FDIC

The Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued a final rule Tuesday that softens leverage demands for the biggest and most systemically risky banks and lowers the community bank leverage ratio to 8%.

The agency is offering buyouts and early retirement incentives for employees, with layoffs possible if targets aren't met, as part of the Trump administration's overall downsizing of the federal government.

A Department of Government Efficiency team is working with FDIC leadership to "increase efficiency," which could include cuts to contracts and streamlining staff. FDIC says DOGE staffers have "appropriate clearances."

The issues are hindering the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s ability to meet its regulatory duties, according to the agency's Office of Inspector General. 

The FDIC withdrew its amicus brief supporting Colorado's opt-out law on interest rate exportation, highlighting the agency's more fintech-friendly regulatory approach under acting Chair Travis Hill.

In a speech outlining his priorities for the FDIC, Vice Chair Travis Hill stressed the need for a more flexible regulatory approach, addressing capital requirements, digital assets, climate policy, and bank oversight, while emphasizing transparency and timely action.

Gruenberg, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s longest-serving board member, will step down in January, marking the end of an era after nearly 20 years on the agency's board of directors.

Europe's top finance ministers are questioning the U.S.'s commitment to the global capital standards. The mistrust could have consequences for international regulatory efforts.

Tentative FDIC guidelines would impose stricter governance and risk management standards on banks exceeding $10 billion of assets, drawing concern over potential regulatory overreach and conflicts with state laws.

A bipartisan group of ex-inspectors general is pushing Senate leaders to quickly confirm Christy Goldsmith Romero to chair the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. despite scheduling delays and the upcoming election.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Vice Chair Travis Hill has called for a full reproposal of the Basel III endgame capital standards, emphasizing the need for joint advancement by all three major federal banking agencies and an additional comment period for industry feedback.

During his second day of congressional testimony this week, the Federal Reserve chair said the central bank does not have supremacy over other agencies on their joint rulemaking.

The Federal Reserve chair said there is a consensus within the central bank's board of governors for reproposing its capital rules, but notes that other agencies have not yet signed off on this approach.

A Minnesota trade group and its co-plaintiff, Lake Central Bank, signaled that they plan to appeal a district court's dismissal of their lawsuit against the FDIC. The case involves the agency's guidance on nonsufficient funds fees.

House Financial Services Committee Chair Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., told Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Martin Gruenberg to make himself available for a June 12 hearing on the agency's workplace culture.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Martin Gruenberg apologized for his management and temper at a House Financial Services Committee hearing that focused on his handling of the agency in the immediate aftermath of a workplace behavior report outlining serious misconduct that prevailed for years.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said there have been "no decisions" on the controversial capital reform plan, but banks and others who have criticized the proposal are eager for an indication about what's next.

The Federal Home Loan Bank System stepped up advances by 37% or more to Silicon Valley, Signature and First Republic banks ahead of their failures, the GAO says in a post-mortem on last year's banking crisis. The findings add to the debate about whether the system should be a lender of last resort.

Harmonizing standards for liquidity coverage ratios and discount window pledges could prevent the type of strains that led to last year's bank failures, according to a new paper whose authors include former Federal Reserve Govs. Dan Tarullo and Jeremy Stein.

Three GOP leaders of the House Financial Services Committee, including Chairman Patrick McHenry, say they'll explore possible connections between the agency's alleged "toxic" work culture and its staffing shortages that may have contributed to this year's banking crisis.