Banking Politics & Policy News
American Banker's Politics & Policy coverage delivers news and analysis on how legislative action, federal agency rulemaking, regulatory politics, and public policy debates shape banking strategy, risk, competition, and compliance. Coverage explores congressional priorities, executive branch initiatives, regulatory agency actions, and the political forces that shape and impact the operating environment for financial institutions, payments companies, fintechs and distributed finance companies.
Bank leaders must navigate a dynamic policy environment where congressional action, regulatory priorities, and political forces influence capital standards, supervisory expectations, digital asset frameworks, deposit insurance, consumer rules, and competitive dynamics.
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Leading Republican lawmakers released two similar stablecoin bills last week, legislation that the White House wants finished quickly. Here are four issues banks need to watch as the bills move forward.
February 10
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Newly-confirmed Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, a key architect of Project 2025, has been charged with overseeing an agency Republicans have vowed to eliminate, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
February 7
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Hood, who chaired the National Credit Union Administration from 2019 until 2021, has been selected by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to serve as acting comptroller of the currency. Hood replaces acting OCC head Michael Hsu, who has led the agency since 2021.
February 7
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Employers added fewer workers than anticipated last month, but upward revisions to previous estimates drove down the jobless rate. The report gives no clear directive to the Federal Reserve, which put rate cuts on hold last month.
February 7
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President Donald Trump huddled with Republican lawmakers on Thursday and discussed ending some of the biggest tax provisions that impact Wall Street.
February 6
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The Federal Reserve is no longer exploring the idea of creating a new liability for interbank settlements. Instead, it is looking for ways to improve existing systems.
February 6
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Luke Pettit could have an expanded role compared to previous assistant secretaries for financial institutions as President Donald Trump eyes Treasury lead for deregulatory agenda.
February 5
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As stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies enter the mainstream, lawmakers in Illinois have imposed a new transaction tax on digital assets. It will raise costs for everyday consumers and drive away businesses.
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Yes, banks' capital burden will decline, leaving more potential funds available for lending. But the big question is which banks will find a way to deploy those funds to generate meaningful returns.
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Restrictions that limit access to private market investments are harmful to ordinary investors, who are denied better returns. They also seal off a large potential source of funding for long-term infrastructure investments.
