How Trump’s institutional investor homebuying ban could impact loans
President Trump’s concept, which is framed as a potential bipartisan effort, could mean a new route to a goal Dems targeted via foreclosure sale restrictions.
As QT ends, bank regulators now hold the real growth lever
As the Federal Reserve’s quantitative tightening efforts fade into history, the major engine of economic growth in the U.S. will be bank lending. Regulators should keep a close eye on where those dollars are going.
Labor market ends 2025 with weak December job growth
Employers added 50,000 jobs in December, with gains in service industries while broader sectors remained mostly flat, supporting the Fed’s cautious stance on further rate cuts.
OCC moves to formalize non-fiduciary activities for trust banks
The proposed rule codifies the ability for trust companies to conduct non-fiduciary activities, something banks say Congress never intended, but that OCC says has long been the case.
KeyBank allegedly sought forgiveness on fraudulent PPP loans
The bank fired a manager for originating suspicious loans but later asked the SBA to forgive them, prosecutors say. The case ended in a $7.7 million settlement.
Fed to reopen penny deposits after industry outcry
The Federal Reserve will resume accepting pennies from banks and credit unions at all commercial coin distribution locations beginning Jan. 14, a move that bankers praised as a necessary change as the nation phases out the one-cent coin.
Conflict of interest concerns cloud Trump firm’s banking bid
Banking experts say World Liberty Trust’s application for a trust charter with a regulatory body directed by the White House creates inherent conflicts of interest, while the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said the application will be considered on its merits.
Dutch neobank Bunq reapplies for a U.S. bank charter
The Netherlands-based digital bank Bunq filed its second U.S. charter application this week after successfully receiving a broker-deal license late last year.
AI startup Pluto launches private market lending platform
Investors in alternative assets like private equity, private capital and venture capital often lock their money in for years, but Pluto’s founders say its marketplace matches these wealthy investors who need cash with banks and investment firms willing to lend against those illiquid assets.
Broad global uptake of dollar-denominated stablecoins is no sure thing
Noelle Acheson questions the optimistic forecasts of global dollar stablecoin adoption, pointing out that they overlook the friction of local politics.