Politics

The banking industry has long been critical of the government-sponsored enterprise, but the system could provide valuable banking services to large swaths of the country currently lacking access to them.

Borrowers and financial institutions may be feeling the strain from reduced operations at the FHA and IRS, which has suspended the release of certain income documentation during the budget impasse.

In her New Year’s message, CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger called on the agency to ensure that consumers are treated fairly and that “the marketplace is innovating.”

With its bolstered fundraising cache, the Mortgage Bankers Association Political Action Committee should hold an increased influence over the industry's policy and regulation issues in the coming year.

The announcement rescinded the agency's earlier guidance issued to industry partners to suspend sales operations as a result of the current lapse in funding from Congress.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., will take the gavel on the Financial Services Committee next term.

There is no banking crisis, but the president’s actions are threatening to create one.

Kathy Kraninger's first official action as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is to reverse course on acting chief Mick Mulvaney's effort to rename it the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, which consumer groups and others had sharply criticized as confusing and costly.

The Trump appointee officially took over for Mick Mulvaney as head of the agency following her Senate confirmation last week.

Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee are expected to shine a spotlight on Trump-appointed regulators, but that light might shine brightest on one agency in particular.

Reps. Lacy Clay and Emanuel Cleaver, both from Missouri, have shown interest in running the panel that could be a focal point in efforts to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The Democrat, who will likely head the Financial Services Committee, has signaled she'll make expanded housing opportunities for lower-income consumers a top priority.

Lawmakers have had to extend the program eight times since October 2017, as Congress has been unable to pass broader reforms.

The end of one-party rule in Washington could move the needle on efforts to devise a new housing finance framework.

Mortgage rates rose significantly across the board as the economy continued to show resilience with strong business activity and growth in employment, according to Freddie Mac.

Real estate and mortgage industry groups outspent proponents 3-to-1 to defeat Proposition 10, a measure to allow California municipalities to set local rent control laws.

The midterm elections virtually eliminate the chance that progress will be made on financial services legislation.

The presumptive chair of the House Financial Services Committee will likely take the panel in a sharply new direction and have a new bully pulpit to criticize the Trump administration.

The focus since the 2016 election on easing rules, tax cuts and expanding access to credit is about to be turned on its head.

Several Senate, House and gubernatorial battles are of interest to financial firms. Here is a spotlight on specific contests, with updates as they become available.