FinCEN and the federal banking agencies have clarified that Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) confidentiality does not prevent banks from communicating with customers about the underlying transactions or conduct that prompted concern, including explaining certain fraud-related restrictions or account closures.

The September 2 joint statement from FinCEN, the Federal Reserve, FDIC, NCUA and OCC does not change the Bank Secrecy Act or impose new supervisory requirements.… Continue Reading

John Crews has been sworn in as a member of the NCUA board and has been designated by President Trump as its Chairman.

Crews, who has worked for Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill, currently is the sole member of the three-member NCUA board. Crews replaces Kyle Hauptman

“I appreciate the trust and support that the President has placed in me, and the U.S.… Continue Reading

The Senate has confirmed John Crews to serve on the NCUA board. Crews will replace Kyle Hauptman as the sole board member of the agency and is expected to become chairman.

Hauptman’s term expired in August 2025, but he stayed on the board as permitted by section 102(c) of the Federal Credit Union Act, which allows any board member to continue to serve after the expiration of their term until a successor has qualified.… Continue Reading

On July 13, 2026, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) issued interagency guidance reminding the financial institutions they supervise of their existing safety and soundness obligations when extending credit to individuals who are not legally authorized to work in the United States.… Continue Reading

On June 8, 2026, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) announced the adoption of an Interim Final Rule clarifying the authority of federal credit unions (FCUs) to impose non-interest charges and fees, including interchange fees associated with payment card transactions. The rule, which becomes effective on June 30, 2026, reinforces NCUA’s position that federal law exclusively governs FCUs’ authority to assess such fees and that state laws purporting to regulate those fees are preempted.… Continue Reading

The Federal Reserve Board, FDIC and OCC have jointly updated interagency documents to delete references to reputational risk.

The agencies took this action to complement their earlier actions to end the use of reputational risk in supervision.

“As the agencies have previously noted, reputation risk can be misused by supervisors as a basis to encourage or pressure a bank to restrict individuals’ and legal businesses’ access to financial services due to their constitutionally protected political or religious beliefs, speech, or conduct or lawful business activities,” the agencies said, in a joint statement.Continue Reading

President Donald Trump has nominated John Crews to serve on the NCUA board. If confirmed, Crews would replace Kyle Hauptman as the sole board member of the agency.

Hauptman’s term expired in August 2025, but he has stayed on the board as permitted by section 102(c) of the Federal Credit Union Act, which allows any board member to continue to serve after the expiration of their term until a successor has qualified.… Continue Reading

The Federal Reserve is requesting comments on a proposal to remove reputation risk from the supervision of banks it oversees. Comments on the Fed proposal are due April 27, 2026.

“We have heard troubling cases of debanking—where supervisors use concerns about reputation risk to pressure financial institutions to debank customers because of their political views, religious beliefs, or involvement in disfavored but lawful businesses,” Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle W.… Continue Reading

The NCUA board has approved a plan to continue the agency’s temporary 18% rate ceiling for most loans made by federal credit unions.

Section 107(5)(A)(vi)(I) of the Federal Credit Union Act, 12 U.S.C. 1757(5)(A)(vi)(I), limits federal credit unions to a 15% interest rate ceiling on loans but authorizes the NCUA board to increase rates for up to 18 months after certain required consultations and if certain conditions are met.… Continue Reading

Promising that the NCUA will not engage in “regulation by enforcement,” NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman has sent a letter to credit unions outlining his supervisory priorities for 2026.

“NCUA is dedicated to supporting credit unions, developing right-sized regulations and policies that safely advance innovation within the credit union system, and protecting member deposits and the Share Insurance Fund through productive, streamlined credit union supervision,” Hauptman wrote in his letter.… Continue Reading