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.
OceanFirst to buy Flushing, raise $225M from Warburg Pincus
New Jersey-based OceanFirst Financial slid in its planned $579 million acquisition of Flushing Financial just before the end of the year. The private equity firm Warburg Pincus is also participating in the transaction.
OCC moves to limit toughest standards to megabanks
Under a proposed rule, the agency would let most nationally chartered firms off the hook for heightened regulatory standards. The rule would raise the bar from $50 billion to $700 billion of assets and leave only eight firms subject to heightened regulation.
Most-read technology articles of 2025
Stories about data breaches, fraud and one neobank were reader favorites this year.
The coming year will be pivotal for the Federal Reserve
The Federal Reserve is slated to undertake a number of important rules and regulations in 2026, but decisions around agency leadership and the Trump administration’s avowed effort to exert greater control over the central bank are likely to leave a lasting legacy at the agency.
Press Release: FDIC Publishes Enforcement Orders for November 2025
PRESS RELEASE | DECEMBER 29, 2025 FDIC Publishes Enforcement Orders for November 2025 WASHINGTON – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today published a list of orders of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in November 2025. There are no administrative hearings scheduled for January 2026. Consent Order: SouthPoint Bank, Birmingham, Alabama Orders […]
Don’t underestimate the marketing might of ‘kid stuff’
National ad campaigns are impressive. But few things create more goodwill or lasting impact than visible, hands-on support of a community’s youth, no matter the size of the bank.
Mobile wallet trends for banks to watch in 2026
Consumer appetite for mobile wallets is growing, challenging banks to innovate to stay ahead.