Politics

Lawsuits challenging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's final rule on medical debt are the latest issues facing banks ahead of Donald Trump's return.

In what is likely his final speech before resigning as chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Martin Gruenberg warned that novel products and services heralded as "innovation" often lead to financial crises without appropriate attention to market and supervisory fundamentals.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued fines amounting to $18.5 million to three former Wells Fargo executives in response to unsafe sales practices from 2013 to 2016.

The finalized rule adds flexibility to the capital rules applied to the Federal Home Loan banks to help them extend credit to their members.

The bank didn't give some existing customers the higher rates it was offering new customers, the agency alleged. The bank said it would fight the suit, which comes just days before the Trump administration takes over the regulator.

Leadership appointments and an influx of new crypto-friendly lawmakers suggest the 119th Congress could be the most fintech and crypto-friendly in years.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a proposed rule that would protect consumers from abusive contract provisions modeled on the Federal Trade Commission's credit-practices rule.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's research found that the majority of buy now/pay later users are subprime borrowers, holding high credit card balances and multiple loans, suggesting the offering is riskier to lenders than previously assumed.

A cohort of bank industry interest groups called for the incoming Trump administration to pause all pending bank regulation and litigation and extend the timelines for implementing final rules issued by the Biden administration.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. granted nonbank investment firm BlackRock an extra month to come to an agreement with the agency over its substantial stakes in certain FDIC-regulated firms, a matter that Republicans and Democrats have both expressed concern about.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued separate policy statements on "sandbox approvals" and no-action letters for fintechs — measures whose longevity is questionable with the incoming Trump administration.

In a speech outlining his priorities for the FDIC, Vice Chair Travis Hill stressed the need for a more flexible regulatory approach, addressing capital requirements, digital assets, climate policy, and bank oversight, while emphasizing transparency and timely action.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an interpretive rule and a separate request for information aimed at Big Tech companies, digital payments and crypto assets.

The Labor Department estimates the economy added 256,000 jobs in December, indicating a resilient economy and labor market. For the Federal Reserve, which was already signaling a slowdown in rate cuts, the reading could justify holding rates steady.

Seen by many as a logical pick for the Federal Reserve's next vice chair for supervision, Gov. Michelle Bowman wants the institution to focus on safety and soundness issues, tailoring and transparency.

Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., will take the No. 2 spot on the House Financial Services Committee, while Reps. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania and Mike Flood of Nebraska are elevated to subcommittee leadership.

While most of the Biden administration's prudential banking regulations can't be overturned under the Congressional Review Act, late-breaking rules by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's M&A rules could be overturned.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said it would undertake a rule to regulate large participants in the personal loan market and consider a joint rulemaking with the Federal Reserve on check and ATM hold times.

Several crypto-friendly voices join the Senate Banking Committee from Nebraska and Ohio, while Democrats leave a banking policy expert off the House Financial Services Committee.

In a Wednesday morning speech, the Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller said President-elect Donald Trump's nascent trade policy will likely lead to a one-time jump in prices rather than broader inflationary pressure. He also said he expects further interest rate cuts in 2025.