OCC nominee Gould aims to ‘shine a spotlight’ on de-banking

“I think too often reputation risk is used as a pre-text for other motives,” Jonathan Gould, an OCC veteran President Donald Trump tapped to lead the agency, told lawmakers at a hearing.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 27, 2025

CFPB pushes to vacate Townstone settlement, refund mortgage lender

The bureau identified the redlining case against Townstone Financial as “abusive” and “unjust” and plans to make the company whole by returning the $105,000 penalty it paid. 

By Rajashree Chakravarty • March 27, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

M&A

President Donald Trump’s reelection was predicted to yield loosened regulation. But tariff volatility and economic uncertainty has thrown a wrench into an expected boom in mergers and acquisitions.

By Banking Dive staff

Republicans air CFPB grievances, jockey for changes at agency

Rep. Andy Barr, R-KY, called the bureau an “Orwellian predator,” at a hearing where several lawmakers proposed reforms, including making the bureau a five-member commission.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 26, 2025

FDIC ‘plans to eradicate’ focus on reputational risk

Two bank regulators and the head of the Senate Banking Committee have called to put an end to a regulatory focus on reputational risk this month.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • March 26, 2025

Fed hands Tennessee bank a cease-and-desist order

The central bank identified weaknesses in Frankewing Bancshares’ operations, including its inability to provide financial and managerial support to the bank.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • March 25, 2025

JPMorgan rebrands DEI, leaves net-zero group

The bank said it will swap in “opportunity” for “equity” in its DEI policy and that it left Net-Zero Asset Managers over the group’s operational pause.

By Lamar Johnson • March 24, 2025

Fed’s Bowman: Let’s rethink negative comment review for bank applications

Commonwealth Business Bank applied to open a branch in New Jersey last September, but one adverse comment routed the application to the central bank’s board for review and vote, the potential supervision czar said.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 24, 2025

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

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