President Trump's on-again, off-again trade policy is rattling markets, tech professionals are encouraging their children to pursue careers in the arts, and check out the winner (and honorable mentions) of the World Nature Photography Awards.
Here's what else you might want to read this week:
"Judge Wants Proof CFPB 'Hasn't Been Choked Out of Existence'"
A federal judge retained a consent agreement to prevent mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau while she determines whether the Trump administration is trying to shut the agency down. "What we're talking about with interim oversight is to make sure it hasn't been choked out of existence before I get to rule," she said during a Monday hearing. Emails released in court show how the agency has been thrown into chaos since President Trump took office. The judge in the case appears angry at the contradicting emails that some top-level CFPB officials have sent out in which they ordered a work stoppage, then claimed employees should have been working all along, then reversed course a day later by saying they shouldn't be working.
"FDIC Withdraws Merger Policy, Brokered Deposit Proposal"
The FDIC board approved a proposal to rescind a Biden-era merger policy, announcing that it would reinstate its previous policy statement and re-evaluate its process for reviewing bank mergers. It also withdrew its controversial brokered deposits proposal, along with several others related to incentive-based compensation, corporate governance, and the Change in Bank Control Act.
"President Touts Economic Policy Despite Market Turmoil"
President Trump shared his economic vision in a joint address to Congress, sharing his plans for tax cuts and deregulation. Many Democrats protested his speech, and a number walked out. Early on, Rep. Al Green, D-TX, was escorted out by the Seargent at Arms for interrupting the address. He was censured Thursday by the House for his conduct.
"Five Ways to Strengthen Your Institution for a Falling Rate Cycle"
Rethinking the funding mix, mitigating risks to credit quality, and eliminating product silos are three of the suggestions highlighted in this article.
"Crypto Can't Stop Fighting Itself"
The regulatory environment has never been more favorable for crypto, but competing industry factions are jeopardizing progress as they clash for ideological, strategic, and commercial reasons. When it comes to stablecoin legislation specifically, balancing innovation, consumer protection, and the future of digital assets is proving to be a tall order.
"Lawsuit Over Zelle Scams Is Dropped by Consumer Bureau"
The CFPB sued Early Warning Services, JPMorgan, BofA, and Wells last December, alleging that the firms didn't investigate fraud complaints properly or reimburse victims. But the agency dismissed the lawsuit on Tuesday, days after dropping a separate lawsuit against Capital One.
"Banks Must Remain Laser-Focused on Deposits"
Funding pressures have eased, but costs are unlikely to drop materially anytime soon. Banks should focus on growing deposits through fintech partnerships and incentives for relationship managers, and they should develop marketing strategies to keep deposits in-house in light of clients that regularly make fund transfers, this article says.
"Why Your Community Bank Needs a Disaster Recovery Plan"
Natural disasters can devastate local communities, and unfortunately, they've been increasing in number and severity. Learn how community banks can develop business continuity and data recovery plans to quickly restore service in the wake of extreme weather events.
"Tips for Winning the Retail Banking Game"
Small-bank execs discuss their approaches to partnering with fintechs and how their efforts have enabled them to serve young, tech-savvy customers.
"From Data Hoarding to Data Deployment: How to Make Your Data a Profit Center"
Leading institutions consider data a strategic asset instead of an operational need. Read how to craft a comprehensive data strategy at your bank.
"Trump's Crypto Advisers Weigh Paths to a National Stockpile"
Over the weekend, President Trump announced a plan to establish a strategic reserve for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies but offered few details on how it will be created. I continue to not really understand why we would do this, but it looks like it's happening.
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Rob Blackwell
Chief Content Officer and Head of External Affairs
IntraFi
Arlington, VA
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