Why tariffs, inflation could thwart community banks’ growth

Small lenders produced net interest margin expansion in the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to interest rate cuts in the second half of 2024. Festering inflation, however, threatens to lead to rate increases that could stall their momentum.

Trump DOJ lawyer Jeffrey Clark joins the CFPB

The Trump administration has installed Jeffrey Clark, a former high-ranking official in the first Trump administration, at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Clark had been indicted as part of the president’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Judge agrees to immediately halt further CFPB firings

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson agreed to temporarily block the Trump administration from firing more CPFB employees and said the White House could not delete or destroy any of the bureau’s data or databases.

Provident hires ex-TD exec as new chief lending officer

Provident Bank announces its new chief lending officer; the SEC’s acting chairman asks a federal court to delay scheduling cases involving a rule on climate-related disclosure; the merger deadline for Capital One Financial’s proposed acquisition of Discover Financial Services is extended; and more in this week’s banking news roundup.