ABA Banking Journal
Feb 10, 2026
Enforcement
- Federal court partially upheld an Illinois law on interchange fees for debit and credit card payments.
- The decision struck down the portion of the law that restricts the sharing of transaction data.
A federal court in Illinois partially upheld a first-of-its-kind state law restricting interchange fees for debit and credit card payments, striking down only the portion of the law that restricts the sharing of certain data obtained in transactions. ABA and the other plaintiffs plan to appeal the decision. The post Federal court partially upholds Illinois interchange fee law appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 10, 2026
Democratic lawmakers urge courts to prevent the Trump administration from dismantling the CFPB; this action aims to preserve the bureau's independence and enforcement powers.
Nearly 200 Democratic and independent members of Congress this week filed an amicus brief urging the courts to halt what they said is the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle the CFPB. The post Democrats urge courts to stop efforts to ‘dismantle’ CFPB appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 10, 2026
Rules
• FHFA has repealed a 2024 final rule that codified fair housing and fair lending oversight practices for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks.
• This repeal may impact how these institutions approach compliance with fair lending regulations.
FHFA has repealed a 2024 final rule that codified many of its existing practices and programs regarding fair housing and fair lending oversight of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks. The post FHFA finalizes repeal of fair lending rule appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 10, 2026
Guidance
The article discusses the growing importance of loans to non-depository financial institutions in credit intermediation and highlights new regulatory granularity. These entities are playing a significant role outside traditional banking systems.
These entities play a central role in credit intermediation outside the traditional banking system. The post Loans to non-depository financial institutions: new granularity and a rapidly growing segment appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 09, 2026
Proposals
• Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller is seeking a 'middle lane' for the creation of 'skinny' accounts, acknowledging conflicting desires from banks and fintech firms.
• The proposal aims to address payment services through simplified account structures.
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller provided an update on the feedback the Fed received about a proposal to create “skinny” accounts for payment services, acknowledging that banks and financial technology firms want conflicting things from the proposed service. The post Fed’s Waller seeking ‘middle lane’ on ‘skinny’ master accounts appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 09, 2026
• The Government Accountability Office released a report on the Trump administration's efforts to reduce activities of the CFPB.
• The report provides a timeline of bureau layoffs and office closures.
The Government Accountability Office released the first of two reports on the Trump administration’s efforts to scale back the activities of the CFPB, providing a timeline of bureau layoffs and office closures. The post GAO releases first report on CFPB cuts appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 09, 2026
Guidance
OFAC has created an online portal for voluntary self-disclosures of potential sanctions violations; this can be used by individuals and entities to report such issues.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has launched an online portal for individuals to submit voluntary self-disclosures of potential violations of OFAC-administered sanctions programs. The post OFAC launches online portal for self-disclosures of sanctions violations appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 09, 2026
Enforcement
• OFAC has imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Russia in response to the ongoing conflict.
• These actions include blocking assets and prohibiting transactions with designated parties.
News items that are the most recent sanctions-related actions from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The post Recent news from Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control: February 9 appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 06, 2026
Security
• Congress reauthorized a voluntary framework for private sector and government agencies to share cyberthreat information.
• The reauthorization was part of a larger budget deal.
Lawmakers reauthorized a voluntary framework for the private sector and government agencies to share information about cyberthreats as part of a larger budget deal. The post Congress reauthorizes private-public cybersecurity framework appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 06, 2026
Proposals
The Treasury Department is seeking public input on the Known Investor Program and ways to potentially streamline aspects of its foreign investment review process. This could impact how Texas credit unions handle foreign investments.
The Treasury Department is seeking public input on the Known Investor Program and ways to potentially streamline aspects of its foreign investment review process. The post Treasury seeks comment on changes to foreign investor review process appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 06, 2026
Proposals
ABA recommends careful design and robust risk mitigants for 'skinny' accounts; these payment accounts should uphold the integrity of the payments system and protect public interest.
A proposal to create “payment accounts” to provide basic Federal Reserve payment services requires “careful design and robust risk mitigants” to uphold the integrity of the payments system and protect the public interest, ABA said. The post ABA offers recommendations for mitigating risk in proposed ‘skinny’ accounts appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 04, 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's push for regulatory tailoring during a congressional hearing. The discussion included stablecoin regulation and community development financial institutions (CDFIs).
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated the Trump administration’s push for regulatory tailoring during a sometimes contentious congressional hearing that touched on several issues, from stablecoin regulation to community development financial institutions. The post Bessent questioned by lawmakers on tailoring regulation, CDFI Fund appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 02, 2026
Proposals
• Credit unions participated in a White House meeting discussing proposed crypto market structure legislation.
• The discussion focused on potential regulatory frameworks for the cryptocurrency industry.
ABA participated in a meeting at the White House with other banking representatives and cryptocurrency leaders to discuss proposed crypto market structure legislation currently pending in Congress. The post ABA participates in White House meeting on crypto regulation appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 02, 2026
• Lending standards for commercial loans tightened in Q4 according to Fed survey.
• Banks expect demand to strengthen and lending standards to remain unchanged in 2026.
Banks expect lending standards generally to remain unchanged and demand to strengthen across all loan categories in 2026. Banks also reported being less likely to approve loans to firms adversely affected by high AI exposure. The post Fed survey: Lending standards tightened for commercial loans in Q4 appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 02, 2026
The American Bankers Association (ABA) provided recommendations to streamline the Call Report process; these suggestions were in response to a request from banking agencies.
ABA offered several recommendations in response to a request by banking agencies on steps to streamline the regulatory reporting burden in filing a Call Report. The post ABA submits recommendations for streamlining Call Report process appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 02, 2026
Enforcement
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review an Eleventh Circuit decision that revived a lawsuit against Citigroup for operating a cash-advance fraud scheme.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review an Eleventh Circuit decision that revived a lawsuit alleging Citigroup operated a cash-advance fraud scheme. The post U.S. Supreme Court declines to review Eleventh Circuit decision reviving cash-advance lawsuit against Citigroup appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 02, 2026
Enforcement
• The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a Second Circuit decision affirming a New York federal court judgment against Emigrant Mortgage Company Inc., which was found guilty of reverse redlining.
• This case involved compensatory damages awarded to four homeowners who were victims of discriminatory lending practices.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a Second Circuit decision affirming a New York federal court judgment that awarded compensatory damages to four homeowners after determining Emigrant Mortgage Company Inc. engaged in “reverse redlining.” The post U.S. Supreme Court declines to review reverse-redlining lawsuit appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 02, 2026
Enforcement
• The Second Circuit confirmed that a willful failure to file FBARs can be based on recklessness.
• This decision enforces civil penalties against Juan and Catherine Reyes for not filing required reports.
In a unanimous decision, a Second Circuit panel affirmed a New York federal court’s ruling that enforced civil penalties against Juan and Catherine Reyes for willfully failing to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. The post Second Circuit confirms recklessness satisfies willfulness standard for FBAR penalties appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 02, 2026
Enforcement
• The Ninth Circuit upheld a lower court's decision dismissing a lawsuit against BofA regarding its variable interest rate formula for credit cards.
• This ruling confirms that the formula complies with the CARD Act.
In a unanimous decision, a Ninth Circuit panel affirmed a California federal court’s dismissal of a lawsuit alleging BofA’s formula for calculating interest on variable-rate credit cards violated the CARD Act. The post Ninth Circuit upholds BofA’s variable credit card interest formula under the CARD Act appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 02, 2026
Rules
The ABA has filed an amicus brief urging the Eighth Circuit to reverse a decision by a North Dakota district court which vacated Reg. II; this decision impacts credit union compliance and operations.
ABA filed a coalition amicus brief urging the Eighth Circuit to reverse a North Dakota district court decision which vacated Reg. II. The post ABA files amicus brief urging Eighth Circuit to reverse vacatur of Reg. II appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 02, 2026
Enforcement
- OFAC has issued new sanctions related actions.
- No specific actions or deadlines mentioned for Texas credit unions.
News items that are the most recent sanctions-related actions from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The post Recent news from Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control: February 2 appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Feb 02, 2026
Guidance|security
- Emphasizes the importance of teamwork in creating a cyber-aware risk culture
- Highlights six key elements for addressing sophisticated threats
Six key elements for a banking industry facing increasingly sophisticated threats from a wide variety of adversaries The post Creating a cyber-aware risk culture requires teamwork appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Jan 30, 2026
Proposals
The American Bankers Association (ABA) supports the agencies' proposal to lower the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) threshold from 9% to 8% and extend the grace period for compliance from two quarters to four quarters. These changes are aimed at providing more flexibility for community banks.
ABA expressed strong support for the agencies’ proposal to lower the CBLR threshold from 9% to 8% and to extend the grace period for returning to compliance with the qualifying criteria from two quarters to four quarters. The post ABA urges agencies to finalize Community Bank Leverage Ratio framework revisions appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Jan 29, 2026
Security
Financial services were the top target for data breaches in 2025; attackers have become more selective. The report by the Identity Theft Resource Center highlights an increasing trend of focused attacks.
Financial services remained the top target for data breaches in 2025, and while the overall number of breaches continues to rise, attackers are more selective in who they set their sights on, according to the annual data breach report by the Identity Theft Resource Center. The post Report: Data breaches becoming more focused appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .
ABA Banking Journal
Jan 29, 2026
Proposals
The article supports proposals for federal preemption of state laws regulating interest on escrow accounts. These proposals clarify national banks' exemption from such state regulations.
ABA joined with other industry groups in expressing support for two regulatory proposals to clarify that national banks are exempt from state laws regulating real estate escrow accounts. The post ABA, associations back proposals to cite federal preemption of state interest-on-escrow laws appeared first on ABA Banking Journal .