“Bankers Back Fed Independence as SCOTUS Mulls Removability”
IntraFi’s third-quarter survey of 441 bank executives found that 88% believe a president should only be able to remove Fed officials for proven misconduct, while just 4% support giving a president full removal power. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in January on how much authority a president has to dismiss Fed governors.
The coming weeks are critical for the CFPB. The D.C. Circuit Court is weighing whether to let the Trump administration dismiss most of its staff, but even if it blocks the firings, the CFPB could run out of funds within weeks unless acting Director Russ Vought requests money from the Fed, which seems unlikely. With most agency enforcement actions on pause, Democrats and consumer advocates warn that less oversight could lead to more abuses in the consumer debt market.
“Beyond the Rate Cut: Why Digital Experience Is the New Deposit Strategy”
As rate cuts squeeze margins, community banks face pressure to retain customers without relying on yield. The solution, experts say, lies in “experience competition,” or using digital platforms to engage customers—particularly younger ones—by personalizing, simplifying, and integrating their financial lives.
“OCC’s Gould Leans Away from ‘Ostrich’ Approach”
Cryptocurrency activity should occur inside the regulated banking system so regulators can monitor risks while capturing potential benefits, Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said at Money 20/20. Gould said the agency would avoid a “head-in-the-sand” stance and evaluate crypto firms’ trust-charter applications on a case-by-case basis, noting that failing to innovate poses its own set of risks to the banking system’s relevance.
“Personalization Strategies, Driven by Community Bank Data”
Most community banks have valuable customer data, but they often struggle to organize and use it effectively. By centralizing data, collecting ongoing feedback, and integrating tools like CRMs, banks can offer more personalized services and anticipate customer needs, this article says.
“Understanding the Opportunities and Concerns for Agentic AI”
Agentic AI isn’t mainstream yet, but it has the potential to reshape community banking. Possible uses include processing Automated Clearing House returns, small-loan underwriting, fraud detection, and back-office workflows. While agentic AI could make operations faster and smarter, experts urge strong due diligence and written AI policies to manage data and compliance risks.
“JPMorgan, BofA Flag Trump Debanking Inquiry in SEC Filings”
JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America disclosed in recent SEC filings that they’re responding to government inquiries stemming from President Trump’s August executive order on “debanking.” Chase noted, “Certain of these matters are at various stages, including reviews, investigations, and legal proceedings.” The megabanks deny declining services to conservatives for political reasons. Earlier this week, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, released a discussion draft of a bill proposing a new approach to limit debanking.
In Other News
Democrats reshaped expectations for 2026 after scoring three major election wins on Tuesday, the FAA will cut scheduled flights by 10% across 40 of the country’s largest airports during the shutdown, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, announced she will not seek reelection in 2027 after 38 years in Congress.