Prudential / Capital Requirements in United States
Prudential / Capital Requirements regulatory updates from United States.
We track 102 Prudential / Capital Requirements updates from United States regulators, published by Federal Reserve, OCC and CFTC. The archive covers 27 final rules, 21 speeches and 17 consultations. Most recent update: November 2026. Coverage runs from 2025 to 2026.
On November 5, 2026, the CFTC Division of Clearing and Risk issued a no-action letter permitting derivatives clearing organizations (DCOs) to use trust companies for daily settlements with clearing members. The relief is conditional: the DCO must treat the trust company as a settlement bank under the applicable CFTC requirements, including requirements concerning eligibility, risk management, operational reliability, settlement finality, and business continuity.
Key dates
2026-11-05
CFTC Division of Clearing and Risk issued the no-action letter and accompanying public release addressing trust companies used for daily settlements.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to identify any existing or proposed trust-company settlement arrangements and determine whether each arrangement is being governed under the DCO’s settlement-bank policies and procedures.
DCOs should consider documenting that each trust company satisfies the applicable 17 CFR 39.14 settlement-bank criteria, including capitalization, creditworthiness, liquidity access, operational reliability, and regulatory status.
Firms should consider reviewing account structures, settlement agreements, payment workflows, and legal opinions to confirm that transfers are irrevocable and unconditional no later than the time the relevant DCO or clearing-member account is debited or credited.
DCOs may wish to assess credit, liquidity, concentration, and intraday settlement exposures arising from the use of each trust company and confirm that monitoring, escalation, collateral, and contingency arrangements remain adequate.
Operations and resilience teams may wish to test the trust company’s connectivity, payment-failure procedures, recovery arrangements, and coordination with the DCO’s business-continuity and disaster-recovery plans.
Legal and compliance teams should consider recording the no-action letter’s conditions and limits in the DCO’s regulatory inventory, noting that the relief is staff relief rather than a binding amendment to Part 39 and may not extend to materially different structures or facts.
Clearing members may wish to confirm that their agreements with the DCO and trust company allocate settlement, segregation, insolvency, operational, and account-control risks consistently with the DCO’s approved procedures.
What changed
The letter provides staff no-action relief for a DCO that uses a trust company to conduct daily settlement, notwithstanding the distinction between a trust company and a settlement bank under the CFTC framework. It does not create a generally applicable exemption or amend 17 CFR Part 39; instead, it allows the arrangement provided the trust company is managed and controlled as a settlement bank.
Compliance impact
The impact is moderate and operationally significant for DCOs and clearing members seeking alternative settlement infrastructure, but the publication does not impose a new universal obligation or compliance deadline. Noncompliance with the applicable settlement-bank requirements could expose a DCO to deficiencies in settlement procedures, liquidity and credit-risk controls, settlement finality, operational resilience, and regulatory supervision; the no-action relief should not be read as eliminating those requirements.
Final rule. The NCUA Board (Board) is issuing a final rule adopting as final the revisions to the capital adequacy rule and the member business lending rule made under an interim final rule (IFR) published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2020.
AI Analysis
NCUA adopted without change the April 27, 2020 interim amendments addressing PPP loans and the Federal Reserve’s PPP Loan Facility, effective November 4, 2026. The rule makes permanent treatment that has already been carried forward into current regulations, so federally insured credit unions generally face no new compliance obligation; the practical significance is regulatory certainty for legacy PPP balances and facility-related capital calculations.
Key dates
2020-04-27
NCUA published the interim final rule establishing the PPP risk-weighting, PPP Loan Facility total-asset exclusion, and commercial-loan treatment.
2022-01-01
NCUA’s 2015 risk-based capital final rule became effective; the December 2021 final rule had already carried forward the relevant PPP treatment into the then-current capital adequacy framework.
2026-11-04
The final rule adopting the April 27, 2020 IFR without change becomes effective and is published at 91 FR 69493.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to confirm that risk-based capital reporting continues to assign a 0 percent risk weight only to loans meeting the applicable SBA PPP eligibility and coverage criteria.
Credit unions that pledged PPP loans to the Federal Reserve PPP Loan Facility may wish to verify that the loans remain appropriately identified and excluded from total assets solely for the net worth ratio calculation under 12 CFR 702.2.
Regulatory reporting and finance teams may wish to reconcile PPP-loan classifications across the general ledger, capital calculations, Call Report processes, and supporting documentation.
Lending compliance teams may wish to confirm that qualifying PPP loans are not included as commercial loans for purposes of 12 CFR part 723, while other applicable lending, documentation, servicing, SBA-guarantee, and record-retention requirements remain separately addressed.
Credit unions may wish to retain evidence supporting SBA guarantees, facility pledges, non-recourse funding, and the basis for any regulatory capital exclusions, particularly where legacy PPP balances remain on the balance sheet.
Policy owners may wish to update regulatory inventories to identify the 2026 rule as a finalization of the 2020 IFR rather than as a new operational requirement.
What changed
Under 12 CFR part 702, covered loans issued under the SBA Paycheck Protection Program continue to receive a 0 percent risk weight for risk-based capital purposes. PPP loans pledged as collateral for a non-recourse borrowing through the Federal Reserve’s PPP Loan Facility continue to be excluded from total assets when calculating the net worth ratio under 12 CFR 702.2. Under 12 CFR part 723, PPP loans remain excluded from the definition of commercial loans.
Compliance impact
The impact is low for current operations because NCUA states that the provisions have been effective since April 2020 and do not change existing requirements or practices. The main consequence is continued favorable capital treatment: a 0 percent risk weight for qualifying PPP loans, exclusion of appropriately pledged PPP loans from total assets for the net worth ratio, and exclusion from the part 723 commercial-loan definition.
Interim final rule; request for comments. The NCUA Board (Board) is amending its regulations governing member business loans and commercial lending. This interim final rule eliminates an outdated, transitional provision that is no longer necessary. This action is necessary to reduce regulatory complexity and improve…
Why this matters
The document is an NCUA interim final rule (91 FR 69495) that removes and reserves § 723.9, a transitional provision covering pre-2017 waivers for borrowing relationship limits and ongoing enforcement constraints under part 723 (member business loans and commercial lending).
The Securities and Exchange Commission took another step forward today to assist broker-dealers and other market participants on the path to central clearing of U.S. Treasury securities by issuing exemptive relief related to inter-affiliate repo…
AI Analysis
On October 30, 2026, the SEC granted targeted exemptive relief excluding certain inter-affiliate and non-U.S. Treasury repo transactions from the definition of eligible secondary market transactions subject to the Treasury clearing trade-submission requirement. The relief should reduce operational and cross-border implementation burdens, but it does not eliminate the broader clearing mandate: eligible cash transactions remain subject to the December 31, 2026 compliance date and eligible repo transactions to June 30, 2027.
Key dates
2023-12-13
The SEC adopted the Treasury clearing amendments, including the trade-submission requirement implemented through Exchange Act Rule 17ad-22(e)(18)(iv)(A).
2026-10-30
The SEC issued exemptive relief for specified inter-affiliate and non-U.S. Treasury repo transactions.
2026-12-31 Deadline
Compliance date for applicable eligible secondary market cash transactions involving U.S. Treasury securities.
2027-06-30 Deadline
Compliance date for applicable eligible secondary market repo transactions involving U.S. Treasury securities.
Suggested considerations
Firms should obtain and analyze the operative October 30, 2026 Section 36 exemptive order, including all limits, conditions, definitions, recordkeeping provisions, and any continuing reporting requirements.
Compliance teams may wish to inventory all Treasury repo transactions by legal entity, counterparty location, direct-participant status, affiliate relationship, guarantee structure, and whether the transaction is market-facing or solely inter-affiliate.
Firms should validate whether each proposed affiliate qualifies under Rule 17ad-22(a) as modified by the relief and confirm that the affiliate is not an investment company under Section 3 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Broker-dealers and other direct participants should update trade-classification, order-management, confirmation, clearing-submission, exception-management, and surveillance controls to distinguish exempt transactions from transactions that must be submitted for clearing.
Global firms should establish governance for monitoring any activity-based or volume-based limit applicable to non-U.S. repo relief, including data ownership, aggregation across affiliates and direct participants, calculation frequency, escalation thresholds, and evidence retained for supervisory review.
Firms should continue implementation of the broader Treasury clearing framework and should not treat the relief as a basis for delaying preparations for the December 31, 2026 cash-market or June 30, 2027 repo compliance dates.
Legal and compliance teams may wish to assess whether non-U.S. branches, foreign affiliates, guarantees by U.S. persons, or local-law requirements create additional obligations notwithstanding the SEC relief.
What changed
The relief applies to certain repo transactions involving non-U.S. counterparties, subject to specified limits and conditions. It also expands the inter-affiliate treatment for repos between a direct participant of a U.S. Treasury securities covered clearing agency and an affiliated entity that is not an investment company under Section 3 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, provided the affiliate otherwise meets the affiliated-counterparty definition in Rule 17ad-22(a).
Compliance impact
The impact is material for direct participants and global dealer groups because misclassification of an exempt repo could result in failure to submit a transaction required to be cleared, while over-submission may create unnecessary clearing, margin, liquidity, and operational costs. The SEC characterizes the relief as targeted rather than a general suspension of the mandate, and market commentary indicates that firms must maintain implementation momentum because the core clearing deadlines remain in place.
PRESS RELEASE | OCTOBER 30, 2026 FDIC Publishes Enforcement Orders for September 2026 WASHINGTON—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today published a list of orders of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in September 2026. There are no administrative hearings scheduled…
Why this matters
The release announces FDIC administrative enforcement orders for September 2026: orders to pay and dismissals, written agreements, terminations of consent orders, prohibition orders against institution-affiliated parties, termination of insurance, a Notice of Charges, and an amended Supervisory Prompt Corrective...
On October 28, 2026, the FOMC voted 10-2 to maintain the federal funds target range at 3.75% to 4.00% while continuing its ample-reserves operating framework. The decision is operationally significant for banks, broker-dealers, lenders, asset managers and other firms exposed to short-term rates because inflation remains elevated, two voting members preferred a 25-basis-point hike, and market commentary points to a meaningful possibility of further tightening at the December meeting.
Key dates
2026-10-28
FOMC statement released; target federal funds range maintained at 3.75% to 4.00% and ample-reserves policy continued.
Suggested considerations
Compliance and risk teams may wish to record the October 28, 2026 target range of 3.75% to 4.00% and the 10-2 vote in regulatory change-management and market-risk records.
Firms should consider reviewing interest-rate, basis, liquidity and funding-risk limits against scenarios involving a further 25-basis-point increase, including a possible December 2026 hike suggested by independent market commentary.
Banks and other lenders may wish to assess the effect of persistently elevated rates on borrower affordability, refinancing risk, delinquency assumptions, fair-lending monitoring and customer communications.
Treasury and finance teams should consider validating the treatment of the unchanged policy rate in transfer-pricing, liquidity-stress, valuation, hedge-accounting and capital-planning models.
Broker-dealers, asset managers and leveraged funds may wish to reassess margin, collateral, redemption-liquidity and counterparty exposures under higher-for-longer rate scenarios.
Compliance teams should consider monitoring the forthcoming FOMC implementation note and subsequent Federal Reserve communications for any operational details affecting reserve management or money-market conditions.
Firms should consider documenting the distinction between this policy decision and a new regulatory rule: the statement contains no new prudential ratio, disclosure, reporting or customer-protection requirement.
What changed
The FOMC made no change to the federal funds target range, which remains 3.75% to 4.00%, and did not announce a change to its policy of maintaining ample reserves in the banking system. The statement upgraded its description of economic activity to expanding at a strong pace and characterized productivity growth and capital investment as strong or robust, while stating that inflation remains elevated. The Committee emphasized that it will assess additional information in determining the policy stance needed to return inflation to its 2% goal. Lisa D. Cook and Beth M.
Compliance impact
The direct compliance impact is low because the statement imposes no new binding obligation or firm-level threshold. The principal consequence is indirect: continued elevated funding costs, possible further tightening, and increased interest-rate, liquidity, credit, valuation and consumer-affordability risks that firms may need to reflect in existing risk-management and conduct frameworks.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today published the fall 2026 edition of the Interest Rate Risk Statistics Report . The report presents interest rate risk data gathered during examinations of OCC-supervised midsize and community banks and federal savings associations (collectively, banks).
Why this matters
The document is the fall 2026 edition of the OCC's Interest Rate Risk Statistics Report, which presents exposure and risk-limit data from examinations of midsize, community banks and federal savings associations. The OCC states the statistics are for information only and do not represent suggested limits.
Final rule. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is issuing regulations implementing the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act regarding the issuance of payment stablecoins and certain related activities by entities subject to the OCC's jurisdiction.
Why this matters
The document is a final rule published in the Federal Register (91 FR 67000) implementing the GENIUS Act for payment stablecoin issuers under OCC jurisdiction. The excerpt supports tags for reserve asset requirements, capital and operational backstops, redemption, and licensing.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is finalizing a new information collection that would include weekly and quarterly reporting forms that must be completed by permitted payment stablecoin issuers and foreign payment stablecoin issuers registered with the OCC under the Guiding and Establishing…
AI Analysis
The OCC has revised proposed Forms PS-01 and PS-02 for OCC-supervised permitted payment stablecoin issuers and registered foreign payment stablecoin issuers, following feedback on its June 2026 proposal and the OCC’s October 21, 2026 final rule implementing the GENIUS Act. Subject to Office of Management and Budget approval, issuers would face standardized weekly reporting on stablecoin activity and reserves beginning with the January 25, 2027 report date and quarterly financial-condition reporting beginning with the March 31, 2027 report date.
Key dates
2026-10-21
OCC publishes Bulletin 2026-52, revised PS-01 and PS-02 forms for public comment, and issues its GENIUS Act implementing final rule.
2027-01-18
The OCC final rule implementing the GENIUS Act and the GENIUS Act take effect, according to the OCC’s related final-rule materials.
2027-01-25 Deadline
First weekly PS-01 report date, subject to OMB approval of the information collection.
2027-03-31 Deadline
First quarterly PS-02 report date, subject to OMB approval of the information collection.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams at affected issuers should review the revised PS-01 and PS-02 workbooks and instructions and identify every required data element, reporting frequency, aggregation rule, and responsible control owner.
Firms should consider submitting comments within 30 days after publication of the information-collection notice in the Federal Register, with particular attention to data availability, calculation methodology, confidentiality, reporting burden, and transition timing.
Issuers should map daily issuance, redemption, reserve, ownership-concentration, and trading data to PS-01 and test whether systems can produce a complete weekly submission for the January 25, 2027 report date, subject to OMB approval.
Issuers should assess whether finance and regulatory-reporting systems can produce PS-02 information on income, assets, liabilities, off-balance-sheet activities, and capital for the March 31, 2027 report date.
Firms should establish governance for data certification, reconciliation to general-ledger and reserve records, exception management, senior review, and retention of supporting documentation for OCC examination.
Issuers should assess the interaction between the reporting forms and the final rule’s reserve, redemption, risk-management, audit, capital, custody, and supervisory requirements, rather than treating the forms as an isolated reporting exercise.
Foreign issuers should confirm their OCC registration status, reporting perimeter, U.S. activities, and allocation of information-production responsibilities between U.S. operations, parent entities, and service providers.
What changed
The OCC is reopening public comment on revised weekly Form PS-01 and quarterly Form PS-02 and their instructions. PS-01 requires daily data compiled and submitted weekly for each payment stablecoin, covering issuance, reserves, ownership concentration, and trading activity. PS-02 requires quarterly reporting on the issuer’s condition and income, including balance-sheet assets and liabilities, off-balance-sheet activities, income, and capital.
Compliance impact
The impact is high for affected issuers because the proposal converts stablecoin activity, reserve, and financial-condition data into recurring supervisory reporting obligations, with weekly operational data and quarterly financial reporting. Independent legal and industry commentary characterizes the broader OCC rule as establishing enforceable reserve, redemption, capital, risk-management, audit, custody, and supervision standards; failures in reporting or underlying controls could therefore increase examination, enforcement, and—in the broader GENIUS Act framework—potential penalty...
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is issuing a final rule to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act regarding the issuance of payment stablecoins and certain related activities by entities subject to the OCC's jurisdiction. The final rule will be effective on…
AI Analysis
The OCC issued a final rule implementing most GENIUS Act requirements for payment stablecoin issuance and related custody activities under its jurisdiction, with effectiveness on 2027-01-18. The rule creates a new 12 CFR part 15 framework covering authorization, reserves, redemption, risk management, audits, supervision, foreign issuers, capital and operational backstops, while leaving BSA, AML and OFAC requirements to a separate Treasury-coordinated rulemaking.
Key dates
2025-07-18
The GENIUS Act was enacted.
2026-10-21
The OCC published the final rule and related application, waiver and reporting materials.
2027-01-18 Deadline
The GENIUS Act and OCC final rule take effect; U.S. payment stablecoin issuance generally requires permitted payment stablecoin issuer status, and a substantially complete application must be pending by this date to support eligibility for an OCC waiver request.
2027-01-25
Proposed first weekly OCC reporting date, subject to OMB approval of the information collection.
2027-03-31
Proposed first quarterly OCC reporting date, subject to OMB approval of the information collection.
Suggested considerations
Firms seeking permitted payment stablecoin status should consider mapping their licensing strategy, corporate structure and applicable OCC pathway under 12 CFR part 15 before 2027-01-18.
Existing U.S. issuers that need transitional relief should consider submitting a substantially complete OCC application on or before 2027-01-18 and preparing a written waiver request promptly after the OCC begins accepting applications and waiver requests.
Applicants should consider documenting business plans, management, reserve assets, issuance and redemption processes, capital and liquidity, risk management, third-party and shared-services arrangements, audit functions and compliance governance in the application package.
Issuers should consider validating reserve composition, one-to-one backing, liquidity, concentration, counterparty exposure, stress-testing and redemption controls against the final rule rather than relying on the proposal's reserve assumptions.
Issuers should consider testing operational capacity to process redemptions within two business days and to notify the OCC within 24 hours when the 10% redemption-demand trigger is reached.
Issuers and distribution partners should consider reviewing stablecoin rewards, yield, rebate and promotional arrangements on a transaction-by-transaction basis because pre-existing programs are not automatically grandfathered and the final rule provides no general safe harbor.
Covered firms should consider establishing governance for audits, reporting, examination responses, custody controls, foreign-issuer oversight and potential approval revocation or rescission.
Compliance teams should track the separate Treasury-coordinated BSA, AML and OFAC rulemaking and avoid treating this final rule as the complete GENIUS Act compliance framework.
What changed
The final rule applies to national banks and their subsidiaries, federal savings associations and their subsidiaries, federal branches and their subsidiaries, federal qualified payment stablecoin issuers, foreign payment stablecoin issuers, and state qualified payment stablecoin issuers over which the OCC has regulatory or enforcement authority.
Compliance impact
The rule creates binding licensing, prudential, operational, reporting and supervisory obligations for a new class of payment stablecoin issuers, with unauthorized U.S. issuance carrying criminal penalties beginning 2027-01-18. The absence of a safe harbor for existing rewards programs and the separate, still-pending BSA, AML and OFAC rulemaking leave material implementation and conduct-risk uncertainty even though the final rule provides greater flexibility for reserve management than the proposal.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced a final rule to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.
AI Analysis
The OCC finalized regulations under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), creating a federal framework for payment-stablecoin issuance, reserve management, redemption, risk management, custody, supervision, and issuer applications under OCC jurisdiction. The rule becomes effective January 18, 2027; issuing a payment stablecoin in the United States without required permitted-issuer approval may carry criminal penalties, while the OCC has left the permissibility of many exchange-based rewards arrangements to case-by-case analysis rather than creating a safe harbor.
Key dates
2025-07-18
The GENIUS Act was enacted.
2026-10-21
The OCC published the final rule, application and waiver guidance, and revised proposed reporting forms.
2027-01-18 Deadline
The GENIUS Act and OCC final rule take effect; U.S. payment-stablecoin issuance generally requires permitted payment stablecoin issuer approval, and existing issuers seeking a waiver generally must have a pending substantially complete OCC application by this date.
2027-01-25 Deadline
Proposed effective report date for the weekly reporting form, subject to Office of Management and Budget approval.
2027-03-31 Deadline
Proposed effective report date for the quarterly reporting form, subject to Office of Management and Budget approval.
Suggested considerations
Firms considering U.S. payment-stablecoin issuance should assess whether they qualify as a permitted payment stablecoin issuer, a federal qualified issuer, a state-qualified issuer subject to OCC authority, or a foreign issuer within the rule's scope.
Existing U.S. issuers should consider preparing a substantially complete OCC application and evaluating whether a waiver request is needed by January 18, 2027; the OCC may grant waivers for up to 12 months beginning on that date, generally where an eligible application is pending.
Applicants should prepare documentation covering the business plan, management, reserve assets, issuance and redemption processes, risk management, capital and liquidity, shared services, BSA/AML/OFAC controls, third-party risk, enterprise risk, compliance risk, and audit functions.
Issuers should map reserve assets to the final rule's 1:1 backing, daily-liquidity, diversification, and counterparty-concentration requirements and establish controls capable of supporting generally timely redemption within two business days.
Compliance and product teams should inventory interest, yield, cashback, loyalty, referral, and exchange rewards arrangements involving payment stablecoins and document the business purpose and consideration supporting each payment, because the OCC has not provided a categorical safe harbor and will apply the statutory prohibition case by case.
Issuers should design weekly reserve and payment-stablecoin activity reporting and quarterly reports of condition and income, subject to confirming the final OMB-approved forms and effective reporting dates.
Banks and other OCC-supervised custodians should review custody arrangements, segregation and control frameworks, third-party dependencies, and contractual allocation of responsibility for stablecoin and reserve-asset custody.
Firms should track the separate Treasury, FinCEN, OFAC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC implementation work because the OCC final rule does not complete BSA, AML, or sanctions requirements and is only one component of the GENIUS Act framework.
What changed
New 12 CFR part 15 establishes requirements for permitted payment stablecoin issuers, foreign payment stablecoin issuers subject to OCC authority, certain state-qualified issuers, and specified custody activities conducted by OCC-supervised entities. The framework covers issuer activities, reserve assets, redemption, risk management, audits, reports, examinations, supervision, custody, applications and registrations, state-to-federal transitions, foreign-issuer supervision, approval revocation or rescission, and capital and operational backstops.
Compliance impact
This is a high-impact final rule creating binding licensing, prudential, operational, reporting, custody, and supervisory obligations for payment-stablecoin issuers under OCC jurisdiction, with potential criminal exposure for unauthorized U.S. issuance. The principal near-term risks are inability to obtain approval or a waiver before January 18, 2027, deficient reserve or redemption arrangements, incomplete applications and reports, and rewards programs that regulators determine are prohibited yield payments.
Proposed rule. The NCUA Board (Board) is proposing to amend its regulations governing the requirements for federal share insurance. This action would remove the requirement for federally insured, state-chartered credit unions to establish a special reserve for certain investments that are beyond those authorized for…
Why this matters
The publication type is set by the regulator as consultation. The body is a Federal Register/eCFR scraping-block and CAPTCHA page, not the consultation text, so no deadline, obligations, or proposed provisions can be confirmed.
Federal Reserve Board announces termination of enforcement actions with Gardner Bancshares, Inc. and Small Business Bank
Why this matters
The document is a Federal Reserve press release announcing the termination of a cease and desist order (2023), another cease and desist order (2024), and a Prompt Corrective Action directive (2026) against Gardner Bancshares, Inc. and Small Business Bank.
Speech At the Bangkok Economic Festival, Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee, Bangkok, Thailand
Why this matters
The document is a speech by Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman, so it is classified as speech. It focuses on bank supervision following the SVB failure, including supervisory accountability, decision-making authority, timely action on interest rate and liquidity risk, and the Federal Reserve's considered...
Proposed rule. The NCUA Board (Board) seeks comment on proposed amendments to its regulations governing fidelity bond and insurance coverage for federally insured credit unions (FICUs). The proposed rule would eliminate certain prescriptive procedural mandates and simplify requirements for coverage amounts and…
AI Analysis
NCUA published a proposed deregulatory rule on October 15, 2026, to amend 12 CFR parts 704 and 713 governing fidelity bond and insurance coverage for federally insured credit unions and corporate credit unions. The proposal would remove or simplify procedures for purchasing and renewing bonds, approval of bond forms, coverage amounts, and deductibles, while retaining the core obligation to maintain adequate coverage and the NCUA's oversight role.
Key dates
2026-10-15
The proposed rule is published in the Federal Register.
2026-12-14 Deadline
Public comments on the proposed amendments to 12 CFR parts 704 and 713 are due.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review the proposal against existing policies and procedures under 12 CFR 704.18, 12 CFR 713, and 12 CFR 741.201, distinguishing provisions that would be removed from obligations that would remain.
Credit unions should continue to maintain existing fidelity-bond coverage, deductibles, renewal processes, and NCUA-related approvals unless and until a final rule becomes effective.
Boards and management may wish to assess whether current coverage remains adequate for fraud, dishonesty, theft, burglary, robbery, and other covered losses, and preserve documentation supporting the required board review.
Credit unions and insurers may wish to evaluate whether the proposed flexibility in coverage amounts and deductibles affects policy terms, underwriting, renewal timing, or internal risk assessments.
Interested parties may wish to submit comments by December 14, 2026, addressing the proposed treatment of coverage calculations, deductibles, bond forms, purchase and renewal procedures, and any transition or implementation concerns.
What changed
The proposal would amend 12 CFR part 713 and related corporate-credit-union requirements in 12 CFR 704.18 by eliminating or modifying prescriptive procedural requirements concerning fidelity-bond purchases and renewals, simplifying the rules governing coverage amounts and deductibles, and removing outdated requirements. The proposal would preserve the requirement that a federally insured credit union maintain adequate fidelity-bond coverage against losses involving fraud, dishonesty, theft, and other covered risks.
Compliance impact
The immediate compliance impact is low because the publication is a proposed rule and does not alter currently binding requirements. If finalized, the amendments could reduce administrative burden and provide greater flexibility in bond selection, coverage amounts, and deductibles, but credit unions would still need adequate coverage, board-level oversight, and compliance with NCUA-approved bond-form requirements.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released a report of its findings from its supervisory review of debanking activities at the nine largest national banks it supervises: JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, Capital One, PNC Bank, TD Bank, and BMO Bank.
Why this matters
The document is the OCC's published findings from a supervisory review of debanking at nine named large banks, which makes it a report. It covers fair access and discrimination on political, religious, or lawful business grounds, so Consumer Protection / Conduct applies.
Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period. The FDIC is extending the public comment period on the proposed rule "Extensions of Credit to Insiders," which was published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2026. The FDIC is extending the public comment period from October 5, 2026, to November 4, 2026…
AI Analysis
The FDIC extended the comment period for its proposed amendments to 12 CFR 337 governing extensions of credit to insiders of FDIC-supervised institutions. Comments are now due November 4, 2026, giving affected institutions additional time to assess proposed increases in insider-lending thresholds and a five-year inflation and economic-growth indexing mechanism.
Key dates
2026-08-06
FDIC published the underlying proposed rule on extensions of credit to insiders in 91 FR 50730.
2026-10-05
Original comment-period closing date superseded by the extension.
2026-11-04 Deadline
Extended deadline for comments on the FDIC proposal under RIN 3064-AG26.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review the August 6, 2026 proposal in 91 FR 50730 alongside the parallel Federal Reserve Regulation O proposal and identify differences affecting the institution's governance and lending processes.
Affected institutions should consider submitting comments under RIN 3064-AG26 by November 4, 2026, particularly on the proposed $400,000 and $2 million thresholds, the interaction with the 5 percent statutory limitation, and the proposed five-year indexing methodology.
Banks may wish to inventory current insider extensions of credit, board-approval events, exception controls, and related-party monitoring data to assess how the proposed thresholds would change approval volumes and control design.
Compliance teams may wish to evaluate whether loan-origination, core-banking, employee-lending, board-reporting, and insider-identification systems can support revised thresholds and periodic indexed adjustments if the proposal is finalized.
Institutions should continue applying the currently effective Federal Reserve Act requirements and existing 12 CFR 337 provisions until any final rule becomes effective; the comment-period extension does not change current compliance obligations.
What changed
The FDIC changed only the procedural deadline: the comment period originally scheduled to close October 5, 2026, now closes November 4, 2026. The underlying August 6, 2026 proposal remains unchanged and would increase the threshold for extensions of credit to executive officers not otherwise specifically authorized by section 22(g) of the Federal Reserve Act from $100,000 to $400,000.
Compliance impact
This publication creates no immediate change to lending limits, approval requirements, or other binding compliance obligations because the underlying amendments remain proposed. If finalized, the higher thresholds and five-year indexing could materially reduce board-approval events for qualifying insider loans and require updates to policies, monitoring, reporting, and system controls; until then, institutions must follow the existing Federal Reserve Act and 12 CFR 337 requirements.
Speech At the 2026 Community Banking Research Conference, sponsored by the Federal Reserve System, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri
AI Analysis
Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman outlined a Federal Reserve agenda to modernize community-bank regulation and supervision, including indexed asset thresholds, broader community-bank treatment, revised merger analysis, support for de novo formation, streamlined call reporting, and a five-region supervisory structure. The speech is principally a policy signal rather than a binding rule, but independent industry reporting indicates that the most immediate institutional change is the shift from 12 Reserve Bank district-based supervision toward five state-aligned regions with clearer accountability.
Key dates
2026-10-06
Vice Chair Bowman delivered the speech announcing the Federal Reserve's planned five-region supervisory realignment and outlining proposed modernization initiatives.
2026-07-01
The revised Community Bank Leverage Ratio framework took effect, lowering the ratio from 9 percent to 8 percent.
2025-12-01
The FFIEC issued a request for information on streamlining the Call Report.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to monitor Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, and FFIEC proposals arising from the speech, particularly any proposal to index fixed-dollar thresholds, revise community-bank classifications, modify large-bank tailoring, or amend Regulation O.
Community banks should consider assessing how a future increase in the Community Bank Leverage Ratio eligibility threshold or broader community-bank treatment could affect capital planning, reporting, examination scope, and supervisory expectations; the speech does not yet establish eligibility changes beyond the 8 percent ratio already effective July 1, 2026.
Banks preparing mergers may wish to document the competitive effects of credit unions, nonbank lenders, Farm Credit institutions, branchless banks, and other local competitors in anticipation of possible changes to Federal Reserve merger analysis.
Prospective de novo applicants should consider reviewing business plans, initial and ongoing capital assumptions, governance arrangements, and expected approval timelines against existing federal and state requirements while awaiting any clarification of standards or conditional-approval practices.
Call Report filers may wish to review the December 2025 FFIEC request for information and preserve data on duplicative, low-value, or operationally burdensome reporting items for future comment opportunities.
Banks may wish to map current supervisory issues and examination findings to material financial risks, recognizing that the Statement of Supervisory Operating Principles emphasizes prompt escalation and proportionate action rather than checklist-driven process findings.
Community banks should consider comparing their third-party risk-management programs with the Federal Reserve's community-bank third-party risk-management guide and documenting due diligence, contract oversight, ongoing monitoring, and escalation practices.
Boards and senior management may wish to track forthcoming CAMELS revisions and assess potential effects on management-rating governance, examination preparation, remediation prioritization, and communications with directors.
What changed
The Federal Reserve announced that it is beginning to realign its supervisory function into five geographic regions led by regional leaders accountable for all supervisory activity in each region, while retaining existing Reserve Bank staff and footprints. The speech states that the Board will later in 2026 consider increasing fixed-dollar asset thresholds in its regulations and establishing a five-year adjustment mechanism tied to inflation and economic growth.
Compliance impact
The immediate compliance impact is moderate because the speech creates no new binding obligation, but it signals potentially significant changes to supervisory scope, ratings, reporting burden, merger analysis, and regulatory thresholds for community and larger banks. Firms should treat the announcements as forward-looking supervisory and rulemaking signals, while continuing to comply with existing Regulation O, capital, Call Report, merger, CAMELS, and third-party-risk requirements until formal actions take effect.
Final rule; amendments to policy statements. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) has adopted final amendments to Regulations Y, LL, and YY to enhance the transparency and public accountability of the Board's stress testing framework. The Board is also finalizing amendments to the Policy…
Why this matters
This is a final rule (effective November 2, 2026) from the Federal Reserve amending Regulations Y, LL, and YY. It mandates annual disclosure of stress test models and scenarios, establishes new processes for material model changes, modifies the stress capital buffer requirement framework, and revises comprehensive...
Final rule. The Board is adopting a final rule to amend the calculation of the Board's stress capital buffer requirement applicable to certain large bank holding companies, savings and loan holding companies, U.S. intermediate holding companies of foreign banking organizations, and nonbank financial companies…
Why this matters
This is a final rule from the Federal Reserve System that materially modifies how stress capital buffer requirements are calculated for systemically important financial institutions.
This is a speech/statement from SEC Chairman Atkins regarding a proposal to address custody of crypto assets under the Investment Advisers Act and Investment Company Act. As a statement rather than a final rule or consultation document, it is informational in nature (urgency: null).
Speech At the Atlantic Council 2026 CEO & Senior Management Summit, Washington, D.C.
Why this matters
This is Vice Chair Bowman's speech assessing the early effects of the eSLR recalibration rule that became effective April 1, 2026. While the rule itself was finalized in November 2025, this October 2026 speech presents supervisory data and market feedback confirming the reform's intended effects on Treasury market...
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued today version 3.0 of the "Concentrations of Credit" booklet of the Comptroller's Handbook.
Why this matters
This is an informational bulletin transmitting version 3.0 of the Comptroller's Handbook booklet on concentrations of credit. It updates examination guidance rather than imposing new binding obligations.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported cumulative trading revenue of U.S. commercial banks and savings associations of $21.6 billion in the second quarter of 2026. The second quarter trading revenue was $5.3 billion, or 32.5 percent, more than in the previous quarter and $5.1 billion, or 30.6…
Why this matters
This is a periodic OCC news release reporting Q2 2026 trading revenue and derivatives data. It presents aggregated industry statistics (trading revenue, notional amounts, credit exposure, concentration metrics) without introducing new rules, guidance, or enforcement actions.
Federal Reserve Board finalizes changes to enhance the transparency and public accountability of its stress test and reduce volatility in its stress test-related capital requirements
Why this matters
This is a final rule release from the Federal Reserve Board finalizing two substantive modifications to the supervisory stress test framework and stress capital buffer requirements.
Final rule. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Board") has adopted final amendments to its Regulation D to revise the rate of interest paid on balances ("IORB") maintained at Federal Reserve Banks by or on behalf of eligible institutions. The final amendments specify that IORB is 3.90 percent, a…
Why this matters
This is a final rule by the Federal Reserve System amending 12 CFR 204 (Regulation D) that establishes a binding new IORB rate applicable to all eligible depository institutions. The amendment has immediate effect (September 17, 2026) and implements a monetary policy decision by the FOMC.
Final rule. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Board") has adopted final amendments to its Regulation A to reflect the Board's approval of an increase in the rate for primary credit at each Federal Reserve Bank. The secondary credit rate at each Reserve Bank automatically increased by formula as a…
Why this matters
This is a final rule (2026-20036) from the Federal Reserve System amending 12 CFR 201 (Regulation A) to increase primary credit rates from 3.75% to 4.00% and secondary credit rates from 4.25% to 4.50%, effective September 30, 2026.
PRESS RELEASE | SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 Agencies Publish Resolution Plan Feedback Letters for 15 Banking Organizations WASHINGTON— The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Reserve Board today published feedback letters for resolution plans submitted in October 2025. The agencies did not identify any…
Why this matters
This is a press release announcing the publication of feedback letters on resolution plans (living wills) for 15 large banking organizations. The agencies found no shortcomings in the 2025 submissions and confirmed resolution of a prior 2021 deficiency.
Agencies publish resolution plan feedback letters for 15 banking organizations
Why this matters
This is an informational announcement of completed regulatory reviews and feedback on resolution plans (living wills) submitted by 15 banking organizations with over $250 billion in assets. The agencies found no shortcomings in the 2025 submissions and confirmed resolution of a prior deficiency.
Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould today issued a statement on his vote against a joint resolution plan letter from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Reserve Board to American Express and reaffirmed the need for reforms to Dodd-Frank Act Section 165(d) resolution plans.
Why this matters
This is a news release containing a Comptroller statement on resolution planning governance and process reform. The statement expresses dissatisfaction with current resolution plan feedback mechanisms and calls for statutory changes to the $250 billion asset threshold.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) proposes to issue regulations that would establish procedures to be followed by an insured State member bank that seeks to obtain Board approval for a subsidiary to issue payment stablecoins pursuant to the Guiding and…
Why this matters
This is a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) from the Federal Reserve implementing the GENIUS Act's application procedures for insured State member banks seeking Board approval for subsidiaries to issue payment stablecoins.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) proposes to issue regulations to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act) with respect to Board-supervised permitted payment stablecoin issuers (PPSIs) and certain other…
Why this matters
This is a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) from the Federal Reserve implementing the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act).
Speech At the Oakland Tech Week Opening Keynote, cohosted by the Kapor Center, Oakland, California
Why this matters
This is an informational speech (urgency: null) by Federal Reserve Governor Lisa D. Cook delivered at Oakland Tech Week on September 28, 2026. The content addresses AI's effects on inflation, labor markets, and firm productivity, with explicit discussion of the Fed's supervisory role encouraging responsible AI use in...
Federal Reserve Board requests public comment on two proposals related to establishing a regulatory framework for Board-supervised payment stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act
Why this matters
This is a formal consultation (not final rule) from the Federal Reserve on foundational regulatory requirements for a new asset class—payment stablecoins. The two proposals address reserve backing, capital requirements, risk management, asset safekeeping, and application procedures.
This is a policy-signaling speech from CFTC Chairman Selig outlining the agency's strategic direction on derivatives market regulation, Treasury market reforms, and emerging technologies.
Speech At the 2026 U.S. Treasury Market Conference, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New York, New York
Why this matters
This is an informational speech by Vice Chair Jefferson detailing ongoing Federal Reserve discount window modernization efforts. The content describes three dimensions of modernization: business process improvements (standardized collateral frameworks, simplified forms), automation enhancements (DWD portal launched in...
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is inviting comment on a proposed rule that would fundamentally reform important aspects of the FDIC's approach to processing and evaluating merger transactions subject to the Bank Merger Act (BMA). Notable reforms under the proposed rule…
Why this matters
This is a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) from the FDIC that would substantially revise 12 CFR Parts 303, 314, and 333 governing merger transaction procedures and evaluation.
Speech At the Luncheon of the Lord Mayor City of London at Mansion House, London, United Kingdom
Why this matters
This is a speech announcing initial findings from an independent review of Silicon Valley Bank's failure. It identifies seven critical findings regarding supervisory vulnerabilities, staff culture, and decision-making processes.
Speech At the Luncheon of the Lord Mayor City of London at Mansion House, London, United Kingdom
Why this matters
Vice Chair Bowman's speech describes the culmination of a multiyear effort to modernize bank regulatory stress testing. The content covers two final rules (Enhanced Transparency and Public Accountability, and SCB volatility reduction), a third proposal for 2027 model revisions, and a forward-looking supervisory...
This is an official Federal Reserve FOMC statement announcing a 0.25% increase in the target federal funds rate to 3.75-4.00%. While framed as a news release rather than a binding regulatory obligation, it represents a major policy decision that directly impacts banking system reserves, interest rate risk, and capital...
Joint interim final rule and request for comments. The OCC, Board, and FDIC (collectively, the Agencies) are jointly issuing and requesting public comment on an interim final rule to implement section 903 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The interim final rule raises the asset threshold for certain supervised…
Why this matters
This is a joint final interim rule issued by OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC implementing statutory amendments to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. It raises the asset threshold from $3 billion to $6 billion for qualifying insured depository institutions to qualify for 18-month (rather than 12-month) on-site...
PRESS RELEASE | SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 Agencies Seek Comment on Proposed Third-Party Risk Management Guidance and Issue Statement on Community Bank Engagement with Core Service Providers WASHINGTON— Today the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, the National Credit Union Administration, and…
Why this matters
This is a joint proposal from four federal banking regulators (FDIC, Federal Reserve, NCUA, OCC) seeking public comment on comprehensive third-party risk management guidance. The guidance is principles-based and non-binding but signals supervisory priorities and will eventually replace existing guidance.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today continued to empower community banks and reduce their burden with a proposal to tailor third-party risk management to actual risk, and by providing greater clarity regarding supervision and enforcement of core service providers.
Why this matters
This is a policy proposal from the OCC (U.S. banking regulator) that introduces tailored third-party risk management guidance and clarifies supervision of core service providers for community banks.
Agencies seek comment on proposed third-party risk management guidance and issue statement on community bank engagement with core service providers
Why this matters
This is a joint consultation by four federal banking regulators (Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, NCUA) on proposed third-party risk management guidance. The update signals a material shift in supervisory approach—moving to principles-based guidance and rescinding prior guidance.
PRESS RELEASE | SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 Agencies Reduce Regulatory Burden for Community Banks, Increase Eligibility for 18-Month Exam Cycle WASHINGTON— The federal bank regulatory agencies today issued an interim final rule increasing the number of community banks eligible for an 18-month exam cycle. The 21st Century ROAD…
Why this matters
This is an interim final rule issued by federal banking agencies (FDIC, Federal Reserve, OCC) that modifies supervisory examination requirements for small insured depository institutions.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today published an interim final rule that raises the asset threshold for certain supervised institutions with less than $6 billion in total assets to qualify for an 18-month on-site examination cycle, pursuant to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.
Why this matters
This is an interim final rule that materially affects examination frequency and compliance obligations for a defined cohort of smaller banks. The asset threshold increase from $3B to $6B expands the population eligible for 18-month exam cycles, representing a concrete regulatory relief measure with operational and...
Agencies reduce regulatory burden for community banks, increase eligibility for 18-month exam cycle
Why this matters
This is a joint interim final rule from three federal banking agencies (Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC) implementing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. It increases the asset threshold for 18-month exam cycles from $3 billion to $6 billion, directly affecting community banks' supervisory obligations.
The federal bank regulatory agencies today issued an interim final rule increasing the number of community banks eligible for an 18-month exam cycle.
Why this matters
This is a final interim rule issued jointly by three federal banking agencies (OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC) that increases the asset threshold for 18-month exam cycles from $3B to $6B, directly affecting examination frequency and supervisory burden for community banks and credit unions.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have published an interagency interim final rule amending the regulations governing eligibility for the 18-month on-site examination cycle, pursuant to the 21st…
Why this matters
This is a binding interim final rule from the OCC (interagency with Fed and FDIC) that materially changes examination frequency requirements for banks under $6B in assets meeting 1-2 ratings and other criteria. The asset threshold expansion is substantive and affects a significant population of community banks.
Final rule. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) is amending its interest rate swap clearing requirement regulations under applicable provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) to address the transition from the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) to the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate…
Why this matters
This is a final CFTC rule amending 17 CFR Part 50 to mandate clearing of interest rate swaps denominated in CAD and MXN following benchmark transitions from CDOR to CORRA and TIIE to F-TIIE.
This is a final rule from the CFTC that modifies clearing requirements for CAD and MXN-denominated interest rate swaps, replacing legacy benchmark references (CDOR, TIIE) with risk-free rates (CORRA, Overnight TIIE).
Interim final rule and request for comment. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is amending its brokered deposit regulations to conform with recent changes to section 29 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act made by section 902 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act related to reciprocal deposits, which…
Why this matters
This is a final interim rule (not a proposal) issued by the FDIC amending 12 CFR 337.6 to implement Section 902 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, effective September 1, 2026.
Final rule. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) are adopting a final rule to define the term "unsafe or unsound practice" for purposes of section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and to revise the supervisory framework for the issuance of…
Why this matters
This is a final rule (Document 2026-17823, 91 FR 56004) jointly issued by the OCC and FDIC that codifies a regulatory definition of 'unsafe or unsound practice' under section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and revises supervisory frameworks for issuance of Matters Requiring Attention (MRAs).
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) proposes to revise the supervisory framework for the issuance of matters requiring attention (MRAs) in response to violations of laws or regulations and for addressing violations for which the OCC does not take an enforcement action or…
Why this matters
This is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the OCC that would materially revise the supervisory framework for addressing violations of banking laws and regulations. The proposal introduces a new categorical distinction (substantive vs.
BOARD MATTERS | AUGUST 27, 2026 FDIC Board of Directors Approve New Actions By notational vote, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Board of Directors today unanimously approved the following matters. Materials and information related to these Board actions are available on the Board Matters webpage. Final…
AI Analysis
On August 27, 2026, the FDIC unanimously approved a joint FDIC-OCC final rule defining unsafe or unsound practices under section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and establishing uniform standards for Matters Requiring Attention (MRAs) and supervisory observations. The FDIC also approved an interim final rule implementing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act changes to reciprocal deposits, including a tiered exclusion from brokered-deposit treatment of up to $30 billion, materially expanding eligible funding capacity for qualifying insured depository institutions.
Key dates
2026-08-27
The FDIC Board unanimously approved the final rule on unsafe or unsound practices and MRAs and the interim final rule on Road to Housing Act reciprocal deposits by notational vote.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to inventory open MRAs, supervisory recommendations, and section 8 enforcement matters and assess whether each matter satisfies the new material-harm, Deposit Insurance Fund risk, prudent-operation, or legal-violation criteria.
Banks should consider mapping existing policies, procedures, reporting controls, documentation findings, and governance issues to the new distinction between MRAs, supervisory observations, and other violations, while retaining controls for matters that could affect capital, asset quality, earnings, liquidity, market-risk sensitivity, consumer outcomes, or receivership risk.
Management and board committees may wish to prepare for examiner requests for the objective facts, risk analysis, and reasoning supporting any MRA or unsafe-or-unsound-practice conclusion, including evidence of how the bank assessed reasonably foreseeable conditions.
Banks using reciprocal deposits should consider recalculating their permissible nonbrokered reciprocal-deposit capacity under the tiered liability formula and updating brokered-deposit classification, liquidity, deposit reporting, internal limits, and regulatory reporting controls.
Potential agent institutions should verify their eligibility under the revised definition, including the applicable capital and examination-rating requirements and the broadened CAMELS-based criteria.
Treasury, balance-sheet management, and deposit operations teams may wish to model the effect of the expanded reciprocal-deposit exclusion on funding concentration, liquidity stress assumptions, deposit pricing, and brokered-deposit monitoring.
Legal and regulatory-affairs teams should monitor the Federal Register publication of both rules, confirm the effective dates, review any interim-final-rule comment opportunity, and determine whether implementation or comments are appropriate.
Banks should consider reviewing examiner lookback requests and suspicious-activity review scopes against the related OCC examination guidance, which generally limits lookbacks involving failures to detect or report suspicious activity to one year or less unless heightened approval is obtained.
What changed
The final supervisory rule defines an unsafe or unsound practice as a practice, act, or failure to act that is contrary to generally accepted standards of prudent operation and that, if continued, is likely to materially harm the bank's financial condition or present a material risk of loss to the Deposit Insurance Fund, or that has materially harmed the bank's financial condition.
Compliance impact
The supervisory rule is a high-impact change to the framework for section 8 enforcement, board-level supervisory escalation, and corrective actions, although it does not eliminate obligations arising from applicable banking laws or regulations. The reciprocal-deposit rule may materially affect brokered-deposit classification and funding strategy for qualifying banks, with noncompliance potentially affecting regulatory reporting, liquidity-risk assessments, and supervisory conclusions.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released two revised Policies and Procedures Manuals (PPM): PPM 5310-3, "Bank Enforcement Actions and Related Matters," and PPM 5400-11, "Matters Requiring Attention."
AI Analysis
On August 27, 2026, the OCC replaced its enforcement and MRA manuals with PPM 5310-3 and PPM 5400-11, aligning OCC supervision with the OCC-FDIC final rule defining unsafe or unsound practices and establishing a risk-based MRA framework. The update raises the practical threshold for MRAs and Section 8 enforcement by emphasizing material financial risk and substantive legal violations, while allowing examiners to communicate lower-level concerns as nonbinding supervisory observations.
Key dates
2026-08-27
OCC issued revised PPM 5310-3 and PPM 5400-11; PPM 5310-3 replaces the May 25, 2023 manual, PPM 5400-11 replaces the February 27, 2026 version, and OCC Bulletin 2023-16 is rescinded.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map open MRAs, enforcement orders, capital directives, and supervisory findings against the new material-harm, Deposit Insurance Fund risk, and substantive-violation thresholds.
Banks should consider reviewing issue-management taxonomies and governance procedures so that MRAs, other violations, and supervisory observations are recorded and escalated according to their distinct consequences.
Board and committee reporting processes may warrant review because supervisory observations do not automatically require board presentation or a corrective-action plan, whereas MRAs and enforcement actions remain subject to formal remediation and validation expectations.
Large and complex banks should consider reassessing whether deficiencies that might previously have produced a community-bank-level supervisory response could receive faster escalation under the revised tailoring framework.
Banks with existing enforcement actions may wish to assess whether their remediation evidence demonstrates substantial compliance with the essential requirements of each order and whether remaining issues are minor and isolated.
Capital management teams may wish to review procedures for the institution of and termination of individual minimum capital ratios under the revised enforcement manual.
Legal and regulatory change teams should monitor Federal Register publication of the joint OCC-FDIC final rule and calculate the actual effective date rather than relying on the bulletin date.
Internal audit and compliance functions may wish to preserve objective factual support for responses to MRAs and other supervisory communications, particularly where the bank believes an issue does not meet the new risk-based threshold.
What changed
Revised PPM 5310-3 replaces the May 25, 2023 version and structures the OCC enforcement framework around escalation, tailoring, and focus. The OCC generally intends to provide banks an opportunity to remediate deficiencies through supervision before initiating a Section 8 enforcement action, although it retains authority to act at any time when legally supportable and warranted.
Compliance impact
The update is likely to reduce the use of MRAs and Section 8 enforcement actions for isolated policy, process, documentation, or other nonfinancial weaknesses that do not meet the new material-risk or substantive-violation standards, but it does not eliminate supervisory discretion or escalation risk.
The OCC and the FDIC issued a joint final rule to define the term "unsafe or unsound practice" for purposes of section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and revise the supervisory framework for the issuance of matters requiring attention (MRA) and other supervisory communications.
AI Analysis
On August 27, 2026, the OCC and FDIC issued a joint final rule defining “unsafe or unsound practice” under section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and establishing a uniform, narrower standard for Matters Requiring Attention (MRAs). Independent market commentary describes the rule as the first formal regulatory definition of the core supervisory concept and emphasizes its shift toward material financial risk, while creating a less coercive channel for lower-level supervisory concerns.
Key dates
2026-08-27
OCC and FDIC issued the joint final rule through OCC Bulletin 2026-40. The bulletin applies to all OCC-supervised banks; it does not state the Federal Register publication date, effective date, or a firm compliance deadline.
Suggested considerations
Firms should identify the final rule’s Federal Register publication and effective date, because the OCC bulletin itself does not state either date or a compliance deadline, and should monitor OCC and FDIC implementation guidance before relying on any transition treatment.
Compliance teams may wish to inventory open MRAs, supervisory recommendations, enforcement matters, and examination findings and map each item to the final rule’s material-financial-risk, DIF-risk, actual-violation, or already-caused-harm criteria.
Firms should consider separating board-level MRA remediation obligations from discretionary management responses to supervisory observations and documenting why a weakness is treated under one category rather than another.
Risk and compliance functions may wish to enhance evidence files supporting assessments of likelihood, materiality, current and reasonably foreseeable conditions, and impacts on capital, asset quality, earnings, liquidity, and market-risk sensitivity.
Banks should consider documenting how supervisory requirements and remediation plans are tailored to asset size, complexity, activities, capital structure, and other financial-risk factors, particularly where the institution has heightened systemic, concentration, liquidity, or operational complexity.
Legal and compliance teams may wish to distinguish actual violations of banking or banking-related laws and regulations from prudential weaknesses, because an actual violation can support an MRA without separately satisfying the prudent-operation and material-risk test.
Boards and senior management should consider reviewing governance procedures so that MRAs receive required escalation and tracking while supervisory observations are clearly identified as non-binding potential enhancements.
Firms should consider preparing a process for requesting and retaining the objective facts and reasoning underlying an MRA or unsafe-and-unsound-practice determination, as the rule requires examiners to share that basis.
What changed
An unsafe or unsound practice is now defined as a practice, act, or failure to act that is contrary to generally accepted standards of prudent operation and either is likely, if continued, to materially harm the bank’s financial condition or present a material risk of loss to the Deposit Insurance Fund, or has already materially harmed the bank’s financial condition. “Likely” requires more than a merely possible risk; relevant financial-condition effects include impacts on capital, asset quality, earnings, liquidity, and sensitivity to market risk.
Compliance impact
The rule may reduce the scope of MRAs and section 8 enforcement theories for nonfinancial, documentation, process, or reputation concerns that lack a material financial-risk or legal-violation nexus, but it does not eliminate supervisory scrutiny or remediation obligations. Higher-risk banks may face lower materiality thresholds, more granular harm assessments, and more demanding remediation expectations; actual violations remain independently capable of supporting an MRA.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the agencies) today issued a final rule that continues their effort to focus examiners' and institutions' attention on material financial risks and compliance with banking and banking-related laws and regulations. The final…
AI Analysis
The OCC and FDIC issued a final rule on August 27, 2026, creating a uniform, risk-based definition of an “unsafe or unsound practice” under Section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1818, and establishing standards for Matters Requiring Attention (MRAs) and supervisory observations. The rule raises the threshold for mandatory supervisory action toward material financial risks while preserving MRAs for actual violations of banking or banking-related laws and regulations.
Key dates
2026-08-27
OCC and FDIC issued the final rule and OCC published Bulletin 2026-40 describing its application to OCC-supervised banks.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map existing and anticipated MRAs, enforcement commitments, supervisory recommendations, and examination findings against the new material-financial-risk and actual-violation criteria.
Firms should consider separating board-level corrective-action items from nonbinding supervisory observations and documenting why each issue does or does not meet the MRA threshold.
Risk and compliance functions may wish to update issue-taxonomy and escalation procedures to assess impacts on capital, asset quality, earnings, liquidity, sensitivity to market risk, and the Deposit Insurance Fund.
Banks should consider retaining objective evidence and documented reasoning supporting materiality assessments, including institution-specific factors such as asset size, complexity, activities, and capital structure.
Management and boards may wish to review outstanding policies, process, and documentation findings to determine whether they remain mandatory remediation matters, are better treated as supervisory observations, or independently constitute violations of banking or banking-related law.
OCC-supervised banks should monitor the related examination guidance and assess whether planned lookbacks, independent-consultant requirements, or suspicious-activity review scopes are affected by the revised supervisory approach described in industry reporting.
Firms should track Federal Register publication and calculate the 60-day effective date once publication occurs; the August 27, 2026 announcement date is not itself the effective date.
What changed
An unsafe or unsound practice is now defined as a practice, act, or failure to act that is contrary to generally accepted standards of prudent operation and either, if continued, is likely to materially harm the bank’s financial condition or present a material risk of loss to the Deposit Insurance Fund, or has already materially harmed the bank’s financial condition. Relevant financial-condition impacts include capital, asset quality, earnings, liquidity, and sensitivity to market risk; reputation concerns unrelated to financial condition are excluded.
Compliance impact
The rule is a material change to supervisory and enforcement standards because it is the first formal regulatory definition of “unsafe or unsound practice” and limits mandatory MRAs and corrective direction for matters that do not present material financial risk, except where an actual banking-law violation exists. It may reduce board-directed remediation for lower-risk process or documentation weaknesses, but does not eliminate legal compliance obligations, enforcement exposure for material harm, or remediation requirements for violations required by law.
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould today highlighted the Trump Administration's efforts to alleviate regulatory burden on community banks, drive economic growth on Main Street, and protect America's financial system from illicit activity during remarks at the…
Why this matters
This is a news release documenting remarks by the Secretary of the Treasury and Comptroller of the Currency at an industry roundtable. The content conveys policy signals on three themes: (1) regulatory burden reduction for community banks under Dodd-Frank, (2) focus on material financial risk in supervision, and (3)...
Final rule. The NCUA Board (Board) is issuing a final rule removing NCUA's unnecessarily prescriptive regulation regarding third-party servicing of indirect vehicle loans. This action will reduce regulatory burden and provide federally insured credit unions (FICUs) with greater operational flexibility, consistent with…
AI Analysis
The NCUA issued a final rule removing the prescriptive limits in 12 CFR 701.21(h) that had capped purchases of indirect vehicle loans serviced by a third party at 50% of net worth, rising to 100% after 30 months with the same servicer. The agency says the change reduces regulatory burden and gives credit union boards greater flexibility, while leaving prudential oversight to board policies and the examination process.
Key dates
2026-03-25
NCUA issued the proposed rule to remove the prescriptive requirements
2026-05-26 Deadline
Public comment period closed
2026-08-06
Final rule was published in the Federal Register at 91 FR 50677
2026-09-08 Deadline
Final rule becomes effective
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review current indirect vehicle lending policies to confirm they no longer reference the removed 50% and 100% net-worth limits.
Boards may wish to document a board-approved risk appetite and concentration framework for third-party serviced indirect vehicle loans.
Credit unions may wish to align vendor oversight, due diligence, and servicing controls with their internal policies since the prior waiver pathway is no longer the operative framework.
State-chartered federally insured credit unions may wish to verify any conforming updates needed to insurance-related procedures and governance materials.
Compliance functions may wish to update training, policy manuals, and examination binders to reflect that supervision will now focus on principles-based oversight rather than the deleted rule text.
What changed
The final rule removes 12 CFR 701.21(h) in full, eliminating the existing concentration limits, the 30-month step-up to a higher limit, the waiver process to a Regional Director, the related response timeline, and the embedded definition framework tied to that paragraph. NCUA also states that it removed the parallel requirement in 12 CFR 741.203(c) and the related citation in 12 CFR 746.201(c), as part of the same deregulatory package.
Compliance impact
This is a meaningful deregulatory change for credit unions that purchase indirect vehicle loans serviced by third parties because it removes a binding concentration cap and waiver process. The regulator describes the prior framework as unduly burdensome and says ongoing compliance consequences will now flow mainly through board governance, internal controls, and examination findings if safety-and-soundness expectations are not met.
Final rule. The NCUA Board (Board) is amending its regulations to eliminate prescriptive segregated deposit and collateral requirements for suretyship and guaranty agreements. By removing these requirements, the Board is authorizing federally insured credit unions (FICUs) acting as sureties and guarantors to design…
AI Analysis
NCUA finalized a rule amending 12 CFR 701.20 to remove the prescriptive segregated deposit and collateral requirements for suretyship and guaranty agreements. The rule is intended to reduce compliance burden and give federally insured credit unions more flexibility, while keeping the core safety-and-soundness limits that the obligation must be fixed in amount and duration and must create a permissible loan under the applicable lending rules.
Key dates
2026-08-06
Federal Register publication of the final rule at 91 FR 50661
2026-09-08 Deadline
Final rule becomes effective
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to update policies, procedures, and product templates that still reference the former segregated deposit and collateral formulas in 12 CFR 701.20.
Institutions may wish to review surety and guaranty programs to ensure the obligation remains fixed in amount and duration and is structured as an otherwise permissible loan under the applicable lending regulations.
FCUs may wish to confirm that any related lending analysis still addresses member lending limits and other applicable provisions, including where commercial lending rules apply.
FISCUs may wish to confirm continued state-law authority to act as surety or guarantor and verify any state-specific constraints or approvals before offering these arrangements.
Risk and compliance functions may wish to reassess collateral practices for these products in light of the new flexibility while preserving safety-and-soundness controls.
What changed
The final rule deletes the specific segregated deposit requirement in 12 CFR 701.20(c)(3) for suretyship and guaranty agreements. It also removes the detailed collateral standards in 12 CFR 701.20(d), including the prior 100 percent and 110 percent collateral categories and the requirement for a perfected security interest tied to those prescribed values.
Compliance impact
NCUA describes the change as a reduction in unnecessary complexity and compliance burden, while maintaining safety-and-soundness constraints through the fixed-amount, fixed-duration, and lending-compliance requirements. The practical consequence is greater product-design flexibility for credit unions, but no relaxation of the underlying obligation to treat these arrangements as permissible lending activities under the applicable rules.
PRESS RELEASE | AUGUST 4, 2026 FDIC Approves the Deposit Insurance Application for Augustus National Bank, N.A., Dallas, Texas WASHINGTON — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today approved a deposit insurance application for Augustus National Bank, N.A. (Augustus National Bank), a newly chartered…
Why this matters
This is a press release announcing FDIC approval of deposit insurance for a newly chartered national bank (Augustus National Bank). The bank has a specialized business model targeting digital asset companies, crypto services, and stablecoin issuance.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Board invites comment on a notice of proposed rulemaking (proposal) to modernize the regulatory framework applicable to mutual holding companies (MHCs), primarily through proposed revisions to Regulation MM (12 CFR part 239), which governs the formation, operations, activities, and…
AI Analysis
On 2026-08-04, the Federal Reserve Board issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) to modernize the regulatory framework for mutual holding companies by amending Regulation MM (12 CFR part 239) and the capital rule in Regulation Q (12 CFR part 217). The proposal is intended to reduce regulatory burden, facilitate capital raising (including via mutual capital certificates), and streamline mutual-to-stock conversions for savings and loan holding companies in mutual form.
Key dates
2026-08-04
Publication of the Federal Reserve Board notice of proposed rulemaking ‘Regulatory Modernization and Relief for Mutual Holding Companies’ in the Federal Register (91 FR 49490; FR Doc. 2026-15774) amending Regulations Q (12 CFR part 217) and MM (12 CFR part 239).
2026-10-05 Deadline
Comment deadline for submitting responses to the Federal Reserve Board on the proposed amendments to Regulations Q and MM (Docket No. R-1895; RIN 7100-AH26).
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams at mutual holding companies and savings and loan holding companies may wish to review the proposed amendments to Regulation MM (12 CFR part 239), particularly the sections on dividend waivers, mutual-to-stock conversion processes, post-conversion restrictions, chartering requirements for subsidiary holding companies, and updated model charters and bylaws, to assess operational and governance impacts.
Firms planning or contemplating mutual-to-stock conversions should consider comparing their current conversion documentation, use of FR MM-PS, FR MM-OC and FR MM-OF forms, and liquidation account methodologies with the proposed streamlined forms, corrected liquidation account calculations, and revised rules on stock pricing, repurchases, offers and sales, employee stock ownership plan financing and benefit plans.
Institutions that issue, or are considering issuing, mutual capital certificates should review the proposed Appendices B and C to Regulation Q (12 CFR part 217) to evaluate whether their existing or planned instrument terms align with the model key terms for qualification as Common Equity Tier 1 or Additional Tier 1 capital, including permanence, loss-absorption, distributions and redemption features.
Subsidiary holding companies of thrift mutual holding companies may wish to analyze the proposed elimination of the federal charter requirement and related changes to Subpart C of Regulation MM to determine chartering options, corporate structure implications, and any needed updates to organizational documents and regulatory commitments.
Governance and legal teams at MHCs could review the proposed revisions to membership rights, proxy processes, postal mail requirements, voluntary dissolution, and the model charter and bylaws in Appendices A, C and D to Regulation MM, with a view to aligning internal policies and corporate governance frameworks with the modernized regime once finalized.
Risk and capital management functions at bank holding companies, savings and loan holding companies and state member banks should consider evaluating capital planning assumptions and buffers in light of the clarified eligibility of mutual capital instruments as regulatory capital under Regulation Q, and identify any systems or reporting changes that may be required if the proposal is adopted.
All affected firms may wish to prepare internal impact assessments and, where appropriate, draft comment letters addressing specific elements of Regulations Q and MM (Docket No. R-1895; RIN 7100-AH26), including any perceived risks around conflicts of interest, reduced accountability, or adjustment costs noted in the economic analysis.
Compliance monitoring teams should plan to track the rulemaking through the comment close date and subsequent Federal Reserve actions so that, if the proposal is finalized, implementation plans can be developed for policy updates, staff training and revisions to regulatory reporting and capital instrument documentation.
What changed
The NPR proposes targeted amendments to Regulation MM (12 CFR part 239) governing mutual holding companies (MHCs), including eliminating certain dividend waiver requirements that currently apply to MHCs and their subsidiary holding companies, and revising post-conversion restrictions to reduce burdens following mutual-to-stock conversions.
Compliance impact
Compliance impact is moderate but potentially structural, as the proposal recalibrates capital recognition for mutual instruments and significantly streamlines the regulatory and documentation framework for mutual holding company operations and conversions. The Board’s economic analysis highlights expected benefits in access to capital and reduced compliance costs, balanced against risks of conflicts of interest and accountability concerns that firms will need to address in governance and control frameworks.
CFTC enforcement action against UBS Financial Services for AML transaction monitoring failures in FX wire transfers. Informational news announcement of settled charges involving supervision deficiencies and system configuration issues. Relevant to banking/trading sectors and AML compliance operations.
CFTC Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting covering Basel III proposal, COT reporting, risk management tools for agricultural end users, and emerging market structures. This is informational content about regulatory discussions and industry engagement rather than a binding regulatory action, hence null urgency.
Federal Reserve Board requests comment on a proposal to modernize rules for mutual banking organizations
AI Analysis
The Federal Reserve Board requested comment on a proposal to modernize the regulatory framework for mutual banking organizations, including mutual holding companies. The proposal matters because it would update rules first established in 1993 and could ease capital-raising and procedural burdens for a largely small-institution segment of the banking system.
Key dates
2026-07-31
Federal Reserve Board issued the request for comment on the proposal.
2026-08-04
Federal Register publication date referenced in the available materials.
2026-10-05 Deadline
Comment period closes 60 days after Federal Register publication, according to secondary reporting and the referenced publication timeline.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether the institution falls within the mutual banking organization or mutual holding company framework and assess whether the proposal would affect capital planning.
Firms may wish to evaluate existing and planned capital instruments to determine whether they could qualify as regulatory capital under the proposed clarification.
Institutions may wish to review dividend-waiver, conversion, and other mutual-structure processes for possible operational or governance changes under the proposal.
Affected firms may wish to prepare comment letters on capital treatment, loss-absorption, conflicts of interest, accountability, and competition effects, consistent with the issues highlighted by the Board statement.
What changed
The proposal would modernize the Board’s rules applicable to mutual banking organizations, including mutual holding companies, for the first time in about 30 years. It would clarify which instruments may count as regulatory capital, expand flexibility for certain mutual banks to raise capital, and reduce procedural burdens. The Board’s memo says the proposal would amend Regulation MM and the capital rule to address limited access to equity and costly, unclear requirements.
Compliance impact
The proposal is a significant supervisory and capital-rule modernization initiative, but it is not yet binding. The Federal Reserve says the current framework is overly burdensome and complex, and the proposed changes are designed to preserve the mutual model while improving capital access and reducing compliance friction.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today issued a revised compliance guide for the community bank leverage ratio (CBLR) framework as part of its ongoing work to provide regulatory relief for community banks.
Why this matters
This is a news release announcing a revised compliance guide for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio framework that became effective July 1, 2026. The update provides guidance to help community banks understand the revisions and outlines multiple regulatory relief measures (simplified capital requirements, reduced...
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (collectively, the agencies) are publishing revisions to the Community Bank Compliance Guide for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) framework.
AI Analysis
The OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC issued an updated Community Bank Compliance Guide for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) framework to reflect rule changes effective July 1, 2026. For community banks that use the optional CBLR election, the practical significance is a lower qualifying leverage threshold and a more flexible grace-period mechanism for temporary noncompliance.
Key dates
2026-07-01
Revisions to the CBLR framework became effective, including the lower 8% threshold and revised grace-period rules
2026-07-30
OCC Bulletin 2026-34 published the updated Community Bank Compliance Guide
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether current capital planning and reporting processes reflect the revised 8% CBLR entry threshold.
Firms that use or may elect the CBLR framework may wish to reassess whether they can remain above the 7% grace-period floor during any temporary noncompliance.
Banks may wish to confirm how the four-quarter cure period and the eight-quarter cap over five years would operate in their internal capital contingency planning.
Community banking organizations may wish to reconcile the updated guide with the text of the capital rule, since the guide is only a summary and not binding legal text.
What changed
The agencies revised the non-binding compliance guide to align with the updated CBLR framework in the capital rule. The key substantive change is the minimum leverage ratio for CBLR qualification, which was lowered from greater than 9% to greater than 8%. The grace period for a bank that elects the CBLR framework but temporarily fails to meet the qualifying criteria was revised from two quarters to four quarters, provided the bank maintains a leverage ratio greater than 7% and does not exceed eight quarters in grace-period status over a five-year period.
Compliance impact
The OCC describes this as a regulatory-relief update for qualifying community banks, with the main compliance impact being easier access to the CBLR framework and more time to cure temporary breaches. The consequence of dropping to 7% or below is the need to return to the generally applicable risk-based capital standards.
This is a regulatory speech by CFTC Chairman outlining policy direction on deregulation, agricultural market access, and enforcement priorities. It addresses capital requirements for banks serving agricultural intermediaries, position limits and swap reporting rules, and a shift toward enforcement focused on...
This is an informational announcement about a CFTC Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting. The agenda covers Basel III proposal, risk management tools, and trading practices relevant to agricultural market participants and commodity traders.
Final rule. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission") is amending the margin requirements for uncleared swaps applicable to swap dealers and major swap participants that are not subject to the margin rules of a prudential regulator. The amendment revises the definition of "margin affiliate" in the…
AI Analysis
The CFTC adopted a final rule under 17 CFR part 23 that narrows the margin-affiliate analysis for certain seeded investment funds, expands eligible initial margin collateral, and adjusts haircut treatment for money market and similar funds. The rule is effective 2026-08-17 and is designed to reduce initial margin posting and collection burdens in specific uncleared swap relationships while preserving the overall uncleared swaps margin framework.
Key dates
2026-07-17
Federal Register publication date for the final rule
2026-08-17 Deadline
Final rule effective date
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to identify whether any counterparties qualify as eligible seeded funds under the revised margin-affiliate definition and document the three-year trading-inception window.
Firms may wish to refresh margin threshold calculations to reflect the exclusion of qualifying seeded funds from margin-affiliate aggregation.
Operational teams may wish to update collateral eligibility schedules so that money market and similar fund securities are assessed under the expanded eligible-collateral framework.
Risk and valuation teams may wish to confirm haircut logic under Commission Regulation 23.156(a)(3) for money market and similar funds.
Legal and compliance functions may wish to map the final rule against existing IM procedures, counterparty onboarding language, and margin agreements to determine whether amendments are needed before the effective date.
Firms may wish to coordinate with fund sponsors and asset managers to verify the fund's start-up capital structure, independence, support limitations, and commencement of trading for any seeded-fund analysis.
What changed
['The Commission revised the definition of "margin affiliate" so that certain collective investment vehicles that receive start-up capital from a sponsor entity, referred to as "seeded funds," are treated as having no margin affiliates or as not constituting margin affiliates of another entity for purposes of the initial margin threshold calculation.', "For eligible seeded funds, swap dealers and major swap participants subject to the CFTC uncleared swaps margin rules are relieved from the requirement to post and collect initial margin for up to three years from the fund's trading inception...
Compliance impact
The rule is a material change to the uncleared swaps margin framework because it changes when initial margin must be exchanged for certain seeded funds and broadens the pool of assets that can be posted as eligible collateral. The Commission indicates the amendments are intended to relieve burdens while preserving margin protections, so firms that fail to update threshold, collateral, and haircut controls could apply the wrong IM treatment after the effective date.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued version 2.0 of the "Allowances for Credit Losses" booklet of the Comptroller's Handbook. The booklet provides information for examiners regarding allowances for credit losses under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 326, "Financial Instruments-Credit…
Why this matters
This is an informational bulletin updating the Comptroller's Handbook to reflect the now-mandatory CECL accounting standard (ASC Topic 326) and interagency policy revisions. It rescinds prior guidance and provides examiners with current supervisory expectations for credit loss allowances.
Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould today issued remarks on his work and progress to ensure the continued relevance of the federal banking system and its ability to meet the evolving financial needs of the American people.
Why this matters
This is a leadership speech marking the Comptroller's one-year tenure. It contains noteworthy policy signals: refocus on material financial risk, support for responsible innovation within federal banking system, deployment of AI/technology in supervision, and reset of supervisory expectations including faster...
PRESS RELEASE | JULY 13, 2026 Agencies Issue Guidance on Lending to Individuals Not Legally Authorized to Work in the United States WASHINGTON — The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration (collectively, the agencies) today…
AI Analysis
The FDIC, OCC, and NCUA issued joint guidance reminding supervised institutions that lending to individuals not legally authorized to work in the United States may present elevated credit risk and should be addressed through safe-and-sound underwriting and monitoring. The guidance matters because it reinforces existing obligations under TILA/Regulation Z and ECOA/Regulation B, and signals increased supervisory attention to borrower capacity to repay and employment stability.
Key dates
2026-06-08
CFPB issued the Statement on Ability To Repay and Immigration Status referenced by the agencies
2026-07-13
FDIC, OCC, and NCUA issued the interagency guidance on lending to individuals not legally authorized to work in the United States
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review underwriting standards to confirm that capacity-to-repay analysis captures employment-authorization-related income instability.
Firms should consider whether credit policy, risk grading, and portfolio monitoring procedures explicitly address elevated repayment uncertainty for non-work-authorized borrowers.
Institutions may wish to reassess documentation and verification controls for income, employment, and supporting records in light of the agencies' stated focus on safe-and-sound lending.
Teams should consider whether fair-lending, TILA, and ECOA controls are aligned with the CFPB's June 8, 2026 statement and the interagency guidance.
Risk and finance functions may wish to evaluate whether allowance, concentration risk, and credit-loss assumptions need updating where exposure to this borrower segment is material.
What changed
The publication does not create a new lending ban or a new standalone rule. Instead, it restates that institutions should identify, measure, monitor, and control the credit risks associated with borrowers who are not legally authorized to work in the United States through underwriting practices that assess willingness and capacity to repay according to the credit terms. The guidance specifically links this issue to the CFPB's June 8, 2026 Statement on Ability To Repay and Immigration Status and reminds creditors of obligations under the Truth in Lending Act as implemented by Regulation Z,...
Compliance impact
The agencies describe the issue as a credit-risk and safety-and-soundness matter, so the immediate impact is heightened supervisory scrutiny rather than a new prohibition. Institutions with meaningful exposure to affected borrowers may face criticism if underwriting, monitoring, and documentation do not clearly reflect the stated risks.
## PART 1: ANALYSIS **Executive summary** The CFTC has finalized amendments to its uncleared swaps margin rule for swap dealers and major swap participants that are not under prudential regulator margin rules, primarily by narrowing when seeded funds are treated as “margin affiliates,” broadening eligible initial...
On July 13, 2026, following the President's Executive Order on "Restoring Integrity to America's Financial System," the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) issued guidance reminding supervised financial…
AI Analysis
The OCC, FDIC, and NCUA issued interagency guidance on July 13, 2026 reminding supervised institutions to apply existing safe-and-sound credit risk management practices when lending to borrowers who are not legally authorized to work in the United States. The guidance does not create a new lending ban, but it signals heightened supervisory focus on underwriting, account management, credit classification, allowance analysis, and consumer compliance for these borrowers.
Key dates
2026-07-13
OCC, FDIC, and NCUA issued the interagency guidance
2026-06-08
CFPB issued its Statement on Ability To Repay and Immigration Status, referenced by the guidance
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review underwriting standards to confirm that repayment capacity, source of repayment, and overall financial condition are assessed consistently for borrowers whose work authorization is uncertain.
Firms may wish to test whether account management, credit classification, and allowance methodologies adequately capture elevated credit risk linked to employment authorization uncertainty.
Institutions may wish to review consumer compliance controls for alignment with TILA, Regulation Z, ECOA, and Regulation B when evaluating applicants affected by immigration or work-authorized status.
Risk and compliance teams may wish to update portfolio monitoring, concentration analysis, and documentation standards so that the identified credit risk factors are reflected in governance and reporting.
Community banks may wish to verify that loan policy language and examiner-facing documentation clearly show how these risks are being identified, measured, monitored, and controlled.
What changed
The publication is guidance, not a new rule or statute, and it reinforces existing expectations rather than imposing a new legal prohibition. It states that lending to individuals not legally authorized to work in the United States may present elevated credit risk because their ability to generate income, maintain employment, and remain financially stable may be more uncertain.
Compliance impact
The practical impact is moderate to significant for consumer and retail lending programs because the agencies are signaling that work-authorization uncertainty is a relevant credit-risk factor and a consumer-compliance consideration. The publication could increase supervisory scrutiny of underwriting rationale, documentation quality, and treatment of affected borrowers, especially where institutions cannot show that these risks are consistently incorporated into controls.
Speech At a Bank Policy Institute London Conference, London, United Kingdom
AI Analysis
Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman used this Federal Reserve speech to frame a broad U.S. and international push to modernize financial regulation around four principles: focus on material risks, tailor oversight to risk profile, increase transparency/accountability, and stay forward-looking on innovation. For compliance teams, the speech is a clear policy signal that the Federal Reserve is moving toward more risk-based supervision, capital simplification, updated asset thresholds, and more permissive treatment of responsible AI adoption.
Key dates
2026-07-13
Federal Reserve speech delivered in London on modernization of financial regulation
2026-07-22 Deadline
FSB public comment deadline for the consultation report on sound practices for responsible adoption of AI
2026-07-13
Speech states the FSB modernization consultation report will be published in the fall and then delivered to the G20
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map the speech to ongoing capital-rule workstreams, especially Basel III, stress testing, and G-SIB surcharge calibration.
Large-bank firms may wish to assess whether current capital planning assumes overlapping stress-test and risk-based requirements that could be reduced or realigned.
Community and regional banks may wish to review whether fixed-dollar regulatory thresholds continue to overstate burden as assets grow with inflation and nominal GDP.
Supervised firms may wish to align internal issue-management processes with the Federal Reserve’s stated shift toward findings tied to material financial risk and more differentiated treatment of lesser issues.
AI governance teams may wish to compare current model-risk, vendor-risk, and use-case controls against the FSB’s consultation themes on responsible adoption and use of AI.
Boards and senior management may wish to review whether supervisory documentation, escalation, and risk reporting are sufficiently focused on material safety-and-soundness issues.
What changed
This speech does not itself impose binding requirements, but it signals several concrete regulatory and supervisory changes already underway. Bowman said the Federal Reserve is advancing a 2026 Basel III proposal and related capital framework reforms, including a single stack of risk-based capital requirements for large banks, recalibration of the G-SIB surcharge, reduced overlap between stress testing and risk-based capital requirements, and indexing the G-SIB surcharge to nominal economic growth going forward.
Compliance impact
The near-term impact is moderate rather than immediate because the speech is policy guidance, not a final rule. However, it signals a material supervisory shift toward reduced burden, more tailored oversight, and greater emphasis on material risk, which may affect how examinations, capital planning, and governance expectations evolve.
Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with TS Banking Group, Inc. and TS Contrarian Bancshares, Inc.
AI Analysis
The Federal Reserve announced a written agreement dated July 6, 2026 with TS Banking Group, Inc. and TS Contrarian Bancshares, Inc. The public notice confirms an enforcement action but does not itself describe the substantive deficiencies; the attached agreement and third-party reporting indicate the Fed is focused on capital, liquidity, and support for subsidiary banks.
Key dates
2026-07-06
Federal Reserve and the firms executed the written agreement
2026-07-09
Federal Reserve publicly announced the enforcement action
2026-08-05 Deadline
Cash flow forecasts due 30 days after the agreement date, as described in the agreement reporting
2026-09-04 Deadline
Capital plan due 60 days after the agreement date, as described in the agreement reporting
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review the written agreement and map each requirement to responsible owners, due dates, and reporting lines.
Firms in similar structures may wish to confirm whether capital distribution limits, new debt restrictions, or prior-approval conditions apply under their own supervisory agreements.
Boards may wish to assess whether consolidated capital planning, liquidity forecasting, and subsidiary support expectations are sufficiently documented and tested.
Supervisory response plans may wish to be updated to reflect escalation triggers for capital shortfalls, liquidity stress, and required regulator communications.
What changed
The Fed executed a written agreement with TS Banking Group, Inc. and TS Contrarian Bancshares, Inc. on July 6, 2026, and publicly disclosed it on July 9, 2026. The public press release identifies only the parties and the action type, while the attached agreement indicates the Board can enforce the agreement under section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and section 50 of the FDI Act.
Compliance impact
The action signals heightened supervisory concern around capital adequacy and intragroup support at the holding-company level. The practical consequence is ongoing restrictions on capital distributions and borrowing, plus mandatory supervisory reporting and remediation planning.
Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with Small Business Bank and announces termination enforcement actions with BNP Paribas S.A., BNP Paribas USA, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., and Community Bankshares, Inc.
AI Analysis
The Federal Reserve Board issued a Prompt Corrective Action Directive to Small Business Bank, based on a determination that the bank was significantly undercapitalized as of June 18, 2026. It also terminated older enforcement actions against BNP Paribas entities and Community Bankshares, which signals closure of those matters but no new substantive obligations for those institutions.
Key dates
2026-06-18
Federal Reserve determined Small Business Bank was significantly undercapitalized
2026-06-25
Termination effective date for the BNP Paribas-related cease-and-desist order and the Community Bankshares cease-and-desist order
2026-06-29
Prompt Corrective Action Directive issued for Small Business Bank
2026-07-29 Deadline
Approximate latest date to increase equity if measured as 30 days from the June 29, 2026 directive date; the exact deadline depends on the directive's effective date and any permitted extension
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams at banks facing PCA should review whether capital ratios trigger section 38 of the FDI Act and Regulation H thresholds.
Affected institutions may wish to map the directive's capital restoration timeline to board oversight, funding sources, and shareholder approval processes.
Firms with open Federal Reserve enforcement matters may wish to monitor the Board's enforcement database for termination notices and effective dates.
Boards and management teams may wish to ensure the documentation supporting capital adequacy, if relevant, is current and ready for supervisory review.
What changed
For Small Business Bank, the Board executed a Prompt Corrective Action Directive dated June 29, 2026 under section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Regulation H. The directive states the bank was significantly undercapitalized as defined in 12 C.F.R. 208.43(b)(4) and requires the bank to raise equity within 30 days of the effective date so it becomes adequately capitalized under 12 C.F.R. 208.43(b)(2).
Compliance impact
The Small Business Bank action is high severity because PCA directives can force rapid capital restoration and signal serious supervisory concern about safety and soundness. The terminations for BNP Paribas entities and Community Bankshares reduce active enforcement burden for those firms, but they do not change the fact that the matters were publicly recorded and only ended on June 25, 2026.
Joint CFTC-SEC request for public comment on harmonizing portfolio margining frameworks across securities and derivatives markets. This is informational/consultative content seeking stakeholder input on potential regulatory alignment regarding margin requirements, risk management, and cross-product offsets.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission today issued a joint request for public comment on potential approaches to further harmonize regulatory frameworks applicable to portfolio margining across securities,…
Why this matters
Joint SEC-CFTC request for public comment on portfolio margining framework harmonization. This is informational/consultative content seeking industry input on regulatory alignment between securities and futures markets. Primarily affects capital markets participants and investment firms subject to margin requirements.
BOARD MEETING | JUNE 25, 2026 FDIC Board of Directors Meeting Today, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Board of Directors met in open session to consider the following matters. Materials and information relative to the open Board actions are available on the Board Matters webpage . Items Addressed in Open…
AI Analysis
On 2026-06-25, the FDIC Board met in open session and approved three notices of proposed rulemaking: one on resolution submissions for covered insured depository institutions, one on assessment thresholds/rate schedules/adjustments, and one on disclosure of information. This matters because each proposal signals material shifts in FDIC compliance obligations, with the resolution proposal and assessment proposal appearing to reduce or reshape filing and assessment burdens while the disclosure proposal expands permitted sharing of confidential FDIC information under defined conditions.
Key dates
2026-06-25
FDIC Board met in open session and approved three notices of proposed rulemaking
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to assess whether the institution would fall above the proposed resolution-submission threshold if raised to $100 billion in assets.
Firms may wish to inventory current resolution-planning, interim supplement, and public-section processes to identify work that could be reduced or repurposed if the proposal is finalized.
Assessment and finance teams may wish to model the impact of a $10 billion to $30 billion threshold change and any indexed future adjustments on deposit insurance assessments.
Legal and information-governance teams may wish to review confidentiality-agreement templates and third-party-sharing controls in anticipation of broader permitted disclosure under Part 309.
Institutions currently subject to FDIC resolution submissions may wish to monitor whether the proposed filing-cycle change to every three years alters internal preparation calendars and governance approvals.
What changed
The Board approved a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise resolution-submission requirements for covered insured depository institutions; secondary reporting indicates the proposal would raise the applicability threshold from $50 billion to $100 billion in total assets, move covered institutions to a three-year filing cycle, eliminate certain interim supplements and public sections, and remove a substantial portion of current narrative content requirements.
Compliance impact
The practical impact is potentially significant for large and midsize FDIC-insured institutions, because the proposals could materially change resolution planning, assessment exposure, and handling of confidential FDIC information. The publication does not describe enforcement consequences, but a final rule could require firms to redesign reporting, governance, and third-party disclosure controls.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today issued the "Lending and Loan Portfolio Risk Management" booklet of the Comptroller's Handbook.
Why this matters
The OCC Bulletin 2026-29 announces the issuance of a revised 'Lending and Loan Portfolio Risk Management' booklet that rescissions and combines multiple prior guidance documents.
Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with employee of Bank of Eufaula and S N B Bancshares, Inc.
AI Analysis
The Federal Reserve Board announced a consent cease-and-desist order against Jason Burns, the president and director of Bank of Eufaula and a director of S N B Bancshares, Inc., based on unsafe lending practices. This matters because it signals the Fed is using individual enforcement to address conduct risk at bank leadership level, not just institution-wide deficiencies.
Key dates
2026-06-25
Federal Reserve Board announced the consent cease-and-desist order against Jason Burns
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review lending approval, exception, and escalation controls for any patterns that could be characterized as unsafe lending.
Firms may wish to assess whether board and senior management oversight of credit extensions is documented clearly enough to withstand supervisory scrutiny.
Institutions may wish to confirm that conflicts of interest, insider influence, and related-party lending safeguards are operating effectively.
Banks may wish to ensure that examination issues identified in credit administration are remediated before they become individual enforcement matters.
What changed
The publication records a new formal enforcement action: a consent cease-and-desist order against Jason Burns. The stated basis is unsafe lending practices, but the press release does not describe the underlying factual findings, operational requirements, monetary penalties, or remediation deadlines. The action is an individual supervisory response connected to an Oklahoma bank and its holding company, indicating the Fed viewed the conduct as serious enough to warrant public enforcement.
Compliance impact
The action is targeted and limited in scope, but it is significant because the Fed publicly tied the enforcement to unsafe lending practices and an individual bank executive. The publication does not state any civil money penalty or industry-wide restriction, but a cease-and-desist order can carry material supervisory consequences if its terms are breached.
CFTC Chairman's keynote address providing regulatory guidance on perpetual contracts, prediction markets, and agricultural commodity derivatives. Informational speech clarifying agency's balanced approach to innovation versus traditional market protection, with emphasis on COT reporting enhancements, Basel III capital...
This is a speech by Federal Reserve Governor Michael S. Barr delivered at American University on June 6, 2026. The content is informational and represents the Governor's personal views on recent and proposed deregulation of banking capital requirements, liquidity standards, and supervisory practices.
PRESS RELEASE | JUNE 2, 2026 Agencies Remove Additional References to Reputation Risk WASHINGTON—The federal bank regulatory agencies today jointly updated certain interagency documents to remove references to reputation risk. The agencies are taking this action to complement their earlier actions that ended the use…
AI Analysis
On 2026-06-02, the FDIC, OCC, and Federal Reserve jointly updated certain interagency supervisory documents to remove references to reputation risk. The agencies said the edits are meant to align with their earlier actions ending the use of reputation risk in supervision and to keep supervisory judgments focused on material financial risks.
Key dates
2026-06-02
FDIC, OCC, and Federal Reserve jointly announced updates to certain interagency documents removing references to reputation risk
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to inventory supervisory manuals, internal policies, and model examination references that still mention reputation risk and assess whether any language should be updated for consistency with the agencies’ approach.
Firms should consider whether account-closure, onboarding, or risk-acceptance frameworks rely on reputation-risk concepts that may now be less aligned with supervisory expectations.
Banks may wish to review escalation criteria and decision records to ensure they are grounded in material financial, operational, or legal risk factors rather than vague reputational concerns.
Supervisory response teams may wish to brief relevant business lines on the agencies’ stated focus on financial risk and the agencies’ concern that reputation risk can be used to pressure restrictions on lawful customer activity.
Compliance functions may wish to monitor whether additional interagency documents are revised in subsequent FDIC, OCC, or Federal Reserve publications.
What changed
The publication says the agencies updated certain interagency documents and removed references to reputation risk. The stated scope of the change is narrow: the agencies said the updates are limited to removing references to reputation risk, not to imposing new obligations on banks. The agencies also reiterated that reputation risk can be misused to pressure banks to restrict access to financial services based on constitutionally protected political or religious beliefs, speech, conduct, or lawful business activities.
Compliance impact
The impact is moderate but notable because the agencies are signaling that supervisory decisions should be anchored in material financial risks rather than reputation risk concepts. The release does not create a new compliance obligation, but it does indicate a supervisory posture that may reduce tolerance for policies or practices justified primarily by reputational concerns.
Speech At the Reykjavík Economic Conference 2026, Central Bank of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
Why this matters
This is an informational speech by Michelle W. Bowman, Vice Chair for Supervision, delivered at an international central banking conference. It articulates the Federal Reserve's practical approach to setting the federal funds rate by detailing how economic indicators (GDP, employment, inflation) inform policy...
PRESS RELEASE | MAY 22, 2026 Agencies Publish Resolution Plan Feedback Letters for Certain Domestic and Foreign Banking Organizations WASHINGTON—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Reserve Board today published feedback letters for several resolution plans submitted in July 2025. Resolution…
Why this matters
This is a press release announcing the publication of resolution plan (living will) feedback letters for 2025 submissions from the eight largest domestic banks and 56 foreign banking organizations. The agencies found no shortcomings and confirmed prior derivatives-related weaknesses were addressed.
STATEMENT | MAY 22, 2026 Statement by Chairman Travis Hill on Title I Feedback Letters and Resolution-Related Reforms Today, the FDIC and Federal Reserve Board announced the approval of joint agency feedback letters in response to the 2025 resolution plan submissions of the eight U.S. global systemically important…
AI Analysis
Chairman Travis Hill said the FDIC and Federal Reserve Board approved joint feedback letters on the 2025 Title I resolution plan submissions of the eight U.S. GSIBs and 56 foreign-based firms. He also signaled a broader recalibration of large-bank resolution policy, including forthcoming amendments to the FDIC’s IDI Rule and possible changes to other resolution-related rules and the Title I planning process.
Key dates
2026-05-22
FDIC and Federal Reserve Board approved joint agency feedback letters on the 2025 resolution plan submissions; Chairman Hill issued his statement
2026-06-01
Expected timeframe for the FDIC to propose amendments to the IDI Rule, described as coming in the following weeks
Suggested considerations
Compliance and resolution-planning teams may wish to review the forthcoming FDIC IDI Rule proposal closely for potential changes to large-bank resolution expectations.
Firms subject to Title I planning may wish to reassess prior resolution-plan assumptions, including any areas likely to be revisited through joint FDIC-Federal Reserve feedback.
Large banking organizations may wish to map which existing resolution-related policies or internal playbooks could be affected if the FDIC rescinds or modifies current requirements.
Teams may wish to monitor whether the FDIC and Federal Reserve Board signal changes to the structure, scope, or cadence of future Title I submissions and feedback letters.
What changed
The announcement does not create a new binding rule or immediate compliance deadline. Instead, it confirms supervisory feedback on the 2025 resolution plans for the eight U.S. GSIBs and 56 foreign-based firms and signals that the FDIC is actively reevaluating its resolution framework. Chairman Hill said the FDIC plans to propose amendments to the IDI Rule for large insured depository institutions in the coming weeks, is reviewing other resolution-related rules and policies, and expects to engage the Federal Reserve Board on reconsidering elements of the Title I resolution planning process.
Compliance impact
The immediate practical impact is moderate: the statement signals policy direction rather than imposing a new requirement. The main compliance risk is forward-looking, because the FDIC is telegraphing changes that could alter resolution planning expectations, supervisory feedback, and large-bank preparedness standards.
This regulatory update from the CFTC and SEC proposes amendments to Form PF, the confidential reporting form for certain SEC-registered investment advisers to private funds. The changes aim to reduce reporting burdens for private funds, including raising filing thresholds and streamlining requirements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a conditional exemptive order that permits customer cross-margining of cash market positions in U.S. Treasury securities cleared by a registered clearing agency and futures positions in U.S. Treasury…
AI Analysis
The SEC has issued a conditional exemptive order and approved a proposed rule change by the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (FICC) to enable customer cross-margining between cash U.S. Treasury positions cleared at FICC and futures positions cleared at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), extending a benefit previously limited to clearing members. This development enhances Treasury market liquidity and resilience by allowing dually registered broker-dealers/futures commission merchants (FCMs) to offer more efficient margin calculations to customers, aligning SEC and CFTC efforts in modernizing clearing infrastructure.
Key dates
April 15, 2026
- SEC issues conditional exemptive order and approves FICC's proposed rule change
Post
April 15, 2026 (prior to Federal Register publication); - Exemptive order and rule approval made available on SEC.gov; related CFTC order on CFTC.gov
TBD (after Federal Register publication) Deadline
- Official effective date upon Federal Register publication (no specific comment or implementation deadline specified in announcement)
Suggested considerations
Qualifying Firms: Review and ensure compliance with exemptive order conditions (e.g., customer eligibility, account segregation, risk controls) before offering cross-margining; update internal policies, systems, and customer agreements to support combined margin calculations in futures accounts.
Operational Updates: Implement changes to clearing and margining processes aligned with the Third Amended Cross-Margining Agreement; conduct testing with FICC and CME for customer-level arrangements.
Documentation and Reporting: Maintain records demonstrating adherence to Rule 15c3-3 exemptions and notify customers of new margining options; monitor for CFTC parallel requirements on commingled funds.
Legal/Compliance Review: Assess dual SEC/CFTC registration status and joint membership; consult with counsel on condition-specific interpretations.
What changed
- Exemptive Order: Provides relief from the SEC's broker-dealer customer protection rule (Rule 15c3-3), permitting dually registered broker-dealer/FCMs that are joint clearing members of FICC and CME...
Rule Change Approval: Approves FICC's filing to incorporate a Third Amended and Restated Cross-Margining Agreement with CME into its Government Securities Division rules, enabling cross-margining at...
Scope Expansion: Shifts from prior restrictions where only clearing members could cross-margin, now extending to eligible customers of qualifying firms, with safeguards for customer fund segregation...
Compliance impact
Urgency: High - This enables immediate operational opportunities for margin efficiency but requires swift review of systems and controls to meet conditional safeguards, avoiding customer protection violations under Rule 15c3-3. Firms risk regulatory scrutiny or missed liquidity benefits if unprepared, especially amid ongoing Treasury clearing mandates; proactive adoption supports market resilience goals without mandatory overhaul.
This regulatory update from the CFTC is focused on strengthening the liquidity and resilience of the U.S. Treasury market, which is a critical part of the capital markets.
This regulatory update announces the appointment of two new deputy general counsel at the CFTC, which is relevant for banking and capital markets firms that are subject to CFTC regulation and oversight.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Services Agency of Japan (FSA) convened the Spring SEC-FSA Financial Regulatory Dialogue in Tokyo on Feb. 27, 2026.The SEC–FSA Dialogue builds upon longstanding efforts between the two…
Why this matters
This regulatory dialogue between the SEC and FSA covers topics related to prudential requirements, reporting and disclosure, and authorization and licensing for financial firms across banking, investment management, and capital markets sectors.
This regulatory update from the CFTC provides an interpretation on the legacy swap status of swaps held by the swap dealer Morgan Stanley following an internal reorganization merger. This is relevant for banks and broker-dealers subject to CFTC swap clearing and margin requirements.
This regulatory update announces the swearing in of a new CFTC Chairman, which is relevant for banking, capital markets, and crypto firms that are subject to CFTC oversight and regulation. The new leadership could impact authorization, prudential, and governance requirements for these firms.
This regulatory update announces the departure of the Acting Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which is relevant for firms in the banking, capital markets, and crypto sectors.
This speech by the CFTC Acting Chairman is likely to cover regulatory developments and priorities related to banking, capital markets, and the crypto/digital assets sector.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today enhanced its efforts to assist broker-dealers and other market participants on the path to central clearing of U.S. Treasury securities, developing a one-stop webpage that puts the latest status updates, staff…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC is relevant to broker-dealers and banks that participate in the U.S. Treasury securities market. It discusses the SEC's efforts to assist these firms with the implementation of central clearing rules for Treasury securities, which has implications for prudential requirements and...
This speech from the CFTC Acting Chairman discusses regulatory harmonization efforts between the SEC and CFTC, which is relevant for firms operating in the banking, capital markets, and crypto/digital asset sectors.