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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 — 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 —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…
Request for Information: Streamlining the Call Report
December 1, 2025 / Source: National Archives and Records Administration
The OCC, the Board, and the FDIC (the agencies) seek public input on sources of regulatory reporting burden for institutions that currently file the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) (FFIEC 031, FFIEC 041, and FFIEC 051). This request for information (RFI) offers the opportunity for interested stakeholders to identify ways that the…
Tool Segment: Board Reporting Checklist for Compliance, Audit, and Information Technology
November 26, 2025 / Source: Compliance Alliance
As a Compliance Officer, are you uncertain about which regulations require reporting to the Board and how frequently those reports must be submitted? Join Kelly Owsley as she walks you through the Board Reporting Checklist for Compliance, Audit, and Information Technology. This tool ensures regulatory compliance while keeping the Board informed on the Bank’s most…
Leader of Colombian Money Laundering Organization Sentenced to Five Years in Prison For Laundering Drug Proceeds
November 26, 2025 / Source: US Department of Justice
A Colombian national was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiring to launder drug proceeds. He was also ordered to forfeit $1.2 million. According to court documents, Michael Nunez Daza, also known as “Luky,” 49, led a transnational money laundering organization operating in Colombia, Mexico, and the United States. Nunez Daza orchestrated bulk…