News Topic: Policymaking

The purpose of the stress tests program is to reassure the public that the banking system is safe, but the stress tests are not an independent assessment of financial institutions’ actual strength. ... Read full article

The massive flooding in Texas is sure to put pressure on lawmakers to resolve differences over the National Flood Insurance Program, but a short-term extension of the program is still the most likely scenario. ... Read full article

Blackwell, the longtime Washington bureau chief, will succeed Marc Hochstein, who is leaving the company in September. ... Read full article

It is reasonable to rethink the role of state usury laws in national credit markets, but there should not be any erosion of consumer protections. ... Read full article

Republicans are already accusing CFPB Director Richard Cordray of misusing his job as a fundraising platform while many agency allies want him to stay. ... Read full article

With the deadline for a federal-debt-limit renewal nearly a month away, bankers are dreading the prospect of higher funding costs, strained liquidity, weaker commercial loan demand and other ramifications if Washington does not act. ... Read full article

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued a proposal Wednesday that would raise the appraisal threshold for CRE loans to $400,000 from $250,000. ... Read full article

Not only did Walmart's bid for an industrial loan company galvanize bankers, it also turned the ILC world upside down. ... Read full article

The banking industry had mostly good news in the FDIC's Quarterly Banking Profile, with higher profits helped by interest income. But there were worrying signs too, including a big jump in credit card chargeoffs. ... Read full article

Contrary to the view of some, technology has not rendered the Community Reinvestment Act obsolete. But everyone seems to agree that it should be reformed. ... Read full article

Higher net interest income and modest growth in expenses helped boost bank earnings by 10.7%, the FDIC said in its Quarterly Banking Profile. ... Read full article

The Republican push to lower the corporate tax rate is already having an impact on banks and other investors in low-income housing tax credits. ... Read full article

A federal regulator has agreed to review an advisory prohibiting Canadian credit unions from using the words "bank" or "banking" in their marketing, but some say it will take more than that before credit unions can truly compete with ... Read full article

The Trump administration says it has put a stop to Operation Choke Point, a controversial initiative aimed at discouraging financial institutions from servicing high-risk businesses. ... Read full article

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. will release its industry earnings report for the second quarter on Aug. 22. ... Read full article

As the interest of fintech firms in the banking system brings a focus on the industrial bank charter once again to Washington, it is necessary to dispel a few misconceptions. ... Read full article

Readers weigh in on a proposal to ease the leverage ratio, how post-crisis regulations have influenced lending, a CFPB overdraft fee study, and more. ... Read full article

While acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith Noreika's criticism that the FDIC is hampering the creation of new banks may have had merit in the past, the agency has fixed many problems. ... Read full article