The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has rescinded its Biden-era supervisory guidance that cautioned banks against charging multiple non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees on a declined transaction. In announcing the rescission, the FDIC stated that its prior guidance, called Supervisory Guidance on Multiple Re-Presentment NSF Fees, was “overly broad in scope” and “raised uncertainty” about when disclosures concerning multiple attempts to initiate a payment after a …
Agencies and FinCEN Propose Coordinated Changes to AML/CFT Program Requirements
Two separate – but closely coordinated – notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRMs) were published to amend the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) requirements for certain financial institutions. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published a proposed rule emphasizing effectiveness and outcomes over technical compliance, along with a risk-based approach directing more attention and resources toward higher-risk customers and activities. The same …
FDIC Issues 2026 Consumer Compliance Supervisory Highlights
The FDIC recently published its annual Consumer Compliance Supervisory Highlights, covering examination results and consumer complaint trends for FDIC-supervised state-chartered banks and thrifts that are not members of the Federal Reserve System (supervised institutions). The report, summarized below, describes the FDIC’s findings from approximately 825 consumer compliance examinations of supervised institutions and from a review of approximately 32,000 consumer complaints. Most frequently cited violations identified …
FDIC Paves Way for Banks to Issue Stablecoins in New Rulemaking
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish the application process for FDIC-supervised banks seeking to issue payment stablecoins through subsidiaries. The rulemaking is the first action by the FDIC to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), which establishes a federal regulatory system for stablecoins. Background Enacted in July 2025, the …
OCC Releases Initial Findings From Debanking Review
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) recently shared initial findings from its ongoing review of potential debanking activities at the nine largest national banks it supervises. The review is part of the agency’s effort to implement mandates under Executive Order 14331, which directs “Federal banking regulators,” including the OCC, to remediate past instances, and prevent future acts of, politicized or unlawful debanking. The executive …
Federal Banking Regulators Rescind Guidance on Climate-Related Financial Risks
On October 16, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Reserve (Fed) jointly announced the rescission of guidance intended to mitigate climate-related financial risks at large financial institutions. The October 2023 interagency guidance, “Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions,” had required financial institutions[1] with more than $100 billion in total assets to …
Fed Signals Fraud a Top Priority in Special Compliance Outlook Issue
The Federal Reserve focused its latest Consumer Compliance Outlook on fraud, shining a light on a significant issue impacting consumers and financial institutions alike. The issue details a surge in check fraud and mail-related scams, emphasizing that traditional payment methods remain highly vulnerable, and encourages banks to strengthen fraud prevention efforts and increase consumer education initiatives. As further exemplified by the banking agencies’ recent joint …
Executive Order Guarantees Efforts Against Debanking Will Continue
The White House recently issued an executive order (EO) aimed at combatting “politicized or unlawful” debanking. Among other requirements, the EO requires “Federal banking regulators” and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to eliminate from their guidance and other materials the use of reputation risk that could result in debanking and take remedial action against past instances of debanking. This EO is the latest in a …
FDIC Rules Rollback Foretells More Pro-Industry Changes
Cooley lawyers Obrea Poindexter, Jasmine Banks and Elyse Moyer co-authored an article for Law360 about the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) withdrawing proposed rules that were intended to reshape regulatory obligations related to corporate governance practices. Read the article (subscription required) and see this related Cooley alert.
FDIC: Banks Can Engage in Crypto-Related Activities Without Prior Notice
On March 28, 2025, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) rescinded guidance issued under the Biden administration that required supervised institutions to notify and await feedback from the FDIC prior to engaging in crypto-related activities. The FDIC’s change of course follows a similar reversal by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and aligns with the Trump administration’s efforts to reform federal cryptocurrency regulation. …