Banking & Finance Trending Topics

Consider writing about:

The U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement of charges brought against the Southern Poverty Law Center for alleged financial crimes, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. What are the likely obstacles ahead for either side in this case? How unusual are these charges against an organization with SPLC’s history? Should other activist organizations fear similar charges being brought against them during the Trump administration? If so, what should other organizations be doing to make sure their financial houses are in order while waiting to see how the case against the Southern Poverty Law Center plays out?

Related information:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-grand-jury-charges-southern-poverty-law-center-wire-fraud-false-statements-and

https://apnews.com/article/southern-poverty-law-center-criminal-investigation-db7fdcf9baa0d1b24b8f1e1f2cebc0be

Consider writing about:

The potential for Iran-affiliated cyberattacks on U.S.-based or aligned financial institutions in response to U.S. military attacks on Iran; how Iran-linked hackers have acted against perceived foes in the past; what financial regulators are warning about in light of the current international conflict; related obligations on the part of financial institutions; what the financial sector has learned from past experiences with Iran-backed cyberattackers, and how contemporary cyberthreats and safeguards compare to those of yesteryear; what financial institutions should be watching for, and doing, right now to evaluate – and, if needed, strengthen – their cybersecurity defenses and mitigate related liability risks.

Related information:

https://www.bankingdive.com/news/bank-cyber-risk-iran-war-regulators-cybersecurity/814564

Consider writing about:

A joint proposed rule issued on April 8 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); main focus of the proposed rule; what the rule could mean for stablecoin issuers’ compliance obligations and other duties.

Related information:

https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/treasury-proposes-rule-implement-genius-acts-requirements-counter-illicit

Consider writing about:

A proposed rule released by the U.S. Department of Labor on March 31 regarding defined contribution plans; intent of the proposed rule; the rule’s potential implications for plan fiduciaries, fiduciary duties, additional compliance obligations, and litigation risks; best practices for plan fiduciaries in light of the DOL’s proposed rule.

Related information:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/31/2026-06178/fiduciary-duties-in-selecting-designated-investment-alternatives

Consider writing about:

Draft rules released on March 19 by federal banking regulators regarding bank capital; what the three proposals, if implemented, would mean for capital requirements; how significant a shift these changes could represent, and how they compare to historical standards in the United States and/or to current standards in other countries; who would be most affected by the rule changes; potential timeline for the proposals’ implementation.

Related information:

https://www.fdic.gov/news/press-releases/2026/agencies-request-comment-proposals-modernize-regulatory-capital-framework

Consider writing about:

Guidance released on March 17 by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the application of federal securities laws to crypto assets; purpose of the two bodies’ interpretive release; key points in the guidance and how much of a shift they represent in the regulatory landscape; the guidance’s overall significance and potential impact on participants in the crypto sector.

Related information:

https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-30-sec-clarifies-application-federal-securities-laws-crypto-assets

Consider writing about:

A $31.5 million settlement over data breaches affecting Flagstar Bank; what to know about the cause of, and fallout from, the breaches; what this case illustrates regarding third-party cybersecurity risks and how they may affect financial institutions, their customers, and employees; additional takeaways from this case on best practices involving vendors and involving data security on a broader basis.

Related information:

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/flagstars-31-5-million-data-breach-deal-wins-initial-court-nod

Consider writing about:

Proposed rules recently issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) regarding the implementation of the GENIUS Act (the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act); significance of this OCC action; what the proposed rules indicate regarding federal regulators’ evolving approach to digital assets, and to payment stablecoins in particular; what else stands out to you about the OCC’s proposed rules.

Related information:

https://www.occ.treas.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-9.html

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-02/pdf/2026-04089.pdf

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/02/2026-04089/implementing-the-guiding-and-establishing-national-innovation-for-us-stablecoins-act-for-the

Consider writing about:

New restrictions by the Small Business Administration on eligibility for loans made under the agency’s 7(a) program; the program’s history, main focus, and whom it has typically benefited; whom the new limitations apply to; when the new rules take effect, and whether they apply retroactively; potential penalties for non-compliance; how the new rules stand to affect existing or envisioned small businesses; potential grounds for lawsuits over the new SBA rules.

Related information:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sba-loan-rule-change-permanent-residents

Consider writing about:

A $10.2 million settlement that Credit One Bank will pay to resolve California district attorneys’ lawsuit over the bank’s debt collection practices; debt collection activities that caught the DAs’ attention; what constitutes questionable or illegal debt collection practices; enforcement trends on this front; what businesses or individuals faced with debt collection pressures should know about their rights and protections under the law and potential avenues for mitigating debt collection efforts or for reducing debt or for reaching an agreement with lenders.

Related information:

https://rivcoda.org/credit_one_bank_california_settlement

Consider writing about:

The rise of prediction markets; what they consist of, how they work, and how they are defined; how prediction markets are regulated, on either the federal or state level; top concerns being raised regarding prediction markets, whether for direct participants or otherwise; existing lawsuits over prediction market activities; potential for increased scrutiny of, or enforcement actions regarding, prediction markets; any relevant comparisons between prediction markets, gambling, and the gaming industry.

Related information:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/12/prediction-markets-polymarket-kalshi-online-gambling

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/17/nx-s1-5672615/kalshi-polymarket-prediction-market-boom-traders-slang-glossary

Consider writing about:

Federal Trade Commission actions involving payment processing company Cliq Inc. and two of its operators; reasons why the FTC is seeking nearly $53 million in customer relief from the company; what this case may illustrate regarding federal authorities’ pursuit of suspected fraud by financial entities; related enforcement trends worth knowing about.

Related information:

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/01/ftc-asks-court-hold-payment-processors-contempt-systematically-violating-2015-order

Consider writing about:

The status of lawsuits against banks by survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking activities; which banks are facing such lawsuits; nature of the claims being made against the banks; next steps for these claims; how current cases compare to sex abuse survivors’ settled lawsuits against other banks; what to know about banks’ obligations to monitor for, and respond to, suspicious account activity, whether generally speaking or involving coerced customer behavior or strictly referring to suspected human trafficking; what to know about laws, enforcement actions, and regulatory trends involving financial institutions and human trafficking.

Related information:

https://www.bankingdive.com/news/bank-of-america-epstein-case-rakoff-bofa/812103

Consider writing about:

New scrutiny that “buy now, pay later” lenders are facing; why state attorneys general are investigating these types of lenders; what potential or existing customers should know about the pros and cons of “buy now, pay later” systems, either in and of themselves or in comparison to other money management options; how regulation and oversight of “buy now, pay later” companies may be changing under the second Trump administration.

Consider writing about:

M&A activity in the banking and financial services industry, in the country or region of your choice; how M&A volume in recent periods compares to that in prior years; any emerging trends in terms of type of entities undertaking a merger or acquisition, or factors driving M&A deals; what to know about the current antitrust landscape as it pertains to financial services.

Consider writing about:

Trends or noteworthy recent developments involving debanking claims; whether the evolution of international crime and financial institutions’ compliance obligations over the years have led to a significant increase in debanking; best practices that financial institutions should follow before closing down a client’s account; potential missteps on either side of a relationship that may lead to a contentious debanking; how an account holder can contest an account closure.

Related information:

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/trump-sues-jpmorgan-jamie-dimon-alleged-debanking-rcna255440

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/27/muslims-being-debanked-banking-services-9-11-september

Consider writing about:

Your choice of three or more noteworthy trends or developments from 2025 involving the financial sector; reasons for your choices; immediate or longer-term implications or potential impacts as we head into 2026; and any related practical guidance for impacted or interested parties. Consider whether to go wide-angle in your choice of topics, or whether to focus on a particular jurisdiction, entity, issue, trend (litigation, regulations, enforcement, etc.) or subset of the financial sector.

Consider writing about:

President Trump’s criticisms of, or outright attacks against, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell; what to know about a federal criminal investigation that Powell is facing; any precedent for this type of action against a Federal Reserve chair; potential challenges ahead for either side in this face-off; your choice of assorted wider-ranging implications, such as executive powers, the Federal Reserve’s independence and the Fed’s future leadership and direction, and the overall economy.

Related information:

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/12/fed-chair-powell-investigation.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/13/a-major-development-in-trumps-fed-feud-is-set-to-happen-next-week-in-the-supreme-court.html

Consider writing about:

The release of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s latest Annual Regulatory Oversight Report; the report’s key focus areas; how FINRA’s emphasis on specific areas has evolved since its last oversight report; how the regulated community should regard this report; additional practical takeaways from the report.

Related information:

https://www.finra.org/sites/default/files/2025-12/2026-annual-regulatory-oversight-report.pdf

Consider writing about:

Regulations or proposals requiring banks to address losses they might incur as a result of climate change impacts; how these sorts of requirements have evolved in recent years, and whether they are holding firm, loosening, or shifting in some significant manner, perhaps partly as a result of Donald Trump’s return to office and also the election of more conservative politicians in other parts of the world; any significant fines or other enforcement actions experienced by banks as a result of their performance related to climate change; how banks can best address climate change issues and related compliance obligations or regulator expectations.

Related information:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/16/regulators-toss-out-rules-requiring-banks-to-prepare-for-climate-change.html

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/eu-push-development-banks-climate-focus-despite-us-opposition-draft-shows-2025-10-07

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/esg/global-central-banks-issue-new-climate-scenarios-after-earlier-model-controversy

Consider writing about:

A lawsuit filed against crypto trading platform Binance for allegedly facilitating the transfer of millions of dollars that supported terrorist activities; key points about the money laundering allegedly conducted via Binance; what to know about financial services entities’ obligations to thwart money laundering; circumstances that may trigger an entity’s obligation to submit a Suspicious Activity Report; additional obligations or rights under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act; precedent for a lawsuit such as the one filed against Binance; a possible comparison of those cases, or practical takeaways from those cases’ outcomes.

Related information:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/25/binance-trump-crypto-lawsuit-pardon.html

Consider writing about:

Litigation over allegedly excessive fees in retirement plans; what’s driving a possible increase in these types of lawsuits; how these cases are trending, in terms of types of allegations, strategies, and outcomes; practical guidance on best practices or potential strategies for minimizing risk involving retirement plans.

Consider writing about:

North Dakota’s recent announcement that it plans to issue the state’s first stablecoin; how stablecoins compare to other types of digital assets; rationale for having a state-backed stablecoin; regulations and oversight authority that will apply to North Dakota’s stablecoin; what else the financial community should know about North Dakota’s plan; and perhaps a wider-angle look at stablecoin trends (and any related practical lessons) in other parts of the country.