Regulatory relief

The banking agencies have proposed weakening several liquidity, capital and stress test requirements without considering the cumulative effect of the many changes being undertaken.

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., crafted a moderate message and will head to the Senate after having backed legislation providing banks with regulatory relief.

Regulators typically write rules before applying them. But the CFPB is attempting the reverse.

Reversing a previous order, the Texas judge granted part of the bureau's request to stay the effective date and allow time for the agency to work on changes to the rule.

Tester is the only Democratic supporter of the recent regulatory relief package sitting on the Banking Committee to win re-election this fall.

Jon Tester is the only Democratic supporter of the recent regulatory relief package sitting on the Banking Committee to win re-election this fall.

Several Senate, House and gubernatorial battles are of interest to financial firms. Here is a spotlight on specific contests, with updates as they become available.

The federal agencies said in a recent statement that “guidance does not have the force and effect of law,” but two trade groups say that standard should be more binding.

The Federal Reserve Board plan to revise its post-crisis framework promises reduced compliance costs and other benefits. But some analysts see the removal of guardrails as increasing failure risk, which may spook investors.

The battle gaining the most attention Tuesday night will be which party controls the House next year. But other key races will help determine the makeup of the Senate Banking Committee.

Regional banks were the ultimate winners in the Federal Reserve’s proposal to tailor supervision, but rules for the biggest banks remained largely unchanged.

The next downturn will come sooner rather than later, so bankers should press policymakers for several core improvements to the financial system before attitudes in Washington change.

In a highly anticipated proposal, the central bank outlined a new approach for its post-crisis supervisory program that divides banks into different tiers based on size.

Payday lenders scored a victory when the bureau committed to proposing changes next year, but they expressed disappointment that the revamp will not address a key payment-processing provision.

The Federal Reserve Board’s meeting to discuss supervisory standards for midsize institutions will be closely watched by regulatory relief advocates and those who want the Fed to maintain its firm hand.

Wells Fargo puts two top execs on leave as scandal's reach grows; regional banks freed from SIFI label lobbying regulators hard for more relief; FDIC to launch innovation office to help banks compete with fintechs; and more from this week's most-read stories.

The agency wants to change underwriting requirements in the regulation that lenders say will put them out of business, and give companies a break on the compliance deadline.

The central bank will hold an open meeting Oct. 31 to discuss changes to the enhanced supervisory regime as required by the regulatory relief bill passed in May.

Despite headlines touting a handful of populist candidates this election season, moderate Democrats will still have a significant role to play if the party takes the chamber in November.

Bankers say the agencies’ proposed rewrite of the trading ban would do more harm than good, while the Volcker Rule’s most ardent supporters worry the overhaul will enable risky behavior by the largest institutions.