Regulation

Key advocacy organizations are negotiating a community benefits agreement with Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp. Until a deal is reached, they are vowing not to back approval of the $8 billion acquisition.

The Columbus, Ohio, bank plans to cut the price to consumers who spend more than they have from $36 to $15. In another change designed to help customers who live paycheck to paycheck, it will start offering instant access to check deposits.

Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., said at an American Bankers Association summit that if Republicans win majority control of the House in the upcoming congressional elections, they would “unleash the free market” by pursuing innovation-friendly policies.

Mary McNiff, who has been in the job since 2020, will step into a new, unspecified role later this year. CEO Jane Fraser, who is dealing with the aftermath of two consent orders, has said that updates to the company’s risk management systems are her top priority.

The $7.6 billion deal was originally expected to close in the fourth quarter of last year, but the banks had pushed back their deadline until June. Once the merger is complete, the combined bank will have more than $200 billion in assets.

A judge’s decision puts new pressure on the brokerage industry watchdog and the SEC.

The Canadian banking giant established a nine-month window to finish its $13.4 billion purchase of First Horizon, which could be challenging given the tighter regulatory scrutiny of bank M&A. After November, the price tag will go up.