OCC to stop examining for reputational risk

“The OCC has not and does not make business decisions for banks,” Acting Comptroller Rodney Hood said, adding that future exams will focus on more transparent risk areas.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • March 21, 2025

FDIC OIG report underscores attrition, brain drain concerns at regulator

Skill loss is a key risk as examiners leave the FDIC, “especially those with advanced IT skillsets who examine risks at the most complex banks,” the watchdog’s report said.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 21, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Artificial intelligence

Banks are enthusiastic about AI’s promises. But can they get customers on board, and will regulators let the innovation happen?

By Banking Dive staff

SEC to drop Ripple case

“I'm heartened that we have paved the way for other industry players to see the value in not backing down ... We are now closing a chapter in crypto history,” CEO Brad Garlinghouse said.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • March 20, 2025

Citi shrinks execs’ bonuses over tech revamp

Senior leaders were paid just 68% of 2024’s target, the bank said in a proxy filing, citing slower progress on regulatory issues.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 19, 2025

OCC terminates 2021 Wells Fargo consent order, leaving bank with 3

Regulators have terminated 11 consent orders against Wells since 2019, including five so far this year. The bank's asset cap, however, remains.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • March 18, 2025

Fintech SmartBiz buys Illinois bank

Initially, the fintech considered obtaining its own charter, but decided it made more sense to find a lender open to acquisition that could complement SmartBiz’s strengths, said CEO Evan Singer.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 18, 2025

Trump Organization lawsuit raises questions on Capital One-Discover deal

Capital One needs three U.S. approvals to proceed with its $35.3 billion purchase of Discover. Could a Trump Organization lawsuit against the bank spell trouble?

By Justin Bachman • March 18, 2025

Trump nominates Bowman as Fed’s next vice chair for supervision

The longtime central bank governor often served as a vocal counterpoint during Michael Barr's tenure, on issues such as stress tests, bank merger policy and CRA revisions.

By Dan Ennis • March 18, 2025

Northern Trust exec: Crypto rule changes may ease tokenization

Biden-era anti-crypto regulations didn’t just affect volatile digital assets. They also affected firms offering traditional assets, like bonds, on the blockchain.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • March 17, 2025

Fed OKs Renasant, EverBank acquisitions

The central bank issued two approvals Friday, allowing two Mississippi banks to merge in a $1.2 billion deal, and EverBank to acquire components of Sterling Bank for $261 million. Both deals are set to close April 1.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 17, 2025

JPMorgan: Women unlikely to reach parity with men for 134 years

In C-suites worldwide, women are far from attaining equal status, holding only about 10% of the most powerful roles such as CEO and CFO.

By Jim Tyson • March 17, 2025

CFPB must rehire terminated probationary employees: court

Workers received no advance notice or performance-based assessments ahead of the dismissals, a judge ruled. A judge in a separate case said he would not prevent CFPB leaders from returning the bureau’s reserve funds.

By Dan Ennis • March 14, 2025

Webster eyes $100B threshold, invests in hiring and tech

The Connecticut-based bank aims to hire about 200 people this year, including adding about two dozen technology and cybersecurity employees, Webster’s CIO said.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 14, 2025

Judge in CFPB case ‘leaning’ toward injunction

Efforts to gut the bureau may still be going forward. A defense attorney, meanwhile, tried to highlight the differences between DOGE’s actions and those of the CFPB’s new leadership.

By Dan Ennis • March 12, 2025

NYDFS chief details changes spurred by Signature failure

The regulator implemented new escalation protocols and an operational stress testing exercise to keep a closer eye on the “C students” under its watch, Adrienne Harris said Tuesday.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 12, 2025

Pathward CEO: Regulatory scrutiny of BaaS ‘just getting started’

Regulators will keep BaaS under the microscope, continuing to put pressure on the space and contributing to fewer banks in the space, expects Brett Pharr, the bank’s CEO.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 12, 2025

Warren slams Fed over accountability on SVB execs

On the second anniversary of the bank’s failure, the senator chastised the central bank for failing to complete rulemakings to prevent similar future collapses.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • March 11, 2025

OCC shifts gears on crypto

The interpretive letter issued Friday, advising banks on engaging in certain crypto-asset activities, rescinded Biden-era guidance issued in 2021.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • March 10, 2025

CFPB raced against impending court order on 1,175 layoffs

Agency officials prepared a list of targeted firings in the hours before a judge ordered a halt Feb. 14. The CFPB’s chief operating officer is set to testify this week.

By Dan Ennis • March 10, 2025

Trump Organization accuses ‘woke’ Capital One of de-banking

The lender de-banked some 300 Trump Organization accounts because it believed “the political tide at the moment favored doing so,” a lawsuit contends. Eric Trump has suggested more big banks may be targeted.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 10, 2025

Comerica urges judge not to give CFPB more time on lawsuit

The stay requested by the CFPB would prolong the harm Comerica is experiencing due to the “meritless” lawsuit, the bank said.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • March 7, 2025

Scott introduces bill to drop ‘reputational risk’ metric

The Republican senator argues using reputational risk in bank supervision is problematic because it’s not statutorily required, and it represents an improper use of authority.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • March 7, 2025

McKernan CFPB nod advances to full Senate

The Senate Banking Committee voted 13-11 along party lines to put the former FDIC board member in charge of the CFPB despite “disqualifying responses” to questions posed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

By Dan Ennis • March 7, 2025

Killing the CFPB would create a vacuum, ex-insider says

Large banks and payment players might enjoy lighter regulation if the CFPB disappears, but should be careful what they wish for, says David Silberman, a former senior administrator for the bureau.

By Justin Bachman • March 7, 2025

CFPB refreshes website, details stop-work miscommunication

Visits to the bureau’s site lead to a consumer complaint page. Meanwhile, a federal court received 100 pages of internal documents, including a fiery note to a supervision executive.

By Dan Ennis • March 6, 2025