De novo national banks face a new road map to OCC approval
Conditional approval of a national bank charter used to be a virtual guarantee that an institution would open its doors. But the OCC’s recent treatment of Erebor Bank suggests that banks with conditional approvals still have work to do.
The top 5 legislative battles waiting for Congress in 2026
When Congress returns from its recess in 2026, a number of financial legislative issues will be teed up, including crypto market structure, deposit insurance and supervisory disputes.
Five trends that shaped the credit union industry in 2025
Credit unions hit new highs in membership, deposits and loans in 2025. But it was also a chaotic year for the industry’s governing body, and the sector faced renewed attacks by banks.
Judge blocks effort to allow CFPB funding to run out
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said the administration must request funds from the Federal Reserve, rejecting a Trump DOJ legal theory.
2025 was a big year for earned wage access
The year was marked with six state regulations, new entrants, product and market expansion from existing EWA providers and buy-in from investors.
Press Release: Agencies Release Annual Asset-Size Thresholds Under Community Reinvestment Act Regulations
PRESS RELEASE | DECEMBER 30, 2025 Agencies Release Annual Asset-Size Thresholds Under Community Reinvestment Act Regulations WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation today announced the 2026 updated Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) “small bank” and “intermediate small bank” asset-size thresholds. The CRA regulations establish the framework and criteria by which […]
Top 5 fintech IPOs of 2025
The fintech IPO drought ended this year with several large public exits by firms such as Chime, Klarna and Circle.
Stablecoins will be a key element of banking infrastructure in 2026
As stablecoins become an increasingly prominent feature of the financial landscape, Noelle Acheson gives us her top five trends to watch out for.
Banks can fight back against stablecoins encroaching on payments
There is a narrow window of opportunity for banks to position tokenized deposits as an alternative to stablecoins for customers seeking the convenience of cheap, blockchain-enabled payments.
From cafés to Pokémon Go, banks rethink physical spaces
It’s not just Capital One Cafés; banks all over the country are repurposing branches and offices. Marketing experts call it innovative, but critics say some lenders are crossing a legal boundary between banking and commerce.