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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau featured in three of our most read articles of last year, while two others were about the disruptor Ripple. Other highlights included our annual Women in Banking package, the aftermath of the Equifax data breach and news of Amazon's possible banking plans.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Senator Jeff Sessions, a Republican from Alabama, speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Sessions will warn at his confirmation hearing Tuesday of a "dangerous trend" in violent crime and vow to better defend police while tackling accusations that he'll gut civil rights, as he seeks to become President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general. Photographer: Pete Marovich/Bloomberg

Justice Department turns against CFPB in constitutionality case

The Justice Department told a federal appeals court that President Trump should have the authority to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

(Full story here.)
Morgan Stanley veteran Zoe Cruz joins Ripple's board of directors.

Zoe Cruz joins Ripple board of directors

The blockchain startup continues to pack its board with mainstream finance experts.

(Full story here.)
A monitor displays Equifax signage on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
A monitor displays Equifax Inc. signage on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. The dollar fell to the weakest in more than two years, while stocks were mixed as natural disasters damped expectations for another U.S. rate increase this year. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg

Seven aftershocks of the Equifax breach: What bankers need to know

One lawsuit has already been filed against Equifax in the wake of its massive security failure. But that’s the just beginning of the consequences for the credit bureau and the banks that use it.

(Full story here.)
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse.

Inside Ripple's plan to make money move as fast as information

Most fintech startups fall into one of two camps: those that want to compete with banks and those that want to save banks from themselves. Ripple is the rare exception that wants to do both.

(Full story here.)
From left to right: Barb Godin, Chief Credit Officer of Regions Financial; Hannah Grove, Chief Marketing Officer of State Street; and Sandie O'Connor, Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer of JPMorgan Chase.

Women in Banking: The Most Powerful in 2017

The Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance are reshaping not only their institutions, but also their industry. And each is doing so in her own unique way.

(Full story here.)
Jeff Bezos, president and chief executive officer of Amazon.com.

Why are Amazon, PayPal meeting with bank regulators?

Meetings between bank regulators and technology giants like Amazon and PayPal underscore Silicon Valley's growing involvement in the financial services arena, and may presage pursuit of a bank charter.

(Full story here.)
President Trump's announcement of Paris Agreement withdrawal
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an announcement in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, June 1, 2017. Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris climate pact and that he will seek to renegotiate the international agreement in a way that treats American workers better. Photographer: T.J. Kirkpatrick/Bloomberg

Trump signs resolution killing CFPB arbitration rule

With little fanfare, President Trump officially nixed the rule prohibiting financial firms from including mandatory arbitration clauses.

(Full story here.)
Senator Mike Crapo, a Republican from Idaho and chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, makes an opening statement during a hearing in Washington on the Equifax cybersecurity breach.

Senate votes to repeal CFPB arbitration rule in win for financial institutions

Republicans were able to use an obscure legislative process to overturn a rule that banks and credit unions feared would raise their litigation costs.

(Full story here.)
IBM's cyber range.
IBM Cyber Security X-Force Command Center Cambridge, MA (John Mottern/Feature Photo Service for IBM)

Inside Wells Fargo's cybersecurity war room

Large banks like Wells Fargo have started using "cyber ranges" and "red teams" to respond to real cyberattacks on virtual versions of their real systems.

(Full story here.)
Composite image of signage for JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, American Express, and Bank of America.

B of A, JPMorgan, Wells, Amex launch vendor management firm

TruSight will assess, validate and monitor vendors on behalf of the consortium, which is expected to expand.

(Full story here.)
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