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

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The NCUA has launched a voluntary two-year review of its regulations to identify and eliminate outdated or burdensome rules affecting federally insured credit unions, as part of its commitment to regulatory efficiency and alignment with the Economic Growth and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]

The NCUA's 2024 Annual Report highlights the agency's strong financial position, achievements in meeting strategic goals, and Chairman Hauptman's focus on enhancing credit union innovation, streamlining regulations, and ensuring competitiveness. [3/20/25]

The latest NCUA Quarterly U.S. Map Review shows that while federally insured credit unions saw growth in shares and deposits in 2024, with a slight increase in assets and a rise in delinquency rates, loan levels remained unchanged, and most credit unions reported positive net income. [3/20/25]

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]

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]

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]

The U.S. Treasury has issued a Request for Comment under the GENIUS Act to gather input on how financial institutions use or could use technologies like AI, APIs, and blockchain to detect illicit activity involving digital assets. [8/20/25]

FinCEN has extended until October 20, 2025, the deadline for U.S. financial institutions to implement restrictions on transactions with three Mexico-based financial entities linked to opioid-related money laundering, reflecting ongoing cooperation with Mexico to combat illicit finance. [8/20/25]

Under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the U.S. is doubling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s annual investment in Low Income Housing Tax Credit properties to $4 billion, boosting affordable housing, especially in underserved and rural areas. [8/7/25]

FinCEN issued a Notice urging financial institutions to monitor and report suspicious activity involving convertible virtual currency (CVC) kiosks, which are increasingly exploited by criminals for scams, cybercrime, and drug trafficking, emphasizing compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act. [8/7/25]

FinCEN hosted a July 15 event uniting government and private sector stakeholders to promote innovation in digital assets while addressing fraud risks, reinforcing its commitment to consumer protection and financial crime prevention under Executive Order 14178. [8/7/25]

A federal judge in Texas struck down a CFPB rule that would have banned medical debt from credit reports, ruling it exceeded the agency's authority under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. [7/17/25]