“Cloudy With a Chance of Stagflation”
Inflation has been falling of late, and unemployment has been low for a while, but tariffs, political pressures, and looming legal battles are clouding the economic outlook. Meanwhile, the Fed is in wait-and-see mode with monetary policy, though minutes from the most recent FOMC meeting show members are divided over the potential impacts of President Trump’s trade policies.
Complicating matters further, Powell’s term ends next year, and Trump is likely to replace him.
FHFA Director Bill Pulte seems confident about the economy, though. On Monday, he posted on X that the president has “crushed Biden’s inflation” and urged Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower rates immediately. “There is no reason not to,” Pulte proclaimed.
“AI Is Advising Your Depositors. Are Your Deposit Products Ready?”
The internet democratized information, but artificial intelligence can act on it. Learn how AI can help depositors find higher yields and what banks can do to protect their margins.
“CFPB to Yank ‘Unlawful’ Open Banking Rule”
The CFPB plans to scrap the controversial 1033 rule passed last October, calling it “unlawful.” It’s a big win for banks, which had accused the agency of regulatory overreach under former Director Rohit Chopra and warned the rule would increase compliance costs and fraud risks.
“Crypto Reckons with Trump’s Growing Industry Ties”
President Trump wants the U.S. to become a global leader in crypto, but his dealings with the industry are raising ethical and legal concerns. Even crypto insiders fear his involvement could erode the industry’s credibility and put key legislation at risk.
“How Banks and Customers Could Win with 15-Year ‘Half-Amortizing’ Mortgages”
Once upon a time, most home loans were made by community banks. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage changed that forever. But a simple tweak to existing 15-year mortgages could make community banks competitive in the market again—while offering consumers better terms.
“Banks Grapple with Unintended Consequences of Deregulation”
Banks quick to praise the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda may not be fully considering how it also helps nonbank competitors, leading to new challenges in an evolving financial services industry.
“Better Onboarding Isn’t Just a Perk. It’s Critical”
Consumers and small businesses increasingly expect to be able to open accounts seamlessly. This means that banks with frictionless onboarding processes are more likely to earn customers’ loyalty over the long run.
“How to Manage Brand Risk for M&A Success”
As banks pursue M&A for scale, growth, and geographic expansion, they can’t afford to overlook brand risk, a chief experience officer says.
“The Campaign Goldman’s CEO Waged to Silence Powerful Internal Critics”
In 2022, with profits falling due to a costly foray into consumer lending, key partners heading for the exits, and his DJ side gig drawing undue scrutiny, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon launched a campaign to oust his internal critics. And he appears to have weathered the storm: Many dissenters are now gone, and the bank’s stock price is at an all-time high.