Recent high-profile ethics violations by senior Federal Reserve officials, including new revelations concerning stock trades by former Fed Gov. Adriana Kugler, have sparked debate over the effectiveness of the central bank's oversight, even as some observers stress such cases remain rare.

The Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued a final rule Tuesday that softens leverage demands for the biggest and most systemically risky banks and lowers the community bank leverage ratio to 8%.

New guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released Monday afternoon would streamline Bank Secrecy Act exams for community banks. The agency issued a separate request for information on consolidation and contracting power among core service providers.

The binary charter rules that separate banks and nonbanks are no longer fit for purpose in a financial services industry where a broad array of companies offer banklike services. A new set of diverse charters is needed.

Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said in an exclusive interview with American Banker Monday that regulators must bring more new entrants into the banking industry, establish a level playing field between banks and fintechs, and shore up supervision amid mounting legal scrutiny.

GOP lawmakers say current thresholds subject regional lenders to overly stringent oversight designed for Wall Street giants

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said in its Quarterly Banking Profile report for the third quarter that bank earnings hit 2025 highs as falling provision costs, wider margins and steady credit quality lifted industry profitability.