The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network fined a New York credit union employee $100,000 Wednesday in connection with a scheme to launder $1 billion using armored trucks and the credit union's Fed master account.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency fined City National Bank $65 million for a litany of risk management problems, including inadequate management of third-party risks and fraud risk management.

Large and regional banks are taking different approaches to buybacks in light of the proposed new capital rules. Some plan to buy back stock at moderate levels this year, while others say they will to remain on the sidelines until there is more clarity about the reforms.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell suggested that a rate cut is coming, but cast doubt about whether the central bank would see enough data suggesting inflation is sufficiently tamed for interest rates to come down at their next meeting.

Challenger banks, like traditional banks, are under pressure to operate with fewer expenses. Artificial intelligence is part of the answer, and the impact on the workforce may be profound.

The Seattle-based buyer now expects to finalize the deal in February, gaining entrance to California and eclipsing $30 billion of assets. The acquisition had initially been slated to close in mid-2023.