“Brokered Deposit Bills Fly Through HFSC”
The House Financial Services Committee advanced two bipartisan bills: one raising how much reciprocal funding can be treated as nonbrokered, and another ensuring that certain custodial deposits aren’t automatically labeled as brokered. A companion bill on reciprocal deposits is already making its way through the Senate.
“Banks Race to Prove They’re Not Biased Against Conservatives”
Amid accusations of “debanking,” large institutions are emphasizing risk-based decisions while the White House weighs penalties for perceived political discrimination. To defend their practices, banks have been ramping up outreach to Republican lawmakers and advocacy groups.
“Will Stablecoins Upend Banking? Watch Consumers for the Answer”
Stablecoins aren’t likely to disrupt banking anytime soon. Their most immediate value lies in payments, particularly cross-border, where banks can use providers to mint and redeem coins without holding crypto themselves, then settle back into dollars. The takeaway for banks: experiment where customers have real needs rather than trying to do too much at once.
I recently spoke with Anchorage Digital CEO Nathan McCauley on Banking with Interest about stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and shifting views on debanking—listen here.
“Tether Eyes U.S. Return in December, Names Trump Ally Hines to Top Post”
Speaking of stablecoins, after stepping back from the U.S. market in 2018 amid regulatory scrutiny, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer now plans a relaunch with “USAT,” tapping Anchorage Digital to issue and Cantor Fitzgerald to custody reserves.
“2025 Technology Survey: Banks Grapple With Data, AI Maturity”
One-third of bank leaders say turning data into decisions is a top technology-related challenge. Many still lean on spreadsheets, while two-thirds now have an acceptable-use policy for AI. Only 18% measure ROI on tech projects. The broader lesson, according to Bank Director, is that banks should get their data plumbing in order before chasing flashier tools.
“How the Agentic AI Revolution is Transforming Operations at 70% of Banks”
Agentic AI is moving past the pilot stage, with 70% of banks now testing or deploying it, especially in fraud prevention and security. Leaders still view the technology as a supervised assistant rather than a replacement, with the most effective approach being to start small, build strong oversight, and expand what proves successful.
“Federal Reserve’s Jerome Powell Signals No Push for Bigger Cut”
The Fed trimmed rates by 25 basis points—the first cut in nine months—and signaled that more easing could follow if the labor market continues to weaken. For now, Chair Jerome Powell has ruled out a larger half-point cut. With funding costs easing, banks may see deposit betas decline before loan demand strengthens.
In Other News
ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel off the air following comments he made about Charlie Kirk, the legendary actor and Sundance founder Robert Redford died at 89, and President Trump filed a $15 billion defamation suit against The New York Times.