The changing of the guard at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and hope among bankers for mergers and acquisitions activity are popular items this month.

Federal agencies have a little more than two weeks to devise plans for achieving significant staff reductions and cost savings.

Changes are needed to shore up the agency's finances and guarantee the integrity of its flagship 7(a) lending program, according to a leading trade group.

The Independent Community Bankers of America issued a statement supporting agency independence and called for "careful study" before the administration pursues merging bank regulatory agencies.

House Financial Services Committee ranking member Maxine Waters, D-Calif., asked trade groups representing large banks to detail how their members' compliance regimes have changed since the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was effectively shuttered.

Rising populist sentiment in the Republican Party means that banks will have to work harder to get the same kinds of wins they did in 2017.

While the March 3 submission deadline holds firm, compliance experts suggested guidance inquiries for Home Mortgage Disclosure Act filers could be lacking.

The Justice Department said in a legal brief that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will continue to exist, but said instead that the agency will have fewer employees and a reduced budget under the Trump administration.

During his final week as the Federal Reserve's top regulator, Michael Barr outlined several proposals that he believes would bolster the financial system against emerging risks.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said while bank earnings rose in Q4 2024, smaller banks weren't as fortunate amid realized losses on securities sales.