Law and regulation

Donald Trump was sworn in Friday, but banking industry executives have spent the last two months envisioning a vastly different political, economic and regulatory climate. The dominant question in coming months will be how realistic those expectations are.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Friday that the reduction in mortgage insurance premiums “has been suspended indefinitely.”

It should surprise no one that the cybersecurity rules regulators are drafting are simplistic and written in one size to fit all.

In a candid, in-depth exit interview, Ted Tozer discusses Ginnie Mae's growth during his seven years at the agency's helm, the need for comprehensive housing finance reform, big banks' retreat from mortgages, counterparty risk management and more.

Rising interest rates typically cause lenders to relax underwriting guidelines. The incoming administration promises to deregulate. Sounds like a combustible mix, but there's ample room to loosen credit without returning to the practices that caused the crisis.

And the next HUD chief might eventually rescind it altogether.

Just days before President Obama will leave office, the White House released a white paper advocating for the U.S. government to engage in efforts to promote the fintech industry.

Leadership of the Senate Banking Committee came into fuller view on Tuesday with the announcement of subcommittee assignments.

Critics say the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is moving too far and too fast in its effort to offer a fintech charter, overlooking skepticism that it lacks sufficient legal authority.

The bank is first to fail in New Jersey since 2012.

Violations of Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money-laundering compliance remain a hot topic for financial institutions as regulators can bar them from branch building and bank acquisitions. Here are some notable regulatory actions that are still unresolved.

A top official with the incoming Trump administration said Thursday that the president-elect is considering former Rep. Randy Neugebauer to run the CFPB, the first clear sign that he intends to dismiss Richard Cordray.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader responses to AmericanBanker.com articles, social media, and from around the web.

An international regulatory body outlined a series of recommendations for reducing risks posed by the asset management industry, particularly increasing liquidity and reducing leverage posed by derivatives positions.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday warned about the risks of the online debt sales, alleging that sensitive personal and financial information is available in some instances to any visitor to a debt marketplace website.

Treasury Secretary-designate Steven Mnuchin will divest himself of his investments and interests in a number of companies and funds once confirmed, including a fund that has bet on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac being recapitalized and released from government control.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's decision to offer a special-purpose charter for fintech firms may entice more players than expected.

HUD Secretary-designate Ben Carson is all but certain to get confirmed to his post—unless he makes a major mistake during his confirmation hearing.

Simple innovations -- such as those that would bring the underbanked into the financial mainstream -- are often stymied by regulation, says Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan.

Attorney General-designate Sen. Jeff Sessions R-Ala., could pose a roadblock for marijuana businesses seeking financial services, but might also end a controversial Justice Department program targeting payment processors and financial institutions.