Regulation

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac gave $186 million to the National Housing Trust Fund, their first such contributions to a fund designed to provide construction and rehabilitation of rental housing for low-income families.

A left-leaning group is attacking one of the most prominent Democrats in Washington as being insufficiently tough on payday lenders. The ad shows how once-obscure financial issues are commanding a higher profile this election season.

Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry's unexpected announcement this week that his agency may craft new guidelines to deal with de-risking is generating concerns from bankers instead of putting them at ease.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is exploring ways to use $40 million it received as part of a private-label securities settlement to support small-business development and job creation to help future homebuyers.

The international panel issued a consultative document outlining suggested updates to its so-called Pillar III disclosure rules, including simple and comparable metrics for market risk, counterparty credit risk, operational risk and Total Loss Absorbing Capacity.

Ray Grace, North Carolina's banking commissioner, believes federal bank regulators should embrace charters for banks dedicated to innovation. Doing so, he said, would help the banking industry secure its spot as a "laboratory for change."

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and our social media platforms.

Startups, including one in the virtual currency field, have approached the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency about applying for banking charters, the agency's chief counsel said Thursday.

President Obama put pressure on regulators this week to finish their long-delayed rule governing executive compensation, but by the time it gets implemented, much of the work may have already been done.

It could take months before lawmakers approve a successor for departing NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz, and industry observers believe issues like supplemental capital could be on hold until that replacement takes office.