Mortgage rates fall
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate fell to 6.06%, while the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rate dropped to 5.38%. These changes in rates may impact member borrowing decisions and credit union loan portfolios.
Public regulatory intelligence
What changed and why it matters
A source-linked regulatory intelligence feed for Texas credit union compliance and executive leadership. Use it to catch up quickly before diving into the underlying material.
Start with the clearest developments below, then open the original source material when you need the governing detail. The source remains the authority.
Nichols: Credit card rate cap would harm those it is meant to help
• Credit card rate cap would harm the intended beneficiaries according to Rob Nichols from ABA.
• The proposed 10% interest rate cap is seen as counterproductive by industry leaders.
Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with former employee of PrimeLending
- Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action against a former employee of PrimeLending.
- No explicit mention of Texas or Texas-specific entities.
Study: FHLBank advances boost community lending
• Federal Home Loan Bank advances are strongly associated with higher lending across banks and credit unions, especially post-2008 financial crisis. • The research by the Urban Institute suggests that these advances play a...
Sunshine Act Notice: FDIC Board of Directors Meeting
The FDIC Board of Directors will hold an open session meeting on January 22, 2026. The meeting will be webcast and media can attend in person by contacting the Office of Communications.
OCC Announces Enforcement Actions for January 2026
- The OCC announced enforcement actions for January 2026.
- No specific details or mentions of Texas credit unions were provided.
PNC mandates 5-day RTO starting May 4
PNC plans to mandate a 5-day remote work option starting May 4; CEO Bill Demchak previously stated that remote work negatively impacts company performance.
BofA joins Citi, Wells in projecting headcount cuts this year
Bank of America expects workforce reductions due to increased AI integration. Citigroup CEO raises the bar for employment at the bank, possibly indicating stricter hiring standards.
M&A in 2026 may put more distance between big, small banks
Expect an increase in bank mergers and acquisitions; this trend may further distance big and small banks.
Senate Banking Committee postpones vote on crypto market structure bill
• Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott delayed a vote on cryptocurrency market structure legislation. • Over 10,000 bankers have sent letters to Congress calling for the bill to close the payment of interest...
HUD proposes to remove disparate impact from Fair Housing Act rule
HUD proposes to rescind rules allowing the use of disparate impact in determining Fair Housing Act violations; this could affect how credit unions assess and mitigate housing discrimination risks.
Business inventories rose in October
Business inventories increased by 0.3% in October 2025 compared to the previous month and by 1.1% year-over-year; this data comes from the Commerce Department.
Producer prices rose in November
- Final demand prices increased by 0.2% in November, seasonally adjusted.
- The index for final demand rose 3% over the past 12 months on an unadjusted basis.
NFIB: Small business optimism rose in December
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.5 points in December to 99.5 and remained above its 52-year average of 98; the Uncertainty Index fell seven points from November to 84, the lowest reading...
Beige Book: Economic activity inched up at end of 2025
Overall economic activity increased at a slight to modest pace in eight of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts in the final months of 2025; banking conditions reported as stable or improving.
Two major newspaper editorial boards slam proposed 10% credit card rate cap
• Major newspaper editorial boards argue a 10% cap on credit card interest rates would harm consumers and businesses. • The editorials suggest such a cap could make credit less accessible, which may have...
AI romance, ‘machine-to-machine’ scams among top 2026 fraud trends
Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven romance scams and machine-to-machine frauds are identified as top 2026 fraud trends. Credit reporting agency Experian highlights these emerging threats.
Existing home sales increase in December
• Continued improvement in existing home sales supported by a slight dip in mortgage rates.
• ABA's Office of the Chief Economist reports on December’s housing market trends.
Coastal Financial buys ‘climate-friendly’ fintech GreenFi
Coastal Financial will take on governance and brand stewardship of GreenFi; no explicit Texas relevance.
Fed approves Fifth Third-Comerica deal
The Federal Reserve has approved the Fifth Third-Comerica merger; Comerica investor HoldCo Asset Management had opposed the deal. The approval makes Fifth Third a Category III bank.
CISA, UK NCSC, FBI Unveil Principles to Combat Cyber Risks in OT
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the United Kingdom's National Cyber Security Centre (UK NCSC), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have released principles aimed at enhancing cybersecurity in operational technology (OT)...
Citi may sell more Banamex stakes, CFO says
• Citi’s CFO did not confirm if the initial public offering of Banamex would occur in 2026.
• No specific information relevant to Texas credit unions provided.
Recycling the narrative on cash
Cash usage persists despite digital trends; U.S. banks need to find ways to handle cash more efficiently.
U.S. Bank exec: Customers will want a zero-friction bank partner on AI
• Digital excellence now focuses on automating processes for customers.
• The emphasis is shifting from customer actions to bank-provided automation.
Banks aim for agentic AI scale in 2026: report
The article discusses the expected broader adoption of agentic AI in financial services by 2026; Accenture predicts significant growth beyond early deployments.