After being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, President Donald Trump wasted no time signing a raft of executive orders on issues ranging from immigration to energy to DOGE. Businesses are pulling all-nighters in war rooms, setting up hotlines, and otherwise scrambling to understand the implications of his actions. Here's what else you might want to read this week:
"Acting Leaders Take the Reins of Agencies as Trump Sworn In"
Shortly after President Trump took the oath of office, FDIC Vice Chair Travis Hill, SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda, and National Credit Union Administration Vice Chair Kyle Hauptman were named acting chairs of their respective agencies.
"FDIC's Hill Wastes Little Time in Re-Prioritizing"
Speaking of Hill, the new acting FDIC chair outlined fifteen priorities for the agency, including speeding up the merger-approval process, making bank-fintech partnerships more transparent, and overhauling the FDIC's culture. He also called for withdrawing the Biden-era brokered deposits proposal, along with other proposals he says are "problematic."
"Will Trump 2.0 Be Revolutionary or Evolutionary for the Banking Industry?"
With Trump in the White House, the GOP in control of Congress, and Republicans in key regulatory roles, many bankers are hoping for four years of lighter regulation. But what benefits them will also benefit many of their competitors.
"How Consumers Are Juggling Optimism and Pessimism in their Financial Futures"
The public is divided on its perception of the economy, and those divisions are driving different saving, investing, and spending behaviors. Institutions that adapt to consumers' shifting preferences are likely to come out ahead, but to do so, they must understand how Americans' path to financial security is evolving.
"CFPB to Consider Broader Ban on Declined Payment Fees"
The CFPB withdrew a proposal that would have prohibited banks from charging non-sufficient funds fees on declined debit-card payments, ATM withdrawals, and other transactions. The agency said it would take "a more comprehensive approach" to NSF fees, though the Trump administration could shelve the whole effort.
"ABA, ICBA List Goals for Coming Year Under Trump Administration"
Repealing Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act and eliminating the Durbin Amendment are key priorities for both groups.
"Big Banks Have Entered the 'Debanking' Chat"
Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen caused a furor two months ago when he claimed Biden-era banking regulators were debanking crypto companies. Of course, federal laws require banks to assess the riskiness of their clients' businesses, but that's a subjective exercise. Now that more states are adopting fair access laws (which are often in conflict), big banks appear to be warming to federal legislation that would clarify which industries they can and can't do business with.
"Chicago's Pulaski Savings Bank Is 2025's First to Fail in US"
The FDIC claimed the failure will cost the Deposit Insurance Fund $28.5 million, citing "suspected fraud" as the reason for the inflated amount. Illinois-based Millennium Bank acquired Pulaski's deposits and the majority of its assets.
"SEC Starts Crypto Task Force Led by 'Crypto Mom' Peirce"
The task force aims to develop a regulatory framework for digital assets and end what it calls the SEC's "regulation by enforcement" approach adopted by former Chair Gary Gensler.
"Inflation and Interest Rates Will Bedevil Many Bankers in 2025"
Consumers and industry players are starting to see signs that inflation is picking back up (which may mean interest rates could start rising again, too).
"Banks Should Revisit Their M&A Strategies for 2025"
Bank M&A is widely expected to rebound in 2025. One expert offers suggestions for how banks can prepare for a possible deal.
------------------------------
Rob Blackwell
Chief Content Officer and Head of External Affairs
IntraFi
Arlington, VA
------------------------------