Banker Compliance News

Capturing the important news of the day in an easy to access way. We post news we feel is relevant to our members and community banks nationwide.

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Speech: Remarks at the Blockchain Association Policy Summit

December 8, 2025 / Source: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Thank you to the Blockchain Association for having me today and thank you all for beinghere. The Blockchain Association has been an influential voice in the policy discussions aroundinnovation and support for a digital asset economy—advances that, if done safely and soundly,will ensure the United States’ financial system continues to be the envy of the…

FTC Announces Workshop on Age Verification TechnologiesJanuary 28 event will bring together researchers, academics, industry representatives and consumer advocates

December 8, 2025 / Source: Federal Trade Commission

December 8, 2025 Tags:  The Federal Trade Commission will hold a workshop on January 28, 2026, to discuss a range of issues related to age verification and estimation technologies, which can help companies obtain age information of potential visitors to websites and other online services. The workshop will bring together researchers, academics, industry representatives, consumer…

Interagency Statement on OCC and FDIC Withdrawal from the Interagency Leveraged Lending Guidance Issuances

December 7, 2025 / Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Joint Release Federal Deposit Insurance CorporationOffice of the Comptroller of the Currency December 5, 2025 Share on Facebook Share on X Follow the FDIC on LinkedIn Share through email Print WASHINGTON—The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (collectively “the agencies”) are rescinding the “Interagency Guidance on Leveraged Lending”…

Mortgage Rates Move Down

December 4, 2025 / Source: Freddie Mac

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.19%. “Mortgage rates decreased for the second straight week as we emerged from the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Compared to this time last year,…

Former President of Failed Oklahoma Bank Indicted for Bank Fraud

December 4, 2025 / Source: US Department of Justice

The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. A federal grand jury in the Western District of Oklahoma returned an indictment yesterday charging the former…

Maryland Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

December 4, 2025 / Source: US Department of Justice

Minh Phuong Ngoc Vong, 40, of Bowie, Maryland, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a fraudulent scheme that assisted foreign information technology (IT) workers posing as U.S. citizens with obtaining remote IT positions at over a dozen U.S. companies. According to court…

FinCEN Issues Financial Trend Analysis on Ransomware

December 4, 2025 / Source: Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

Immediate Release December 04, 2025 WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing a Financial Trend Analysis on ransomware incidents in Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) data between 2022 and 2024, which totaled more than $2.1 billion in ransomware payments. “Banks and other financial institutions play a key role in protecting our…

Federal Reserve Board requests public input on the impact of potential strategic changes to check services provided by the Fed, as well as check usage and preferences

December 4, 2025 / Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday requested public input on the impact of potential strategic changes to check services provided by the Fed, as well as check usage and preferences. The Reserve Banks offer check collection and processing services at a fee to banks and credit unions. Over time, check use has steadily declined, digital…

Federal Reserve Board announces pricing, effective January 1, 2026, for payment services the Federal Reserve Banks provide to banks and credit unions

December 4, 2025 / Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday announced pricing, effective January 1, 2026, for payment services the Federal Reserve Banks provide to banks and credit unions, such as the clearing of checks, automated clearing house (ACH) transactions, instant payments, and wholesale payment and settlement services. By law, the Federal Reserve must establish fees to recover the…

Adjusting and Indexing Certain Regulatory Thresholds

December 4, 2025 / Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is adopting this final rule to amend certain regulatory thresholds in the FDIC’s regulations to reflect inflation. Specifically, this final rule generally updates such thresholds to reflect inflation from the date of initial implementation or the most recent adjustment and provides for future adjustments pursuant to an indexing methodology….

Agency Information Collection Activities: Information Collection Renewal; Comment Request; Guidance on Sound Incentive Compensation Policies

December 4, 2025 / Source: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). In accordance with the requirements of the PRA, the OCC may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to,…

OFAC Imposes $7 Million Penalty on Company Tied to Sanctioned Russian Oligarch

December 4, 2025 / Source: US Department of the Treasury

December 4, 2025Gracetown violated U.S. sanctions despite notice from OFAC that dealings with Kremlin-connected oligarch were unlawful WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed a $7,139,305penalty on Gracetown Inc., a property management company in New York, for violating OFAC’s Russia-related sanctions and for failing to report…

Trust and Wealth Management Training: Trust Department Fundamentals: Bridging Operations and Compliance

December 4, 2025 / Source: Compliance Alliance

Explore the key operational aspects of Trust departments, focusing on critical compliance requirements. This session will equip your organization with the essential knowledge needed to establish and maintain effective, compliant banking practices. Topics covered will include management best practices, relevant policies, and key compliance elements that ensure smooth, sustainable operations. Don’t miss the opportunity to…

Georgia Businessman Sentenced In International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

December 3, 2025 / Source: US Department of Justice

A Georgia businessman was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison for his role in a nearly five-year long scheme to bribe Honduran government officials and to launder money to secure business for a Georgia-based manufacturer of law enforcement uniforms and accessories. He was also ordered to forfeit over $2 million. According to court documents and…

Treasury Targets Money Laundering Network Supporting Venezuelan Terrorist Organization Tren de Aragua

December 3, 2025 / Source: US Department of the Treasury

December 3, 2025 Individuals Including Venezuelan Entertainer “Rosita” Involved in Drug-Fueled Parties to Benefit Terrorist Cartel WASHINGTON â€” Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned key affiliates of the designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), Tren de Aragua (TdA).  Notably, today’s action includes the designation of Venezuelan entertainer Jimena Romina Araya…

G7 Cyber Expert Group Publishes Fundamental Elements of Collective Cyber Incident Response and Recovery in the Financial Sector

December 3, 2025 / Source: US Department of the Treasury

December 3, 2025 As part of its Fundamental Elements Series, the G7 Cyber Expert Group – chaired by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Bank of England – released today a policy paper on Collective Cyber Incident Response and Recovery in the Financial Sector.  Since major cyber incidents increasingly have a global character, effective cyber…

Justice Department Announces Seizure of Tai Chang Scam Compound Domain Used in Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud

December 2, 2025 / Source: US Department of Justice

The Justice Department today announced the seizure of a web domain used to target and defraud Americans through cryptocurrency investment fraud (CIF) scams. The domain, tickmilleas.com, was used by those located at the Tai Chang scam compound (also known as Casino Kosai) located in the village of Kyaukhat, Burma. This domain seizure comes less than…

Comptroller Testifies on Agency Activities

December 2, 2025 / Source: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

WASHINGTON—Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould today testified on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) activities before the Committee on Financial Services of the U.S. House of Representatives. In his testimony, the Comptroller discussed the OCC’s work to reset its risk tolerance and refocus supervision on material financial risks so banks may better support…

Testimony: Supervision and Regulation

December 2, 2025 / Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

December 02, 2025 Supervision and Regulation Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle W. Bowman Before the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives Watch Live Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, and other members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on the Federal Reserve’s supervisory and regulatory activities. My testimony today will…

OCC Releases CRA Performance Evaluations for 32 National Banks and Federal Savings Associations

December 1, 2025 / Source: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

WASHINGTON—The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released a list of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance evaluations that became public during the period of November 1, 2025, through November 30, 2025. Under the CRA, the OCC assesses an institution’s record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and…

OCC Maintains Assessment Rates for National Banks and Federal Savings Associations

December 1, 2025 / Source: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

WASHINGTON—The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced that it is maintaining assessment rates for the 2026 Calendar Year. OCC-regulated institutions will continue to benefit from the decrease in assessment rates that the agency made as recently as September 2025. For the September 30, 2025, semiannual assessment, the OCC reduced the rates…

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Fees and Assessments: Calendar Year 2026 Fees and Assessments Structure

December 1, 2025 / Source: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Summary This bulletin informs all national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks of fees and assessments charged by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for calendar year 2026. The fees and assessments become effective January 1, 2026. Note for Community Banks This notice applies to all…

Comptroller Issues Statement on Congressional Debanking Report

December 1, 2025 / Source: Office of the Comptroller

WASHINGTON—Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould today issued the following statement on the release of the report titled “Operation Chokepoint 2.0: Biden’s Debanking of Digital Assets,” issued by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee majority staff. The congressional staff report on the Biden Administration’s coordinated effort to debank digital assets confirms what…

FTC Issues Annual Report to Congress on Agency’s Actions to Protect Older Adults

December 1, 2025 / Source: Federal Trade Commission

The report highlights a dramatic increase in the number of older adults reporting losses of over $100,000 to scams December 1, 2025 Tags:  Today, the Federal Trade Commission issued its annual report to Congress on protecting older adults, which shows a big increase in the number of older adults reporting losses of over $100,000 to…

FinCEN Issues Alert on Cross-Border Funds Transfers Involving Illegal Aliens

December 1, 2025 / Source: Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

Immediate Release November 28, 2025 WASHINGTON â€”Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing an Alert as part of Treasury’s effort to prevent the exploitation of the U.S. financial system by illegal aliens in the United States seeking to move illicitly obtained funds.  Annually over the past several years, the United States…