Stop by Daily for What's Hot Right Now in Compliance & Risk for Credit Unions & Banks

FinCEN is seeking public comments on the proposed renewal of existing Bank Secrecy Act regulations requiring financial institutions to share information with the government upon request, as part of efforts to reduce paperwork and burden. [10/1/25]

The NCUA has ended the use of "reputation risk" in its examinations and supervision, in line with Executive Order 14331, and will no longer consider it when assessing credit unions as of September 25, 2025. [10/1/25]

FinCEN has issued a Notice to help financial institutions detect and report financially motivated sextortion—an increasingly common crime targeting minors, especially boys, and often involving AI-generated explicit content—with the goal of aiding law enforcement and preventing further victim harm. [9/12/25]

The NCUA has removed all references to disparate impact liability from its Fair Lending Guide and supervision processes, aligning with Executive Order 14281, while continuing to enforce fair lending laws based on evidence of disparate treatment. [9/4/25]

With Nacha’s new ACH Rules taking effect in March 2026, financial institutions are urged to proactively prepare Originators for compliance through tailored communication, early testing, and collaboration, as demonstrated by efforts from PNC Bank and Paychex. [8/7/25]

The NCUA is requesting public comments on proposed Call Report Instruction changes for the September 2025 cycle, with the comment period ending on August 18, 2025, and no changes made after the initial 60-day comment period. [8/7/25]

The NCUA has launched a voluntary two-year review of its regulations to identify and eliminate outdated or burdensome rules affecting federally insured credit unions, as part of its commitment to regulatory efficiency and alignment with the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act. [7/10/25]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced it will deprioritize enforcement of its "Buy Now, Pay Later" rule under Regulation Z to focus resources on more urgent consumer protection issues, especially those affecting servicemembers, veterans, and small businesses. [5/8/25]

Federal regulators have temporarily eased appraisal requirements for real estate transactions in wildfire- and wind-damaged areas of Los Angeles County to help speed recovery and loan processing, with the policy in effect until January 8, 2028. [4/17/25]

Nacha has issued a Request for Comment and Request for Information on proposed changes to International ACH Transactions (IATs), aiming to improve their usefulness, streamline processing, and ensure better information flow, with proposals including same-day processing and mandatory IAT contact listings for financial institutions. [4/3/25]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced it will not prioritize enforcement of penalties related to the Payment Withdrawal and Payment Disclosure provisions of the Payday, Vehicle Title, and High-Cost Installment Loans Regulation, focusing instead on consumer protection for servicemen, veterans, and small businesses. [4/3/25]

The Acting Director of the CFPB, Russ Vought, is seeking to vacate the settlement and refund the six-figure penalty imposed on Townstone Financial after a seven-year harassment saga, arguing that the agency misused its power, targeting the small firm based on arbitrary redlining statistics and protected political speech. [3/27/25]

FinCEN is seeking public comments on the proposed renewal of existing Bank Secrecy Act regulations requiring financial institutions to share information with the government upon request, as part of efforts to reduce paperwork and burden. [10/1/25]

FinCEN has issued a Notice to help financial institutions detect and report financially motivated sextortion—an increasingly common crime targeting minors, especially boys, and often involving AI-generated explicit content—with the goal of aiding law enforcement and preventing further victim harm. [9/12/25]

The FDIC has proposed a rule to simplify and focus requirements for displaying its official digital sign and non-deposit signage on bank websites, apps, and ATMs, aiming to enhance consumer clarity in digital banking. [8/20/25]

With Nacha’s new ACH Rules taking effect in March 2026, financial institutions are urged to proactively prepare Originators for compliance through tailored communication, early testing, and collaboration, as demonstrated by efforts from PNC Bank and Paychex. [8/7/25]

The OCC has ceased examining banks for disparate impact liability in fair lending supervision, in alignment with Executive Order 14281, while continuing to assess for disparate treatment and overall fair lending compliance. [7/17/25]

Federal banking agencies proposed rescinding the 2023 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Final Rule—currently under injunction—and replacing it with the previous 1995/2021 CRA regulation to restore regulatory certainty and reduce burden on financial institutions. [7/17/25]

In the first quarter of 2025, FDIC-insured banks reported higher net income driven by increased noninterest income, modest loan growth, and rising domestic deposits, despite a slight decline in net interest margin and persistent asset quality concerns in some loan portfolios. [5/28/25]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced it will deprioritize enforcement of its "Buy Now, Pay Later" rule under Regulation Z to focus resources on more urgent consumer protection issues, especially those affecting servicemembers, veterans, and small businesses. [5/8/25]

Federal regulators have temporarily eased appraisal requirements for real estate transactions in wildfire- and wind-damaged areas of Los Angeles County to help speed recovery and loan processing, with the policy in effect until January 8, 2028. [4/17/25]

Nacha has issued a Request for Comment and Request for Information on proposed changes to International ACH Transactions (IATs), aiming to improve their usefulness, streamline processing, and ensure better information flow, with proposals including same-day processing and mandatory IAT contact listings for financial institutions. [4/3/25]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced it will not prioritize enforcement of penalties related to the Payment Withdrawal and Payment Disclosure provisions of the Payday, Vehicle Title, and High-Cost Installment Loans Regulation, focusing instead on consumer protection for servicemen, veterans, and small businesses. [4/3/25]

The OCC withdrew from the interagency principles for climate-related financial risk management, citing concerns that the guidelines were overly burdensome and duplicative. [4/3/25]

FinCEN, along with federal banking regulators, issued updated FAQs to help financial institutions prioritize high-value suspicious activity reports (SARs), reducing unnecessary compliance burdens and enhancing support for law enforcement efforts. [10/9/25]

FinCEN has renewed its Geographic Targeting Orders requiring title insurance companies to identify individuals behind shell companies in certain high-risk real estate purchases through February 28, 2026, while delaying broader Anti-Money Laundering reporting rules until March 1, 2026. [10/9/25]

FinCEN has postponed the reporting requirements of the Residential Real Estate Transfers Rule until March 1, 2026, to reduce industry burden while maintaining protections against illicit finance threats. [10/1/25]

FinCEN is seeking public comments on a proposed survey to assess the compliance costs of AML/CFT regulations for non-bank financial institutions, aiming to inform potential deregulatory actions without impacting supervision or enforcement. [10/1/25]

Federal regulators remind lenders that during a lapse in the National Flood Insurance Program, they may still issue loans requiring flood insurance, provided they follow flood determination, borrower notification, and risk management requirements, and consider private flood insurance options. [10/1/25]

31 C.F.R. § 501.603 requires anyone holding OFAC-blocked property as of June 30 to file an Annual Report of Blocked Property (ARBP) by September 30 using form TD-F 90-22.50 via the OFAC Reporting System, excluding property that has been unblocked or is no longer considered blocked under current sanctions. [9/18/25]

Beginning October 2025, Nacha will automate its process for requesting proof of annual ACH Rules compliance audits through its Risk Management Portal, enabling broader outreach, enhanced security, and increased accountability for financial institutions and Third-Party Senders. [9/12/25]

FinCEN has issued guidance encouraging voluntary cross-border information sharing among financial institutions to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit activities, while clarifying that such sharing is generally allowed under the Bank Secrecy Act despite restrictions on disclosing Suspicious Activity Reports. [9/12/25]

The U.S. Treasury’s FinCEN has reissued a modified Geographic Targeting Order requiring certain money services businesses in specific southwest border areas to report cash transactions between $1,000 and $10,000, aiming to combat drug cartels, money laundering, and other criminal activities while easing compliance for legitimate businesses. [9/12/25]

OFAC has fined Fracht FWO Inc. $1.61 million for egregious violations of U.S. sanctions involving Venezuela and Iran, including contracting with a blocked Venezuelan airline using an aircraft operated by Iran's sanctioned Mahan Air. [9/4/25]

FinCEN has launched a redesigned website with a more user-friendly layout and improved navigation to help users easily access information on its efforts to combat financial crimes and promote national security. [9/4/25]

FinCEN has issued an Advisory and Financial Trend Analysis warning that Chinese money laundering networks are enabling drug cartels and other criminal organizations to launder billions in illicit proceeds through the U.S. financial system, posing a major national security threat and urging financial institutions to stay vigilant. [9/4/25]