SIFIs

U.S banks have come a long way from the early days of the stress tests, when it was unclear if any would pass. The majority of banks easily cleared the 5% minimum level for capital under the severely adverse scenario as well as the vaguer qualitative test the Federal Reserve Board imposes, suggesting institutions have finally gotten a handle on the process. Still, it's useful to see which banks improved from last year, as well as the few which fell toward the back of the back.

The vast majority of big banks seem to be getting a handle on the costly, labor-intensive and time-consuming stress-testing process. But for a pair of large banking companies, Santander Holdings USA and Deutsche Bank Trust Corp., the stress tests have so far proven to be an unconquerable challenge.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council announced Wednesday it was rescinding the systemic designation of GE Capital, the first time the interagency body has de-designated a firm.

The legislation to reform the Dodd-Frank Act promotes the idea that the best defense against another crisis is simpler, higher capital requirements, not prescriptive regulations.

The U.K.'s surprise vote last week to leave the European Union has upped the ante for the banks taking part in the Federal Reserve Board's second round of stress tests on Wednesday.

After the United Kingdom's surprising vote to exit the European Union, the financial markets are in turmoil and U.S. banks are left trying to assess their risks.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., slammed a House GOP bill to reform financial regulation on Thursday, arguing it is being misrepresented by its author, Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling.

Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen signaled Wednesday that the central bank could support a House Republican effort to reduce banks' regulatory burden in return for institutions holding higher capital, but said such a deal should only be open to small banks.

The Federal Reserve Board's top two leaders on Wednesday defended the authority for resolving large company failures against criticism that the policy is a continuation of "too big to fail."

Federal regulators will take decisive action if the biggest banks fail to improve their living wills by October, Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen pledged to lawmakers on Tuesday.