Ebrima Santos Sanneh

Donald Trump's second administration is widely expected to be far less skeptical of bank mergers than the Biden administration has been, but industry experts say that political opposition to big bank mergers and business considerations will still be roadblocks.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s newly installed Acting Chairman Travis Hill issued a statement laying out his priorities for the agency, including reviewing and repealing Biden-era bank regulations, a softer approach to fintech and crypto and addressing so-called debanking.

Scott Bessent, Donald Trump's pick to serve as Treasury Secretary, handled a policy-heavy confirmation hearing with poise, highlighting his preference for relaxed bank regulation, support of the 2017 Trump tax cuts and a hawkish approach to spending.

Hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Treasury Secretary, will appear before the Senate Finance Committee for his confirmation hearing Thursday morning starting at 10:30 am.

A cohort of bank industry interest groups called for the incoming Trump administration to pause all pending bank regulation and litigation and extend the timelines for implementing final rules issued by the Biden administration.

In a speech outlining his priorities for the FDIC, Vice Chair Travis Hill stressed the need for a more flexible regulatory approach, addressing capital requirements, digital assets, climate policy, and bank oversight, while emphasizing transparency and timely action.

While most of the Biden administration's prudential banking regulations can't be overturned under the Congressional Review Act, late-breaking rules by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's M&A rules could be overturned.

Proposals to streamline U.S. banking regulators have resurfaced with the Trump administration's focus on efficiency, but experts and history suggest such changes are unlikely amid political and industry resistance.

The Arkansas Republican pledges to reduce excessive regulation and align financial policies with GOP goals.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s Q3 Quarterly Banking Profile report highlighted net bank income falling 8.6%, but also showed slow delinquency growth in commercial real estate and core income metrics improving across the banking sector.

President-elect Donald Trump may opt to bypass Democratic suggestions for minority party seats on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s board of directors, setting up potential conflicts with Senate leadership over regulatory appointments.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council's annual report underscores mounting challenges in commercial real estate, escalating cyber threats, and regulatory gaps in third-party services and stablecoins, urging stronger oversight and legislative action.

Wall Street has cheered President-elect Trump's selection of Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury because of his moderating influence and expertise, but his profile as an establishment figure in an anti-establishment administration could undermine his authority.

Gruenberg, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s longest-serving board member, will step down in January, marking the end of an era after nearly 20 years on the agency's board of directors.

The incoming Trump administration is expected to prioritize an activities-based oversight approach to nonbank entities, just as the Biden administration has. It may also leave its designation power intact, but unused.

Experts anticipate that Trump's victory and expected shifts in regulatory leadership will delay finalizing Biden-era capital rules for large banks, with new officials likely favoring a less stringent Basel III framework and softer capital requirements.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced an initiative aimed at enhancing financial inclusion. The plan includes calling on U.S. banks to participate in upholding fairness and expanding consumer financial access.

Federal Reserve Board Gov. Christopher Waller argued that while decentralized finance technologies can reduce reliance on intermediaries and enhance efficiency, they ultimately pair well with centralized finance.

Agencies must now provide clearer justifications for their interpretations, while Congress needs to draft more precise legislation. The decision could empower banks to challenge agency rules more frequently and potentially prolong regulatory processes, with courts giving less deference to agency interpretations.

After months of anticipation, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr is set to lay out the path forward for the interagency regulatory capital reform effort known as the Basel III endgame on Tuesday.