Regulatory reform

Federal Reserve Board Gov. Jerome Powell stopped short of endorsing any single housing finance reform plan, but called on lawmakers to resolve what he described as the biggest unfinished business of the crisis.

The renewed debate on reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is focused on how small and midsize banks would be affected.

From the largest banks to the smallest independents, policymakers want to hear the mortgage industry speak with one voice in the critical efforts to reform the government-sponsored enterprises.

Both parties appear interested in a deal on housing finance reform, but tough fights are ahead.

The advanced approach has limited value, eliminating it has no downside risks and regulators have better tools at their disposal.

With lawmakers bracing for a major policy undertaking to reform the government-sponsored enterprises, they can take comfort that they don’t need to start from scratch.

The Main Street GSE Reform Coalition offered three principles: creating a capital buffer for Fannie and Freddie, continuing with reforms by their regulator and ending the conservatorship that began in 2008.

The Senate is set to begin teeing up housing finance reform discussions at a Banking Committee hearing on Thursday, but many are skeptical that Congress will be able to succeed where it has failed in the past.

A key question for the future of housing finance is whether large and small lenders will both be able to compete, or will a new system favor Wall Street giants?

In his short time in office, acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith Noreika has already taken public digs at two other banking agencies and signaled he isn't going to play it safe.

President Trump plans to tap nominees to head the independent financial regulators that will be more willing to listen to industry than past heads, a senior White House official said Thursday.

Federal regulators supported several changes the banking industry has been seeking in an appearance before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, acknowledging the need to limit the Volcker Rule and better define systemically important banks.

Housing finance reform discussions are heating up and there's a growing sense that legislation can be enacted sooner rather than later. Here's why.

The Financial Choice Act contains many positive reforms for community banks, but a provision affording benefits for holding loans on balance sheet poses risk for small lenders.

Though James Clinger has been a top aide to House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, observers said the FDIC chair nominee's views may differ.

The administration’s regulatory blueprint would undermine the calculation of the so-called leverage ratio, a key ingredient in determining large banks’ capital strength.

While the bill recently passing the House is right to do away with overly burdensome regulations of Dodd-Frank, it is wrong to leave government without adequate tools to protect the financial system.

Readers chime in on the GSE conservatorships, bitcoin’s future, regulatory relief for regional banks, a recent Supreme Court ruling on debt collection, and more.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo sounded optimistic Thursday about reaching a bipartisan deal for regulatory relief, but a hearing once again emphasized the gulf between what lawmakers are likely to pass and what the industry is seeking.

The legislation passed by the House to roll back Obama-era regulations is being touted as vital for small banks, but the bill’s main beneficiaries are elite megabanks.