Politics

President-elect Trump's embrace of cryptocurrency and decentralized finance is a political gambit that has already paid off. But greenlighting crypto's intermingling with traditional finance would create an asset bubble that would be especially painful to pop.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a proposal to protect consumer data privacy and categorize data brokers that sell sensitive consumer data as "consumer reporting agencies" under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a move that could garner bipartisan support.

Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller said the central bank's last framework review was too focused on the post-global financial crisis period and difficult to explain.

Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller, a Trump appointee, said that while recent inflation readings are concerning, monetary policy would remain restrictive even if the central bank cuts interest rates by another quarter-point this month.

The two bills would require banking agencies to study artificial intelligence and its application in the banking sector, and would codify findings from an earlier AI working group formed by the committee.

Wall Street has cheered President-elect Trump's selection of Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury because of his moderating influence and expertise, but his profile as an establishment figure in an anti-establishment administration could undermine his authority.

The U.S. is well behind other countries in implementing open banking and delivering its benefits to customers. Brazil's success in that area can serve as a useful model.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has long been a target for conservative ire, but dismantling it would require Congress' cooperation.

November's roundup includes consumer doubts plaguing the reputation of USAA, reviews of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's actions and more.

"Too big to fail" banking giants like to masquerade as community banks when it suits their purposes, but they will never be able to replace real, local bankers with deep ties to their customers.