Act. In a good sign, key elements of the Trump administration seem to be in alignment on reform.

The Senate confirmed Travis Hill as the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. as part of a slate of nominations that were approved late Thursday. Hill has been serving as acting FDIC chair since January.

The Federal Reserve Board voted 6-1 on Friday to seek public comment on a proposed "skinny" master account.

The megabank cleared a regulatory hurdle when the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency freed it from a July 2024 amendment to a consent order. Two other orders, one from the OCC and the other from the Federal Reserve, remain in place.

The Federal Reserve said in a statement that its "understanding of innovation products and services have evolved" since the initial guidance was published in 2023.

The House Financial Services Committee unanimously passed bills that would give the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. more options in resolving failed banks, including by waiving the "least-cost resolution" requirement in some circumstances.

Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller said monetary policy must remain insulated from political pressure, arguing that communication with the White House should be limited. Waller is slated to meet with President Trump Wednesday afternoon.

Bank groups, crypto firms and regulators are divided over whether fiduciary digital-asset custody fits naturally within the national trust charter model — or whether, as critics argue, the agency is quietly reinventing the charter.