Reporting & Disclosure regulatory updates from United States.
We track 243 Reporting & Disclosure updates from United States regulators, published by SEC, CFTC and FDIC. The archive covers 143 news items, 48 consultations and 21 enforcement actions. Most recent update: September 2026. Coverage runs from 2025 to 2026.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today censured New York-based broker dealer OTC Link LLC and ordered it to pay a $575,000 civil penalty for longstanding violations of Regulation Systems Compliance and Integrity (SCI).According to the SEC’s settled…
Why this matters
This is a settled enforcement action by the SEC against OTC Link LLC, a specific broker dealer, for longstanding violations of Regulation SCI (Systems Compliance and Integrity). The action includes a material civil penalty ($575,000) and censure.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The FDIC is proposing amendments to its regulations to recognize parity between out-of-State State banks and national banks concerning the application of host State laws when State banks provide services outside of their chartering State. Under the proposed rule, when host State laws do…
Why this matters
This is a proposed rulemaking (not final) by the FDIC addressing parity between State-chartered banks and national banks regarding application of host State laws when providing services outside their chartering State.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is inviting comment on a proposed rule that would fundamentally reform important aspects of the FDIC's approach to processing and evaluating merger transactions subject to the Bank Merger Act (BMA). Notable reforms under the proposed rule…
Why this matters
This is a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) from the FDIC that would substantially revise 12 CFR Parts 303, 314, and 333 governing merger transaction procedures and evaluation.
Proposed rule. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") is proposing to rescind Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and leave determinations about the role of shareholder proposals to State law and company governing documents. The Commission also is proposing to amend…
Why this matters
This is a SEC proposed rule (not final) addressing the rescission of Rule 14a-8 governing shareholder proposals in proxy materials and amendments to Rule 14a-4 on discretionary voting authority.
Proposed rule. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") is proposing amendments to modernize certain rules related to proxy solicitations. The proposed amendments would, among other things, eliminate the requirement that registrants deliver an annual report to security holders, eliminate the delivery…
Why this matters
This is a formal SEC proposed rule (Release Nos. 33-11439; 34-106385; 39-2566) published in the Federal Register on 09/21/2026 with a comment deadline of 11/20/2026.
PRESS RELEASE | SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 FDIC Releases Results of Summary of Deposits Annual Survey WASHINGTON—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today released results of its annual survey of branch office deposits for all FDIC-insured institutions as of June 30, 2026. The FDIC’s Summary of Deposits (SOD)…
Why this matters
This is an administrative announcement of the FDIC's annual Summary of Deposits survey results. It provides historical branch-level deposit data and tools for analysis, but contains no new regulatory requirements, guidance, or enforcement actions. The content is informational and routine in nature.
Speech At the Luncheon of the Lord Mayor City of London at Mansion House, London, United Kingdom
Why this matters
Vice Chair Bowman's speech describes the culmination of a multiyear effort to modernize bank regulatory stress testing. The content covers two final rules (Enhanced Transparency and Public Accountability, and SCB volatility reduction), a third proposal for 2027 model revisions, and a forward-looking supervisory...
The update is from the SEC's Office of Municipal Securities addressing non-solicitor municipal advisors' disclosure responsibilities. The content is presented as a news summary only, lacking substantive detail.
Federal Reserve Board and Federal Open Market Committee release economic projections from the September 15-16 FOMC meeting
Why this matters
This is a standard Federal Reserve press release announcing the publication of economic projections from an FOMC meeting. The content is purely informational—it directs readers to attached projection tables and charts with no new rules, guidance, or enforcement actions.
This is a formal SEC consultation on substantive proxy rule amendments with broad applicability to public company governance and shareholder communications. The proposals directly impact reporting and disclosure obligations under securities law.
This is a speech by SEC Commissioner Peirce discussing proposals affecting Rule 14a-8 (shareholder proposals) and proxy solicitation rules. The content addresses capital markets disclosure and governance mechanisms. As a speech rather than a binding rule or final guidance, urgency is null.
This is a formal SEC statement on a proposed rule rescission and modernization initiative. Rule 14a-8 governs shareholder proposals, a core proxy disclosure mechanism. The consultation signals potential material changes to shareholder rights and corporate governance disclosure obligations affecting all public firms.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed to rescind Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which exceeds the scope of the Commission's statutory authority and intrudes into matters of state law.The Commission outlined…
Why this matters
This is a formal SEC proposal to rescind a foundational shareholder rights rule under the Securities Exchange Act. The consultation affects capital markets participants (broker-dealers, asset managers) and all public companies regarding proxy processes and shareholder engagement.
Final rule. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission" or "CFTC") is amending its rules implementing section 23 of the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA"). Section 23 of the CEA and the Commission's implementing regulations provide for the payment of awards, subject to certain limitations and conditions, to…
Why this matters
This is a final rule (Document 2026-19006, effective 10/16/2026) from the CFTC amending 17 CFR Part 165 (Whistleblower Rules). It introduces new rule 165.9(d) establishing a 30% statutory maximum award presumption for claims where aggregate collected amounts yield maximum awards of $5 million or less, subject to...
The update contains only a title and entity name with an RSS summary note. No regulatory announcement, guidance, enforcement action, or policy change is described. Insufficient content to support higher classification.
The Securities and Exchange Commission issued an order granting exemptive relief from certain Inline XBRL requirements adopted on Dec. 16, 2024. More specifically, the Commission is granting exemptive relief from filing or submitting the following in…
Why this matters
The update announces SEC exemptive relief from Inline XBRL submission requirements adopted in December 2024. This is a technical filing relief measure, not a new binding obligation or enforcement action. The content is informational (news format, RSS summary only) with no enforcement precedent or broad policy shift.
This is an informational news release announcing whistleblower award determinations under the Dodd-Frank Act. It covers the CFTC's enforcement program outcomes and whistleblower incentive mechanisms, which relate to market abuse detection and financial crime reporting.
This is a final rule (binding obligation) from the CFTC that modifies whistleblower award procedures. It applies broadly to all firms under CFTC jurisdiction, establishes a 30% presumption for awards ≤$5M, and becomes effective 30 days post-Federal Register publication.
Final rule. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) is amending its interest rate swap clearing requirement regulations under applicable provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) to address the transition from the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) to the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate…
Why this matters
This is a final CFTC rule amending 17 CFR Part 50 to mandate clearing of interest rate swaps denominated in CAD and MXN following benchmark transitions from CDOR to CORRA and TIIE to F-TIIE.
PRESS RELEASE | SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 FDIC Issues List of Banks Examined for CRA Compliance WASHINGTON—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today issued its list of state nonmember banks recently evaluated for compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The list covers evaluation ratings that the…
Why this matters
This is a standard FDIC press release announcing the monthly publication of CRA examination ratings for state nonmember banks as mandated by FIRREA. It contains no new rules, enforcement actions, or regulatory guidance—only notification that evaluation results from June 2026 are now publicly available through existing...
Order. FinCEN is issuing this Geographic Targeting Order, requiring certain money services businesses along the southwest border of the United States to report and retain records of transactions in currency of $1,000 or more, but not more than $10,000, and to verify the identity of persons presenting such transactions.
Why this matters
This is a final rule (not a proposal) issued by FinCEN under delegated authority from the Treasury Secretary under 31 U.S.C. 5326. It creates new legal obligations for covered money services businesses to report currency transactions of $1,000–$10,000 (below the standard $10,000 CTR threshold) in specified zip codes...
Proposed rule. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC" or "Commission") is proposing to adopt new rules, amend existing rules, amend the existing form for registration with the Commission as a transfer agent (Form TA-1) and the existing form for reporting activities of transfer agents (Form TA-2), and…
Why this matters
This is a SEC proposed rule (not final) that amends multiple transfer agent rules (17ac2-1, 17ac2-2, 17ad-1 through 17ad-17) and introduces two new rules (17ad-30 on compliance, 17ad-31 on restrictive legends).
This is a Commissioner's statement regarding a proposed rescission of the SEC's pay-to-play rule (Rule 206(4)-5), which restricts political contributions by investment advisers and associated persons.
Joint final rule; further extension of compliance date. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC") and the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") (collectively, "we" or the "Commissions") are further extending the compliance date for the amendments to Form PF that were adopted on February 8, 2024…
Why this matters
This is a joint SEC/CFTC final rule (not merely a proposal or guidance) that extends the compliance date for Form PF amendments from October 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027.
On September 2, 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the National Credit Union Administration issued a statement to clarify confidentiality…
Why this matters
This is a joint regulatory statement from OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, FinCEN, and NCUA that clarifies the scope and application of Bank Secrecy Act confidentiality requirements for SARs.
The CFTC staff issued a no-action letter to Electron Exchange DCM LLC permitting it to submit large trader reporting on behalf of direct participants under specified conditions. This is administrative relief for a specific entity rather than a binding rule, policy statement, or broad guidance affecting multiple firms.
This is a final rule from the CFTC that modifies clearing requirements for CAD and MXN-denominated interest rate swaps, replacing legacy benchmark references (CDOR, TIIE) with risk-free rates (CORRA, Overnight TIIE).
Proposed rule. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission" or the "SEC") is proposing an amendment to designate debt obligations issued by the European Union as "exempted securities" for the purposes of marketing and trading futures contracts on those securities in the United States or to U.S. persons…
Why this matters
This is a proposed rule (not final) with a 61-day comment period (closing 11/02/2026) that would expand the scope of exempted securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to include EU debt obligations for purposes of futures contracts.
The content is a statement from SEC Commissioner Uyeda regarding proposed amendments to transfer agent rules. Transfer agents are critical infrastructure in capital markets operations, primarily regulated entities within the broker-dealer ecosystem.
Interim final rule and request for comment. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is amending its brokered deposit regulations to conform with recent changes to section 29 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act made by section 902 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act related to reciprocal deposits, which…
Why this matters
This is a final interim rule (not a proposal) issued by the FDIC amending 12 CFR 337.6 to implement Section 902 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, effective September 1, 2026.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) proposes to revise the supervisory framework for the issuance of matters requiring attention (MRAs) in response to violations of laws or regulations and for addressing violations for which the OCC does not take an enforcement action or…
Why this matters
This is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the OCC that would materially revise the supervisory framework for addressing violations of banking laws and regulations. The proposal introduces a new categorical distinction (substantive vs.
This is a joint CFTC-SEC announcement extending the compliance date for Form PF amendments from October 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027. The update directly affects SEC-registered investment advisers managing private funds, particularly those also registered as CPOs or CTAs.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Food and Drug Administration today announced that they have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to assist the agencies in carrying out their respective missions of ensuring the…
Why this matters
This is an informational announcement of a new Memorandum of Understanding between two major regulators. While it establishes a framework for cooperation and information-sharing relevant to public company disclosures (particularly FDA-related), it does not impose new binding obligations on firms directly, nor does it...
The title references Form PF (filed by private fund advisers) and an extension of amendments, indicating a deferral of compliance deadlines. The content is a statement from the SEC Chairman, which is informational in nature.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to Rule 3a12-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to add the debt obligations of the European Union (EU) to the list of foreign government debt obligations designated as "exempted…
Why this matters
This is a formal SEC proposed rulemaking (consultation) that amends an existing Exchange Act rule to add EU debt obligations to the exempted securities list for futures purposes. It affects broker-dealers and asset managers engaged in futures trading and derivatives markets.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged 38 entities alleging that they made material misrepresentations in Forms ADV filed with the Commission between 2025 and 2026 to falsely portray themselves as legitimate advisory firms to U.S. investors…
AI Analysis
The SEC charged 38 entities in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado for allegedly submitting materially false or unsubstantiated Forms ADV between 2025 and 2026, including fictitious Colorado business addresses, disconnected or unrelated telephone numbers, copied ownership and financial data, and nonexistent audit firms. The action matters because it demonstrates that the SEC is treating fraudulent exempt reporting adviser filings as an enforcement and investor-protection priority, particularly where filings are used to create credibility with retail investors or support emerging-technology investment scams.
Key dates
2025-01-01
Beginning of the general period identified by the SEC during which the charged entities allegedly filed Forms ADV containing material misrepresentations; the publication does not specify an exact start date.
2026-08-27
The SEC announced the charges, disclosed the requested remedies, stated that the 38 ERA filings had been removed from its website, and referenced its related investor alert.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to perform a documented, line-by-line validation of Form ADV Part 1 and applicable Form ADV Part 2 disclosures, including business addresses, telephone numbers, websites, ownership, control persons, regulatory status, assets, private funds, clients, and service providers.
Firms should consider retaining contemporaneous evidence supporting material Form ADV representations, such as lease or office records, corporate and ownership documents, fund records, audited financial statements, auditor engagement evidence, and records supporting reported assets and advisory activities.
ERA and registered adviser compliance programs may wish to establish independent verification of counterparties' SEC registration or ERA status through the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure system and should avoid treating an SEC filing, certificate, or website badge as conclusive proof of legitimacy.
Firms that market investment advice to individuals should consider reviewing whether their regulatory status, Form ADV disclosures, and marketing materials accurately describe whether they are registered, exempt reporting, or otherwise authorized to provide services to retail investors.
Compliance teams may wish to investigate repeated or highly similar ownership structures, numerical disclosures, addresses, telephone numbers, websites, auditor names, or filing patterns across related advisers as potential indicators of coordinated fraudulent filings.
Firms should consider escalating unanswered SEC requests for records and preserving relevant books, records, communications, websites, and filing-support materials, because the SEC expressly relied on alleged failures to substantiate Form ADV information.
Private fund sponsors and allocators may wish to verify that purported fund audits were performed by identifiable independent public accounting firms with appropriate federal or state registration or licensing, rather than relying solely on statements in Form ADV.
Financial-crime and onboarding teams may wish to incorporate the SEC's PAUSE list, investor alerts, foreign-jurisdiction indicators, website authentication checks, and independent corporate-registration checks into risk-based due diligence for purported U.S. advisers.
What changed
This publication announces enforcement complaints rather than a new rule or generally applicable filing requirement. The SEC alleges violations of Section 204(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which governs adviser records and reports including Form ADV, and Section 207, which prohibits untrue statements or omissions in applications and reports filed under the Act. The SEC seeks permanent injunctions, conduct-based injunctions preventing the defendants from filing Forms ADV as exempt reporting advisers, and civil penalties.
Compliance impact
The alleged conduct exposes firms and individuals to injunctions, civil penalties, removal of public filings, and conduct-based bans on filing Form ADV as an exempt reporting adviser. Market commentary on earlier comparable SEC false-filing actions has emphasized that CCOs and adviser firms should be able to substantiate Form ADV responses, while industry reporting has characterized the cases as part of a broader pattern of paper advisory firms using false addresses, assets, funds, and regulatory filings to support investor fraud.
BOARD MATTERS | AUGUST 27, 2026 FDIC Board of Directors Approve New Actions By notational vote, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Board of Directors today unanimously approved the following matters. Materials and information related to these Board actions are available on the Board Matters webpage. Final…
AI Analysis
On August 27, 2026, the FDIC unanimously approved a joint FDIC-OCC final rule defining unsafe or unsound practices under section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and establishing uniform standards for Matters Requiring Attention (MRAs) and supervisory observations. The FDIC also approved an interim final rule implementing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act changes to reciprocal deposits, including a tiered exclusion from brokered-deposit treatment of up to $30 billion, materially expanding eligible funding capacity for qualifying insured depository institutions.
Key dates
2026-08-27
The FDIC Board unanimously approved the final rule on unsafe or unsound practices and MRAs and the interim final rule on Road to Housing Act reciprocal deposits by notational vote.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to inventory open MRAs, supervisory recommendations, and section 8 enforcement matters and assess whether each matter satisfies the new material-harm, Deposit Insurance Fund risk, prudent-operation, or legal-violation criteria.
Banks should consider mapping existing policies, procedures, reporting controls, documentation findings, and governance issues to the new distinction between MRAs, supervisory observations, and other violations, while retaining controls for matters that could affect capital, asset quality, earnings, liquidity, market-risk sensitivity, consumer outcomes, or receivership risk.
Management and board committees may wish to prepare for examiner requests for the objective facts, risk analysis, and reasoning supporting any MRA or unsafe-or-unsound-practice conclusion, including evidence of how the bank assessed reasonably foreseeable conditions.
Banks using reciprocal deposits should consider recalculating their permissible nonbrokered reciprocal-deposit capacity under the tiered liability formula and updating brokered-deposit classification, liquidity, deposit reporting, internal limits, and regulatory reporting controls.
Potential agent institutions should verify their eligibility under the revised definition, including the applicable capital and examination-rating requirements and the broadened CAMELS-based criteria.
Treasury, balance-sheet management, and deposit operations teams may wish to model the effect of the expanded reciprocal-deposit exclusion on funding concentration, liquidity stress assumptions, deposit pricing, and brokered-deposit monitoring.
Legal and regulatory-affairs teams should monitor the Federal Register publication of both rules, confirm the effective dates, review any interim-final-rule comment opportunity, and determine whether implementation or comments are appropriate.
Banks should consider reviewing examiner lookback requests and suspicious-activity review scopes against the related OCC examination guidance, which generally limits lookbacks involving failures to detect or report suspicious activity to one year or less unless heightened approval is obtained.
What changed
The final supervisory rule defines an unsafe or unsound practice as a practice, act, or failure to act that is contrary to generally accepted standards of prudent operation and that, if continued, is likely to materially harm the bank's financial condition or present a material risk of loss to the Deposit Insurance Fund, or that has materially harmed the bank's financial condition.
Compliance impact
The supervisory rule is a high-impact change to the framework for section 8 enforcement, board-level supervisory escalation, and corrective actions, although it does not eliminate obligations arising from applicable banking laws or regulations. The reciprocal-deposit rule may materially affect brokered-deposit classification and funding strategy for qualifying banks, with noncompliance potentially affecting regulatory reporting, liquidity-risk assessments, and supervisory conclusions.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission" or "CFTC") proposes to amend its regulations for swap execution facilities ("SEFs") to remove the requirement for SEFs to offer an order book for swap transactions that are not subject to trade execution requirement under section…
AI Analysis
On August 26, 2026, the CFTC proposed amending 17 CFR 37.3(a)(2) to require SEFs to offer an Order Book only for Required Transactions, rather than for all swaps listed for trading. The proposal would make Order Books optional for Permitted Transactions, codify the approach in No-Action Letter No. 25-24, and give SEFs greater discretion to use execution methods suited to episodic and less-liquid swaps.
Key dates
2026-08-26
The CFTC proposed the amendment in 91 FR 55030, RIN 3038-AF79, and opened the public-comment period.
2026-09-25 Deadline
Public comments on the proposed rule must be received by the CFTC.
Suggested considerations
SEF compliance teams should distinguish Required Transactions from Permitted Transactions under 17 CFR 37.9 and confirm that any planned platform changes preserve Order Book and RFQ functionality for Required Transactions.
SEFs may wish to inventory Permitted Transaction products, execution protocols, customer usage, liquidity, pre-trade transparency, surveillance dependencies, and annual Order Book operating costs before deciding whether to retain, modify, or discontinue optional Order Book functionality.
SEFs relying on CFTC No-Action Letter No. 25-24 should assess whether their current implementation remains consistent with the proposal and should monitor the eventual final rule rather than treating the NPRM as binding law.
SEF applicants may wish to reassess platform design and launch costs because the proposal could remove the need to build an Order Book solely for Permitted Transactions.
Swap dealers, major swap participants, and other active SEF users should assess whether removal of an optional Order Book could affect execution practices, liquidity access, pre-trade transparency, best-execution analysis, or internal trading procedures for Permitted Transactions.
Interested firms should consider submitting comments to CFTC docket CFTC-2026-1882, including quantified technology, staffing, infrastructure, surveillance-integration, and market-impact data, by September 25, 2026.
Compliance teams should continue applying CEA section 2(h)(8), 17 CFR 37.9, and applicable Part 43 reporting obligations unless and until a final rule changes them.
What changed
The proposed amendment would revise 17 CFR 37.3(a)(2) so that a SEF must, at a minimum, offer an Order Book as defined in 17 CFR 37.3(a)(3) for Required Transactions as defined in 17 CFR 37.9(a)(1). It would remove the obligation to offer an Order Book for Permitted Transactions, defined in 17 CFR 37.9(c)(1) as transactions that do not involve a swap subject to the CEA section 2(h)(8) trade-execution requirement. SEFs could continue offering Order Books for Permitted Transactions voluntarily and could use any execution method permitted under 17 CFR 37.9(c)(2).
Compliance impact
This is a proposed rule and does not itself create an immediate new obligation or remove the existing regulatory text. If finalized, SEFs could reduce costs and redesign execution workflows for Permitted Transactions, but firms may face changes in available pre-trade transparency and execution protocols; the CFTC identifies possible transparency and price-discovery effects as the principal adverse considerations and regards the expected direct compliance cost of removal as de minimis.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, and Federal Housing Finance Agency are rescinding the "Interagency Statement on Special…
AI Analysis
On August 25, 2026, the OCC and six other federal agencies rescinded the 2022 Interagency Statement on Special Purpose Credit Programs and OCC Bulletin 2022-3. The rescission removes that guidance as a reference point and emphasizes that special purpose credit programs must not discriminate on prohibited bases under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Regulation B, and, where applicable, the Fair Housing Act.
Key dates
2026-04-22
The CFPB published a final rule amending Regulation B provisions concerning special purpose credit programs, including new restrictions applicable to programs offered or participated in by for-profit organizations.
2026-07-21
The CFPB's Regulation B amendments became effective. For-profit special purpose credit programs offered or participated in on or after this date must comply with the amended requirements, including the prohibition on using race, color, national origin, or sex as a common eligibility criterion.
2026-08-25
The seven agencies rescinded the 2022 interagency statement and OCC Bulletin 2022-3, effective immediately. Creditors should no longer rely on those issuances or related guidance.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to inventory special purpose credit programs, marketing, eligibility criteria, underwriting policies, written plans, and monitoring practices that were developed or supported by the 2022 interagency statement, OCC Bulletin 2022-3, or related guidance.
Firms should consider reassessing any program that uses race, color, national origin, or sex as a common eligibility criterion, particularly for credit extended on or after July 21, 2026, against 12 CFR 1002.8 as amended.
For-profit creditors may wish to confirm that each written special purpose credit program plan contains evidence of need, explains why the relevant class would not receive credit under the organization's ordinary creditworthiness standards, and supports any eligibility characteristic used by the program.
Compliance teams may wish to remove rescinded guidance from policies, procedures, training materials, legal inventories, product governance documents, and examiner-facing materials, while retaining records needed to explain prior program design and implementation.
Firms should consider reviewing program communications and applicant data practices for potential discrimination or misleading reliance on the rescinded statement, including communications suggesting that protected-class distinctions are broadly authorized.
Banks and credit unions may wish to brief fair-lending, legal, product, underwriting, marketing, and model-risk stakeholders and document the governance decision regarding whether each program should be amended, suspended, or continued under current law.
What changed
The 2022 interagency statement and OCC Bulletin 2022-3 are rescinded, effective immediately, and creditors are instructed not to rely on those issuances or related guidance. The rescission does not eliminate the statutory or regulatory framework for special purpose credit programs under ECOA and Regulation B, including 12 CFR 1002.8; rather, it clarifies that those programs remain subject to applicable fair-lending prohibitions. The agencies specifically identify the prior version of Regulation B referenced by the 2022 statement as having been amended.
Compliance impact
The rescission creates a meaningful fair-lending and product-governance risk for creditors whose special purpose credit programs relied on the withdrawn guidance, although it does not itself create a new statutory prohibition or abolish Regulation B's special purpose credit program provisions. Regulatory and litigation exposure may increase where a program uses prohibited characteristics, lacks the documentation required by amended 12 CFR 1002.8, or treats the rescinded statement as a safe harbor.
Minutes of the Board's discount rate meetings on July 20 and July 29, 2026
Why this matters
The document is a press release announcing the availability of minutes from two discount rate meetings held in July 2026. It contains no substantive policy guidance, new rules, or enforcement actions—only notification that minutes have been released and a brief explanation that the discount rate process is separate...
PRESS RELEASE | AUGUST 25, 2026 FDIC-Insured Institutions Reported Return on Assets of 1.37 Percent and Net Income of $90.1 Billion in Second Quarter 2026 WASHINGTON—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today released the results of its latest Quarterly Banking Profile , a comprehensive summary of…
Why this matters
The FDIC press release presents Q2 2026 banking industry performance data (ROA, net income, deposit growth, loan growth, asset quality metrics) from the Quarterly Banking Profile.
Request for comment. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC" or "Commission") is seeking public responses to this Request for Comment to better inform its understanding and oversight of derivatives markets in compute.
AI Analysis
The CFTC published a Request for Comment on August 21, 2026, seeking empirical and data-driven views on whether and how compute derivatives—particularly contracts referencing rented AI-compute capacity, GPU capacity, inference tokens, and perpetual futures—could be listed and overseen. The publication does not create new binding requirements, but it signals that potential listings will be assessed under existing Commodity Exchange Act requirements concerning manipulation, benchmark reliability, surveillance, customer protection, AML, and financial integrity; independent market coverage describes this as an early regulatory step linked to proposed GPU-rental futures and a potential October 5, 2026 launch by CME Group and Silicon Data, subject to regulatory review.
Key dates
2026-08-21
Request for Comment published in the Federal Register.
2026-10-20 Deadline
Comments are due, calculated as 60 days after Federal Register publication.
2026-10-05
Reported target date for CME Group and Silicon Data to list two compute or GPU-rental futures contracts, subject to regulatory review; this date is not established by the CFTC Request for Comment.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to determine whether the firm has relevant empirical data on compute prices, volumes, counterparties, supplier concentration, utilization, capacity commitments, or bilateral contract terms that could support a CFTC submission.
Potential DCM and SEF applicants should consider mapping proposed contract specifications and settlement methodologies against CEA section 5(d), Core Principles 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 11, 17 CFR 38.150-38.160, 38.200-38.201, 38.250-38.258, 38.500, and 38.603, and the guidance in 17 CFR part 38 appendices B and C.
Firms developing or contributing data to a compute index should consider documenting data provenance, publication practices, governance, auditability, contributor concentration, observation-window controls, fallback mechanisms, and safeguards against manipulation by capacity providers.
FCMs, introducing brokers, and other intermediaries may wish to assess whether existing BSA/AML, KYC, onboarding, suitability, disclosure, and market-conduct controls address the risks identified for compute derivatives, including opaque bilateral markets and geopolitically sensitive supply.
Market participants may wish to submit comments by the applicable deadline, clearly referencing RIN 3038-AF77 and the Request for Comment on the Listing of Compute Derivatives Contracts, while avoiding unnecessary personal or confidential business information because submissions will be publicly posted.
Firms tracking product development should consider monitoring any subsequent DCM self-certification or Commission-approval filing, as the consultation itself does not authorize trading or postpone a proposed listing.
What changed
No final rule, approval, prohibition, or new compliance obligation was introduced. The CFTC is requesting comment on compute cash-market size, liquidity, transparency, supplier concentration, fungibility, benchmark methodology, deliverable supply, manipulation risks, surveillance feasibility, customer protection, heightened BSA/AML and KYC issues, retail protections, and the design and risks of perpetual compute futures.
Compliance impact
Immediate impact is limited because the publication is nonbinding, but it provides a significant signal about the CFTC's likely scrutiny of benchmark integrity, manipulation susceptibility, surveillance access, customer protection, and AML controls before compute contracts can be listed. Firms involved in a proposed market may face substantial evidentiary and control-design expectations under existing DCM, SEF, FCM, and intermediary rules, particularly where reference data is private, concentrated, or controlled by compute providers.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission" or "CFTC") is proposing several amendments to its registration requirements for certain commodity pool operators ("CPOs") and commodity trading advisors ("CTAs") to reduce duplicative and overlapping regulation and reflect inflation…
AI Analysis
The CFTC proposed amendments to Regulations 4.13 and 4.14 that would create a formal registration exemption for SEC-registered investment advisers operating pools limited to qualified eligible persons and specified accredited investors, with a related CTA exemption. The proposal would also double the Small Pool Exemption’s aggregate gross capital-contributions ceiling from $400,000 to $800,000 while retaining the 15-participant limit, reducing potential duplicative SEC-CFTC obligations if adopted.
Key dates
2026-08-21
Proposal published in the Federal Register for public comment.
2026-10-05 Deadline
Written comments are due 45 days after Federal Register publication.
Suggested considerations
Firms should assess each pool’s investor eligibility against the natural-person and non-natural-person requirements in proposed Regulation 4.13(a)(4), including the distinctions between qualified eligible persons and accredited investors.
RIAs should review offering documents, subscription procedures, investor representations, and transfer controls to support the required reasonable belief at investment or conversion that all participants satisfy the applicable eligibility criteria.
Compliance teams may wish to confirm that each relevant pool’s interests qualify for a Securities Act exemption and that U.S. marketing practices comply with the proposed restriction, including the Rule 506(c) exception.
Eligible advisers should map Form PF obligations and determine whether existing SEC filings would satisfy the proposed condition that Form PF be filed where required.
Firms should prepare to file or update electronic exemption notices with the NFA and maintain the proposed Regulation 4.13 annual affirmation, recordkeeping, disclosure, and statutory-disqualification representations.
Managers operating both registered and exempt pools should assess the proposed Regulation 4.13(e)(2) communications and redemption-right requirements and identify whether any existing participants would require notice before a pool is operated as exempt.
Small-pool operators should model eligibility using the proposed $800,000 aggregate threshold while continuing to monitor the 15-participant-per-pool limit and unchanged contribution exclusions.
Managers relying on Staff Letter 25-50 should preserve evidence of current compliance and evaluate transition implications because the CFTC preliminarily proposes to supersede that relief if the rule is finalized.
What changed
Proposed Regulation 4.13(a)(4) would exempt an SEC-registered investment adviser from CPO registration for qualifying pools if the pool interests are exempt from Securities Act registration and are not publicly marketed in the United States, except that the marketing restriction would not apply to pools offered under SEC Rule 506(c) of Regulation D.
Compliance impact
This is a proposed rule rather than a currently binding amendment, but it could materially reduce CPO and CTA registration and duplicative compliance burdens for RIAs serving sophisticated investors. Until adoption, firms should not assume the proposed exemptions or $800,000 threshold are available and should continue relying on existing registrations, exemptions, or Staff Letter 25-50 only where all current conditions are satisfied.
Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould today discussed the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's (OCC) work under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to support the Administration's efforts to grow the economy and lead the global digital currency…
Why this matters
This is a news release documenting a Comptroller speech at an industry event. It contains noteworthy regulatory signals: (1) an eightfold increase in digital asset-related bank charter applications (23 of 40 recent applications), (2) confirmation that a final GENIUS Act rule will be issued by November 2026, and (3)...
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Daniel Chu, Jerome Kollar, and Ameryn Seibold, the former CEO, CFO, and Senior Director of Finance, respectively, at Texas-based Tricolor Holdings, LLC, for their roles in an alleged multi-year scheme…
AI Analysis
On August 18, 2026, the SEC charged Tricolor Holdings’ former CEO Daniel Chu, CFO Jerome Kollar, and Senior Director of Finance Ameryn Seibold with allegedly defrauding ABS investors and lenders by double-pledging hundreds of millions of dollars of subprime auto loans, misrepresenting lien status and financial condition, and manipulating delinquency data. The action matters because independent legal, structured-finance, and industry commentary indicates that the alleged collateral shortfall exposed weaknesses in borrowing-base controls, securitization diligence, investor disclosures, and verification across private credit and subprime auto ABS markets.
Key dates
2025-09-10
Tricolor and affiliates filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and moved toward liquidation.
2025-12-17
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced criminal charges against Tricolor executives in connection with the alleged fraud.
2026-08-18
The SEC announced the civil enforcement action against Daniel Chu, Jerome Kollar, and Ameryn Seibold in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Suggested considerations
Firms should consider performing a targeted review of whether the same receivable, loan, vehicle, inventory item, or other asset can be pledged across multiple warehouse facilities, securitizations, lenders, or managed accounts, including through affiliates and special-purpose vehicles.
Compliance teams may wish to test collateral eligibility and borrowing-base reporting back to source-level records, payment histories, lien and ownership data, servicing systems, and independent third-party evidence rather than relying solely on management certifications.
Securitization sponsors, underwriters, and investors should consider reviewing controls for detecting loans that are delinquent, charged off, non-paying, fictitious, materially impaired, or otherwise ineligible but reported as current or eligible.
Firms should consider reconciling loan-level collateral tapes across all funding channels and establishing exception escalation, independent sign-off, segregation of duties, and documented remediation for duplicate identifiers or inconsistent pledging data.
Finance and compliance functions may wish to assess whether offering documents, investor presentations, lender certificates, and management meetings accurately describe liquidity constraints, funding needs, collateral encumbrances, and portfolio performance.
Boards and senior-management committees should consider reviewing governance over collateral operations, securitization disclosures, liquidity reporting, related-party or affiliate financing, and controls over executive certifications.
Investment managers and lenders may wish to incorporate independent collateral verification, borrowing-base audit rights, data-access rights, concentration and duplication analytics, and covenant triggers into new and renewed transactions.
Firms with relevant exposure should consider preserving records, communications, collateral tapes, system audit trails, certifications, underwriting files, and exception reports in light of parallel SEC and criminal proceedings.
What changed
The publication does not introduce a new rule, threshold, filing requirement, or compliance deadline. It announces an enforcement complaint under the antifraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including alleged control-person liability against Chu and aiding-and-abetting liability against all three defendants. The SEC seeks injunctions, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and officer-and-director bars against Chu and Kollar.
Compliance impact
The case presents high-severity enforcement and litigation risk for firms involved in consumer ABS and private credit because the SEC alleges more than $1.9 billion was raised through offerings while collateral was double-pledged and loan performance data was manipulated; more than $945 million of ABS principal reportedly remained outstanding at bankruptcy.
On August 18, 2026, the SEC proposed Regulation Crypto Assets, a tailored framework for certain non-security crypto assets associated with investment contracts. The proposal would create a $5 million startup exemption over four years, a $75 million fundraising exemption per 12-month period, and a conditional safe harbor for ending the investment-contract relationship; independent market reporting characterizes the package as a significant attempt to bring token issuance and capital formation back to the United States, but it is not yet binding and remains subject to finalization.
Key dates
2026-08-18
The SEC published the Chairman’s statement and proposed Regulation Crypto Assets, including the proposed startup exemption, fundraising exemption, and investment-contract safe harbor.
2026-03-17
The SEC issued its interpretation concerning the application of the federal securities laws to certain crypto assets and transactions, which the Chairman identifies as a basis for the proposed framework.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to treat the package as a proposal rather than a currently usable exemption and continue applying the existing Securities Act, Exchange Act, and applicable state-law analysis until final rules become effective.
Potential issuers should consider mapping planned token offerings against the proposed $5 million/four-year and $75 million/12-month limits, including aggregation, timing, resale, and interaction with other registration exemptions once the proposing release is reviewed in full.
Issuers considering the fundraising exemption should consider preparing systems for principles-based crypto disclosures, financial-condition information, audited financial statements at the applicable thresholds, and ongoing reporting.
Legal and compliance functions may wish to assess whether existing investment-contract documentation contains essential managerial promises and whether operational evidence could support the proposed certification required for the safe harbor.
Crypto trading venues and intermediaries should consider inventorying assets currently treated as securities or investment contracts and evaluating how a future safe-harbor determination could affect onboarding, trading permissions, disclosures, custody, surveillance, and state-law analysis.
Firms may wish to monitor the Federal Register publication, the SEC comment period, any revisions to the proposal, and the status of the CLARITY Act, which the Chairman described as necessary for durable market-structure rules.
Compliance teams may wish to review independent commentary emphasizing that the proposal is a major policy shift toward tailored token fundraising but that the practical scope remains uncertain until the detailed conditions, audit thresholds, eligibility criteria, and final text are settled.
What changed
The proposed rules would establish two exemptions from Securities Act of 1933 registration for qualifying crypto-asset investment contracts. The startup exemption would permit offerings of up to $5 million during a four-year period. The fundraising exemption would permit offerings of up to $75 million during each 12-month period, subject to principles-based crypto-asset disclosures, financial-condition disclosures, financial statements, ongoing reporting, and audited financial statements at specified capital-raising thresholds; the publication does not state those audit thresholds.
Compliance impact
The immediate compliance impact is policy and monitoring-related rather than a new binding obligation, because the measures are proposed rules with no stated effective date or comment deadline. If adopted substantially as described, the framework could materially alter token-offering strategy, disclosure controls, state-law analysis, secondary-market treatment, and the point at which certain crypto assets cease to be treated as associated with investment contracts; failure to satisfy the eventual conditions could leave issuers subject to federal securities-law requirements and...
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it proposed new rules, titled “Regulation Crypto Assets,” that would create a clear and fit-for-purpose framework for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets. This proposal follows…
AI Analysis
On August 18, 2026, the SEC proposed Regulation Crypto Assets, creating two tailored Securities Act of 1933 registration exemptions for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets: a one-time $5 million exemption over four years and a recurring $75 million exemption per 12-month period. The proposal also includes a conditional safe harbor that could remove a crypto asset from the federal definitions of security after the issuer completes or permanently ceases promised essential managerial efforts, potentially reducing incentives to operate offshore while creating new disclosure, reporting and eligibility-control requirements.
Key dates
2026-03-17
The SEC issued its earlier interpretation clarifying how federal securities laws apply to certain crypto assets and transactions involving crypto assets.
2026-08-18
The SEC announced the proposed Regulation Crypto Assets framework and opened the process for public comment, subject to publication of the proposing release in the Federal Register.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map planned and existing token offerings against the proposed $5 million four-year and $75 million 12-month thresholds, including aggregation across related issuers, affiliates, projects and offering periods once the proposing release is reviewed.
Issuers should consider documenting which exemption they would use, the relevant measurement period, investor eligibility and transfer restrictions, and controls intended to prevent exceeding the applicable offering cap.
Firms should consider preparing draft principles-based narrative disclosures and, for the $75 million exemption, assessing financial-statement readiness and the systems needed for ongoing SEC reporting.
Project sponsors may wish to inventory all essential managerial efforts represented or promised to investors and establish evidence, governance approvals and public communications supporting any future safe-harbor position based on completion or permanent cessation of those efforts.
Exchanges, broker-dealers and trading platforms should consider assessing how the proposed safe harbor and state-law preemption could affect asset classification, listing reviews, customer disclosures, surveillance, custody and secondary-market controls.
Industry participants may wish to review the full proposing release and consider submitting comments within 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register; the specific deadline should not be assumed until the Federal Register publication date is confirmed.
Firms should continue treating the proposal as non-final and should not represent that an exemption, safe harbor or state-law preemption is currently available.
What changed
The proposed framework would add two exemptions from Securities Act of 1933 registration requirements for qualifying investment contracts involving crypto assets. The first would allow aggregate offerings of up to $5 million during a four-year period on a one-time basis; the second would allow offerings of up to $75 million during each 12-month period. Issuers relying on either exemption would need to make specified principles-based narrative disclosures available to investors.
Compliance impact
The proposal is not yet binding, but it is a high-significance consultation because it could materially change how qualifying crypto offerings, issuer disclosures, ongoing reporting and certain secondary-market transactions are structured. The SEC describes the intended consequences as clearer domestic capital-raising pathways, stronger and more consistent investor protections, reduced incentives for offshore activity and potential removal of investment-contract treatment when safe-harbor conditions are satisfied.
The CFTC proposed amendments to 17 C.F.R. Part 4 that would create new CPO and CTA registration exemptions for certain SEC-registered investment advisers serving pools limited to specified sophisticated investors, and would increase the capital-contribution limit for the existing small-pool exemption to reflect inflation. The proposal is intended to reduce duplicative CFTC and SEC regulation; independent market commentary indicates that the initiative builds on recent CFTC no-action relief for qualifying private-fund managers and may reduce registration and reporting burdens if the proposed conditions are satisfied.
Key dates
2026-08-18
CFTC announced publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning amendments to Part 4 CPO and CTA registration requirements.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to obtain and review the full Federal Register proposal, including the precise sophisticated-investor criteria, pool-level conditions, adviser eligibility requirements, proposed small-pool capital threshold, effective date, and transition provisions.
Firms should consider mapping each existing and prospective pool against the proposed CPO exemption conditions and each advisory mandate against the proposed CTA exemption conditions, without treating the proposal as currently available relief.
SEC-registered advisers may wish to compare the proposed exemption with their current CFTC registration status, CFTC Regulation 4.13 or 4.14 filings, Rule 4.7 reliance, and any applicable CFTC staff no-action relief.
Small-pool operators should consider recalculating eligibility using the proposed inflation-adjusted capital-contribution threshold once the precise amount is published and assessing whether existing offering, subscription, and compliance controls would continue to demonstrate compliance.
Affected firms may wish to assess whether to submit comments within 45 days after Federal Register publication, particularly on investor definitions, treatment of derivatives and swaps, aggregation rules, recordkeeping, reporting, and coordination with SEC adviser requirements.
Firms relying on existing exemptions or no-action letters should continue meeting their current conditions and filing obligations unless and until a final rule or separate relief changes them.
Legal and regulatory inventories may be updated to cross-reference CFTC Regulations 4.5, 4.7, 4.13, and 4.14, the Commodity Exchange Act, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
What changed
The CFTC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing amendments to Part 4. The proposal would add a CPO registration exemption for certain investment advisers registered with the SEC in connection with commodity pools whose participants are limited to specified sophisticated investors and that satisfy additional conditions set out in the proposal. It would add a related CTA registration exemption. It would also increase the capital-contribution threshold applicable to the existing small commodity pool exemption under CFTC Regulation 4.13 to account for inflation.
Compliance impact
This is a consultation rather than a binding change, so existing CPO and CTA registration, exemption, notice-filing, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations remain in force. If adopted, the amendments could materially reduce duplicative registration and related compliance costs for qualifying SEC-registered advisers, private funds, CTAs, and small pools, but eligibility will depend on detailed conditions not included in the press release.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged New York resident Andrew Spaventa and three entities he owned and controlled with fraud and other violations in connection with unregistered securities offerings of private funds that purportedly…
AI Analysis
On August 14, 2026, the SEC charged Andrew Spaventa and three controlled entities with allegedly raising more than $74 million from over 800 predominantly retail investors through 11 private funds marketed as pre-IPO opportunities. The complaint alleges that undisclosed principal markups averaged approximately 46%, producing about $23 million in upfront fees, while more than 100 sales agents used cold calling and high-pressure tactics; independent reporting characterizes the matter as part of heightened scrutiny of retail access to private-market investments and hidden compensation.
Key dates
2026-08-14
The SEC announced the enforcement action and filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
2020-12-01
Approximate beginning of the conduct period alleged by the SEC.
2025-06-30
Approximate end of the conduct period alleged by the SEC.
Suggested considerations
Firms should consider reconciling every investor-facing statement about upfront fees, markups, commissions, carried interest, advisory fees, transaction spreads, and total acquisition cost against actual fund and affiliate-level economics.
Compliance teams may wish to map all principal transactions and related-party transfers between advisers, sponsors, general partners, feeder funds, and portfolio-acquisition vehicles, with documented conflict reviews and valuation support.
Firms should consider testing whether each person soliciting private-fund interests is properly registered or otherwise operating within an applicable broker-dealer exemption, and whether compensation arrangements create broker-dealer registration or supervision concerns.
Compliance teams may wish to review cold-calling scripts, call recordings, lead-generation practices, sales-agent training, and escalation controls for high-pressure claims, guaranteed or implied returns, scarcity statements, and misleading descriptions of pre-IPO access.
Firms should consider verifying offering exemptions, investor eligibility, registration status, subscription documentation, and disclosure delivery for each private fund and distribution channel.
Compliance teams may wish to perform targeted surveillance of retail and retiree sales, including cancellation or cooling-off requests, unusual concentration, complaints about undisclosed fees, and differences between quoted and realized investor charges.
Firms should consider preserving communications, transaction records, fee calculations, investor files, sales-agent compensation data, and valuation materials in anticipation of regulatory inquiries or investor claims.
What changed
This is a civil enforcement action, not a new rule or generally applicable safe harbor. The SEC alleges violations of the antifraud, securities-registration, and broker-dealer-registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, together with control-person liability and aiding-and-abetting violations by Spaventa.
Compliance impact
The alleged conduct presents high enforcement and litigation risk because it combines retail solicitation, undisclosed conflicts and markups, potentially unregistered securities offerings, and possible broker-dealer registration failures. The SEC is seeking injunctions, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and conduct restrictions, while market reporting indicates that the case is being read alongside other 2026 SEC actions involving undisclosed fees and pre-IPO private-market products.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released its annual update to the Bank Accounting Advisory Series (BAAS).
Why this matters
This is an informational news release announcing the OCC's annual update to the Bank Accounting Advisory Series. The BAAS is explicitly stated as non-binding interpretive guidance rather than rules or regulations.
The OCC has issued the 2026 edition of the Bank Accounting Advisory Series (BAAS). The BAAS contains staff responses to frequently asked questions from the banking industry and bank examiners on a variety of accounting topics and promotes consistent application of accounting standards and regulatory reporting among…
Why this matters
This is an informational bulletin announcing the 2026 edition of the Bank Accounting Advisory Series (BAAS), which the OCC explicitly states does not represent rules or regulations but rather interpretive guidance on accounting standards.
The update is a statement regarding the Division's role in Exchange Act Rule 14a-8 (shareholder proposals), which is a disclosure and governance matter affecting public companies. The RSS summary format and 'news' classification indicate this is informational rather than a new binding obligation or enforcement action.
Final rule. FinCEN is issuing this final rule to adopt as final and with certain limited changes the interim final rule issued on March 26, 2025, which narrowed beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements under FinCEN's regulations implementing the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). In particular…
AI Analysis
FinCEN’s final rule (RIN 1506-AB67; 91 FR 52508), effective 2026-08-14, permanently narrows Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting to foreign reporting companies only and codifies broad exemptions for U.S. persons. It adopts, with limited changes, the 2025 interim final rule so that domestic reporting companies, U.S. person beneficial owners, U.S. person company applicants, and U.S. person holders of FinCEN IDs are no longer subject to BOI reporting or update obligations under 31 CFR 1010.380.
Key dates
2026-08-14
Effective date of FinCEN final rule "Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirement Revision" (91 FR 52508; RIN 1506-AB67), permanently narrowing CTA BOI reporting to foreign reporting companies and codifying exemptions for U.S. persons and domestic reporting companies.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams at foreign reporting companies should review the revised 31 CFR 1010.380 definition of "reporting company" and confirm that their entity meets the narrowed criteria (foreign formation plus registration to do business in a U.S. State or Tribal jurisdiction), updating BOI reporting inventories and scoping accordingly.
Foreign reporting companies should update BOI reporting procedures to ensure that reports capture beneficial owners who are non-U.S. persons while excluding U.S. person beneficial owners, including revising data collection forms, internal instructions, and system logic to avoid collecting or transmitting U.S. person BOI under the CTA framework.
Firms involved in foreign pooled investment vehicles registered in the United States may wish to revise governance and reporting processes so that BOI reports for such vehicles identify only the individual exercising substantial control (or greatest authority over strategic management) who is not a U.S. person, and cease including U.S. controllers where they qualify as U.S. persons.
Corporate secretarial and entity management functions should update CTA/BOI scoping matrices to remove domestic corporations, LLCs, and similar entities from BOI reporting obligations and to reflect that only qualifying foreign entities remain in scope, while maintaining awareness of other AML and KYC obligations that may still apply independently of the CTA.
Onboarding and registration workflows for foreign entities should be reviewed so that BOI reporting triggers, timelines, and responsibilities are aligned with the final rule’s foreign-only scope, including any remaining deadlines tied to registration dates, and that staff understand that U.S. person company applicant information is no longer required for CTA reporting.
Firms maintaining records of U.S. person beneficial owners and company applicants for CTA purposes may wish to reassess retention policies, ensuring that any continued collection or storage of such data is for other legal or risk-management purposes rather than CTA compliance, and that privacy notices and data minimization practices reflect the updated regulatory position.
Compliance teams should revise CTA-related policies, procedures, and training materials to incorporate the exemptions for U.S. persons holding FinCEN IDs, clarifying that these individuals are no longer required to update or correct BOI previously provided to obtain the identifier, and documenting any residual obligations under other BSA or AML rules.
Banks, broker-dealers, and other AML-regulated firms should consider the impact of reduced BOI availability for U.S. persons on their own customer due diligence, beneficial ownership, and risk assessment frameworks, and evaluate whether internal KYC standards or other regulatory requirements (such as customer due diligence rules) necessitate separate collection of U.S. person ownership information irrespective of FinCEN’s CTA exemptions.
What changed
The definition and scope of "reporting company" under 31 CFR 1010.380, as implemented under 31 U.S.C. 5336, are now permanently narrowed so that entities previously defined as domestic reporting companies are exempt from BOI reporting requirements, including initial, updated, and corrected BOI reports.
Foreign reporting companies remain subject to BOI reporting, but the rule confirms that they are exempt from reporting beneficial ownership information for any U.S. person beneficial owners; those U.S.
Compliance impact
The final rule significantly reduces BOI reporting obligations for U.S. entities and U.S. persons while maintaining reporting duties for foreign reporting companies, shifting compliance focus and BOI data availability toward foreign-owned structures. FinCEN’s regulatory impact analysis emphasizes burden relief for small and domestic businesses and recalibrates expected costs and benefits of BOI collection under the CTA and BSA exemptive authorities.
The SEC instituted settled administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings against Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC over alleged compliance deficiencies in their cash sweep program, specifically a bank deposit sweep program. The matter matters because the SEC tied the sweep-program controls to Advisers Act compliance, signaling that written policies, implementation, and supervision around client cash defaults are enforcement priorities.
Key dates
2026-08-12
SEC announcement of the administrative proceeding
2026-08-22 Deadline
Payment deadline for the $28 million penalty by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and the $7 million penalty by Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, within 10 days of entry of the order
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether written supervisory procedures specifically address the risks of cash sweep and bank deposit sweep arrangements.
Firms may wish to assess whether product selection, monitoring, escalation, and exception-handling controls are documented and operating as intended.
Broker-dealers and advisers may wish to test whether disclosures, advisor training, and supervisory review processes match the actual operation of sweep programs.
Firms may wish to examine whether affiliated deposit-product conflicts, yield incentives, and client-cash allocation defaults are identified and mitigated in practice.
Operational risk and compliance functions may wish to evaluate whether periodic reviews capture changes in interest-rate conditions and client behavior that can affect sweep-program risk.
What changed
The order reflects SEC action under Sections 203(e) and 203(k) of the Investment Advisers Act and Section 15(b) of the Exchange Act, with cease-and-desist relief for violations of Section 206(4) of the Advisers Act and Rule 206(4)-7. The SEC’s settled resolution imposed a censure and civil penalties of $28 million on Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and $7 million on Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, payable within 10 days of entry of the order.
Compliance impact
The SEC’s response is significant because it uses a public enforcement proceeding, cease-and-desist relief, censure, and substantial monetary penalties to address controls failures in a routine cash-management function. For compliance professionals, the practical consequence is heightened scrutiny of sweep-program governance, especially where product defaults, oversight, and conflict management are not demonstrably robust.
The SEC instituted an administrative and cease-and-desist proceeding against Santander Securities LLC over mutual fund share-class selection practices and related 12b-1 fee conflicts. The matter matters because it reinforces the SEC’s expectation that advisers identify lower-cost share classes, disclose conflicts clearly, and avoid compensation-driven recommendations that disadvantage clients.
Key dates
2026-08-12
SEC administrative proceeding and release for Santander Securities LLC
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review mutual fund share-class selection controls to confirm lower-cost alternatives are identified and used when available.
Firms may wish to reassess whether 12b-1 fee compensation is clearly disclosed in client-facing materials and account documentation.
Supervisory teams may wish to test whether review procedures flag cases where a cheaper share class was available but not selected.
Firms may wish to examine whether representative compensation or revenue-sharing arrangements could bias share-class recommendations.
Compliance functions may wish to verify that remediation processes can identify and reimburse affected clients where share-class selection increased costs.
What changed
The SEC charged Santander Securities LLC with willful violations of Advisers Act Sections 206(2) and 207 in connection with recommending mutual fund share classes that paid 12b-1 fees while lower-cost share classes were available for the same funds. The order alleges inadequate disclosure of the conflict created by the firm’s and associated persons’ receipt of 12b-1 compensation, and it describes the conduct as a breach of fiduciary duty and disclosure obligations.
Compliance impact
The SEC’s action signals continued scrutiny of share-class selection, conflict disclosure, and fee-driven recommendation practices. The consequences described are significant: a public enforcement action, censure, cease-and-desist relief, and monetary remedies requiring repayment to affected investors.
The SEC issued a settled administrative order against Trustcore Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser, for breaching its fiduciary duty and failing to make adequate disclosures in connection with mutual fund share class selection and related 12b-1 fee arrangements during the period 2014-01-01 to 2018-03-28. The adviser was censured, ordered to cease and desist from violating Sections 206(2) and 207 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and required to pay $422,261.28 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest, reinforcing the SEC’s ongoing focus on fee-driven conflicts and share-class disclosure practices.
Key dates
2014-01-01
Start of the relevant conduct period during which Trustcore selected and held mutual fund share classes paying 12b-1 fees where lower-cost alternatives were available
2018-03-28
End of the relevant conduct period examined in the SEC’s administrative proceeding
2019-03-11
Date of the SEC’s administrative order against Trustcore Financial Services, LLC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
2020-12-31
Closure date of Trustcore’s affiliated broker-dealer, TrustCore Investments, LLC, referenced as subsequent context
Suggested considerations
Firms should consider reviewing mutual fund share class selection methodologies to confirm that, where multiple classes of the same fund are available, the process appropriately prioritizes lower-cost share classes for clients unless a documented, client-specific rationale justifies a different choice.
Compliance teams may wish to assess whether existing Form ADV, advisory agreements, and other client-facing disclosure documents clearly describe 12b-1 fees, revenue-sharing, and other distribution or affiliate compensation, including how these payments arise from share class selection and the resulting conflicts of interest.
Advisory firms should consider mapping and documenting all compensation flows between the adviser, affiliated broker-dealers, and associated persons that are tied to mutual fund holdings, including 12b-1 fees and other distribution-related payments, to support clear conflict identification and disclosure.
Firms may wish to evaluate supervisory controls and surveillance around mutual fund share class usage, including periodic reviews or exception reports designed to detect legacy, higher-cost, or revenue-generating share classes that remain in client accounts where lower-cost alternatives exist.
Compliance teams should consider testing whether advisory personnel understand the firm’s fiduciary obligations under the Advisers Act in the context of fee-driven product selection, and whether training materials adequately cover share class conflicts and disclosure expectations.
Advisory firms may wish to implement or enhance procedures requiring documentation of the rationale for any recommendation or retention of mutual fund share classes that pay 12b-1 fees or other distribution fees, especially where cheaper classes of the same fund are available to the client.
Firms should consider reviewing and, where needed, updating policies governing interactions between advisory and brokerage affiliates, to ensure that incentives tied to fund distribution or 12b-1 fees do not undermine client best interest or the adviser’s fiduciary duty.
Compliance teams may wish to benchmark their practices against prior SEC share class selection initiatives and enforcement matters, using this order as an example of the types of conflicts, disclosure gaps, and remedial undertakings the SEC is prepared to pursue.
What changed
This publication does not introduce new rules but memorializes a final SEC enforcement action and related undertakings under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The SEC imposed a formal cease-and-desist order against Trustcore Financial Services, LLC for violations of Section 206(2) (fraudulent conduct by an investment adviser) and Section 207 (untrue statements or omissions of material fact in filings with the SEC), in connection with the adviser’s selection and retention of mutual fund share classes that paid 12b-1 fees where lower-cost share classes were available.
Compliance impact
The matter underscores materially heightened enforcement risk for advisers that fail to align mutual fund share class selection and related distribution-fee arrangements with fiduciary and disclosure obligations, including potential disgorgement, prejudgment interest, censure, and cease-and-desist relief. The SEC’s use of Sections 206(2) and 207 signals that inadequate conflict disclosure around 12b-1 fee-driven share class practices can be treated as fraudulent conduct and materially misleading regulatory filings.
The SEC entered a cease-and-desist order against Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. for failing to timely investigate and file certain suspicious activity reports between April 2019 and March 2024, including instances allegedly more than two years late. The firm consented to a censure and a $4 million civil penalty, making this a significant reminder that SAR timeliness is an enforceable broker-dealer AML obligation.
Key dates
2019-04-01
Start of the period covered by the SEC’s findings on untimely SAR investigations and filings
2024-03-31
End of the period covered by the SEC’s findings on untimely SAR investigations and filings
2024-08-12
SEC press release and administrative order were posted
2024-09-11 Deadline
Civil penalty payment due within 30 days of the order’s entry, assuming the posted order date reflects the entry date
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review SAR investigation aging standards against current internal procedures, especially for matters involving subpoenas, law-enforcement requests, or regulatory inquiries.
Firms should consider whether escalation triggers, ownership, and sign-off responsibilities for SAR determinations are clearly documented across surveillance, legal, and compliance functions.
Broker-dealers may wish to test whether case-management tools can identify stalled investigations and flag items approaching internal filing deadlines or reasonable-period expectations.
Dual registrants may wish to assess whether broker-dealer and advisory compliance workflows are coordinated for suspicious-activity matters that cut across business lines.
Training for relevant personnel may wish to be reviewed to ensure that SAR timeliness expectations and escalation protocols are understood by front office, surveillance, legal, and operations staff.
What changed
The publication does not create new rules or thresholds. It documents an enforcement action under Exchange Act Section 17(a) and Rule 17a-8, which require broker-dealers to file SARs for suspicious transactions and related activity. The SEC’s order emphasizes that firms must conduct and complete SAR investigations within a reasonable period of time, especially when the activity is connected to law-enforcement or regulatory inquiries. The outcome also shows that the SEC may treat delayed investigation and filing as a standalone compliance failure even without a substantive fraud finding.
Compliance impact
The matter is high severity because the SEC imposed formal sanctions and a monetary penalty for SAR timeliness failures, and the order suggests that delayed investigations alone can create enforcement exposure. For compliance programs, the practical consequence is heightened scrutiny of SAR governance, investigation tracking, and coordination with legal and regulatory inquiry workflows.
The SEC entered a settled administrative order against Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC for failing to fully and fairly disclose incentive-compensation conflicts tied to retirement rollover and referral activity, and for failing to maintain reasonably designed disclosure-related policies and procedures under the Advisers Act. The firm agreed to a cease-and-desist order, censure, and a $2.9 million civil penalty, making the matter a concrete reminder that rollover-related compensation practices must be disclosed accurately and matched to operational reality.
Key dates
2017-06-01
Beginning of the conduct period identified by the SEC for the undisclosed or inadequately disclosed rollover and referral incentive-compensation practices.
2022-02-01
End of the conduct period identified by the SEC for the disclosure and policies-and-procedures failures.
2025-01-17
The SEC issued the settled administrative order against Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to compare conflict disclosures against actual compensation practices to confirm that conditional language does not understate incentives that are being paid in practice.
Firms may wish to review rollover-related compensation arrangements for specificity in Form ADV brochures, client agreements, training materials, and sales communications.
Compliance teams may wish to test whether policies and procedures under Rule 206(4)-7 are designed to identify, monitor, and remediate gaps between business practices and client disclosures.
Firms should consider whether representative-level incentive compensation tied to referrals or rollovers warrants heightened supervision, approval workflows, or additional conflict controls.
Firms may wish to assess whether retirement rollover supervision includes review of disclosure consistency, repapering, and cross-functional sign-off when compensation structures change.
What changed
This is an enforcement action, not a new rule or interpretive release, so it does not amend the underlying regulatory text. The SEC found violations of Sections 206(2) and 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-7 because the firm allegedly paid incentive compensation to investment adviser representatives for referrals and retirement rollovers from at least 2017-06-01 through 2022-02-01, while earlier disclosures used language suggesting the firm merely 'may' provide incentives.
Compliance impact
The matter is significant because the SEC treated inaccurate conflict disclosure and weak disclosure controls as violations of Sections 206(2) and 206(4) and Rule 206(4)-7, resulting in a cease-and-desist order, censure, and a $2.9 million penalty. The practical consequence is heightened enforcement risk where retirement rollover incentives exist but disclosure language remains generic or conditional rather than describing the actual arrangement.
The SEC entered a settled administrative order against Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC for failing to fully and fairly disclose compensation received by its affiliated broker-dealer and the related conflicts of interest in connection with mutual fund transactions and related services. The matter matters to compliance teams because it reinforces the SEC’s focus on affiliate compensation, conflict disclosure, and written controls under the Investment Advisers Act.
Key dates
2021-07-09
SEC announced settled administrative proceedings against Kestra Advisory Services, LLC and Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC
2026-08-12
SEC administrative proceedings index and SEC newsroom list the Kestra Private Wealth Services matter under Release No. 34-106110
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether disclosures about affiliated compensation, markups, and related conflicts are specific and prominent enough for advisory clients.
Firms should consider testing mutual fund trade processing and fee assessment workflows for undisclosed economic benefits to affiliates.
Dual registrants may wish to assess whether advisory and broker-dealer compliance functions are coordinated so disclosures, operations, and compensation schedules are aligned.
Firms may wish to examine whether written policies and procedures are detailed enough to detect and prevent conflicts tied to transaction fees and non-transaction service fees.
Wealth management firms may wish to compare client-facing disclosures against internal agreements and operational fee flows to identify inconsistencies.
Compliance teams may wish to consider periodic testing of conflict disclosures and fee practices to determine whether similar issues would be identified before an exam or enforcement review.
What changed
This is an enforcement order, not a rulemaking, so it does not create new requirements. It nonetheless reinforces that investment advisers must provide full and fair disclosure of conflicts created when an affiliated broker-dealer receives compensation from mutual fund trades and related services, including situations described by the SEC as fee markups. The order also underscores the need for written compliance policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations, which the SEC tied to Rule 206(4)-7.
Compliance impact
The SEC imposed a cease-and-desist order, a censure, disgorgement of $208,187, prejudgment interest of $31,382, and a civil penalty of $60,000 against Kestra Private Wealth Services, and indicated the funds would be distributed to harmed investors. The practical consequence for firms is heightened enforcement risk where affiliated compensation and client fee economics are not clearly disclosed and supported by effective controls.
The SEC instituted cease-and-desist proceedings against J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC for publishing advertisements that contained untrue statements of material fact, citing violations of Advisers Act Section 206(4) and Rule 206(4)-1(a)(5). The order matters because it shows the SEC will treat misleading adviser marketing as a standalone advertising violation and impose both remedial relief and a monetary penalty.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether advertising approval workflows are designed to identify statements that could be materially false or misleading under Advisers Act standards.
Firms may wish to verify that marketing claims are supported by current documentation before use, especially where claims relate to qualifications, capabilities, or other material attributes.
Teams may wish to confirm that all promotional channels, including websites, PDFs, presentations, email campaigns, and social media, are included in supervisory review.
Firms may wish to assess whether recordkeeping processes preserve final and pre-approved versions of advertisements and the support for material claims.
Compliance teams may wish to consider whether training for marketing and advisory personnel clearly addresses the prohibition on untrue statements of material fact in advertisements.
What changed
This publication is an enforcement order, not a new rulemaking, so it does not create new generally applicable obligations. It applies existing Investment Advisers Act advertising standards by finding that the firm violated Section 206(4) and Rule 206(4)-1(a)(5) through advertisements containing untrue statements of material fact. The order also requires a cease-and-desist remedy and imposes a $200,000 civil money penalty, payable within 10 days of the order’s entry.
Compliance impact
The action signals meaningful enforcement risk for misleading adviser marketing because the SEC treated the conduct as an advertising violation under the Advisers Act, not merely a disclosure issue. The consequences described are a cease-and-desist order plus a $200,000 penalty, indicating the Commission viewed the violation as sufficiently serious to warrant both remedial and punitive sanctions.
The SEC brought and won a major enforcement action against Commonwealth Equity Services, LLC over allegedly inadequate disclosure of revenue-sharing conflicts tied to mutual fund share-class selection. The case matters because it shows the SEC treating conflict disclosure as a substantive fiduciary and compliance issue, not just a generic Form ADV disclosure exercise.
Key dates
2019-08-01
SEC civil action filed in the District of Massachusetts
2024-03-29
District court entered final judgment against Commonwealth
2024-04-01
Whistleblower notice lists the qualifying judgment/order date
2024-07-05
Whistleblower notice last reviewed or updated
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether Form ADV and client-facing disclosures describe revenue-sharing arrangements with enough specificity to explain the actual conflict and the related economic incentive.
Firms may wish to assess whether disclosures address not only the existence of revenue sharing, but also whether it may steer recommendations toward higher-cost mutual fund share classes over cheaper alternatives.
Firms may wish to test whether policies and procedures under Rule 206(4)-7 expressly cover identification, escalation, review, and disclosure of revenue-sharing conflicts.
CCOs may wish to confirm that they are being kept fully informed of revenue-sharing arrangements and related conflicts, especially where those arrangements can affect product recommendations or supervision.
Compliance functions may wish to evaluate whether representatives understand the structure of revenue-sharing payments and how those economics may influence client recommendations.
Dual registrants may wish to align broker-dealer and advisory disclosures so that the conflict is not described in one channel while omitted or softened in another.
What changed
This was an enforcement action, not a rulemaking, so it did not create new industry-wide requirements. The SEC alleged violations of Section 206(2), Section 206(4), and Rule 206(4)-7 of the Investment Advisers Act based on inadequate disclosure of material conflicts of interest and failure to adopt and implement adequate compliance policies and procedures.
Compliance impact
The alleged violations were treated as serious enough to support disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty, indicating meaningful enforcement exposure for inadequate conflict disclosure. The case also underscores that the SEC expects advisers to disclose material revenue-sharing incentives clearly enough that clients can understand the economic effect on recommendations and share-class selection.
The SEC instituted and settled an administrative proceeding against Kestra Advisory Services, LLC for failing to provide full and fair disclosure of compensation paid to an affiliated broker and predecessor firm, and for failing to maintain adequate compliance policies and procedures. The order matters because it is a concrete enforcement example of how the SEC applies fiduciary-duty, conflict-of-interest disclosure, and compliance-program requirements under the Advisers Act to dual-registrant/affiliate compensation structures.
Key dates
2021-07-09
SEC announced and settled the Kestra Advisory Services administrative proceeding
2021-07-09 Deadline
Order required payment of disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalty within ten days of entry of the order
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether client disclosures describe all forms of affiliated compensation, revenue sharing, and other economic benefits that could influence recommendations.
Firms should consider whether Form ADV narratives, client agreements, and supervisory documentation are consistent on affiliate compensation and conflict disclosure.
Dual registrants may wish to map advisory and brokerage compensation streams in their conflict inventories to confirm that material conflicts are captured and escalated.
Firms should consider whether written compliance policies and procedures are tailored to actual business practices, rather than existing only in generic form.
Compliance functions may wish to test whether supervisory reviews can detect compensation arrangements that create disclosure obligations under the Advisers Act.
Wealth management organizations may wish to assess training for advisers and supervisors on when affiliate compensation and shared revenue arrangements must be disclosed to clients.
What changed
This was not a new rulemaking; it was an SEC enforcement order applying existing requirements under Sections 206(2) and 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-7. The Commission found that Kestra AS failed to disclose two types of compensation received by its affiliated broker-dealer and predecessor firm, including compensation tied to conflicts of interest, and that clients therefore lacked material information needed to assess those conflicts.
Compliance impact
The SEC treated the disclosure failure as a fiduciary-duty issue and paired it with a compliance-program failure, signaling that incomplete conflict disclosure and weak written procedures can trigger material sanctions. The order imposed disgorgement, prejudgment interest, a civil penalty, and cease-and-desist relief, showing the potential consequences of affiliate compensation conflicts not being fully disclosed and controlled.
The SEC administrative proceeding against D.A. Davidson & Co. is an enforcement action, not a new rule or guidance release, and it appears to concern alleged antifraud violations tied to the firm’s underwriting of municipal securities offerings. For compliance professionals, the significance is that the SEC is signaling continued scrutiny of municipal finance diligence, disclosure, and supervisory controls at broker-dealers.
Key dates
2026-08-12
SEC release date for the administrative proceeding listing
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review municipal underwriting due diligence files to confirm that offering materials, issuer representations, and internal review steps are documented and consistent.
Firms may wish to assess supervisory controls over municipal securities underwriting to ensure responsibilities, escalation paths, and sign-off procedures are clearly assigned.
Broker-dealers may wish to re-check training for public finance personnel on disclosure accuracy, antifraud standards, and recordkeeping expectations.
Firms with both brokerage and advisory businesses may wish to keep advisory fiduciary controls distinct from municipal underwriting controls so that governance frameworks do not blur separate regulatory obligations.
Compliance functions may wish to compare this matter with prior SEC actions involving the firm to identify recurring control themes in disclosures, supervision, and product/distribution practices.
What changed
This publication does not introduce a new regulatory requirement or rulemaking obligation. It reflects an SEC administrative cease-and-desist proceeding under the federal securities laws, with the public descriptions indicating an antifraud theory connected to municipal securities underwriting and inadequate due diligence. The available materials also indicate this is separate from the firm’s earlier 2019 SEC matter involving share class selection and 12b-1 fee disclosure issues, so it should not be conflated with that prior advisory-fiduciary case.
Compliance impact
The matter indicates meaningful enforcement risk for municipal finance participants because the SEC is focusing on antifraud obligations and diligence failures in underwriting. The public record provided here does not include sanctions beyond the proceeding itself, but such cases can lead to cease-and-desist relief, civil penalties, and remedial undertakings.
This is guidance from the CFTC Division of Market Oversight addressing deficiencies in self-certification filings for incentive programs by designated contract markets (DCMs).
The SEC’s Infinex Investments matter concerns a settled enforcement action over mutual fund share class selection, where the firm allegedly placed advisory clients in share classes that paid 12b-1 fees even when cheaper shares were available. The case matters because the SEC treated the conduct as a fiduciary-duty and disclosure failure, reinforcing scrutiny of conflict management, expense minimization, and Form ADV accuracy for advisers.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review mutual fund share class selection logic to confirm whether lower-cost eligible share classes were available and used where appropriate.
Firms should consider whether 12b-1 fee revenue is fully identified in conflict inventories and disclosed clearly in Form ADV and related client materials.
Advisory supervision may wish to test whether recommendations are consistent with a client-first or best-interest framework when fund share class options differ in cost.
Firms may wish to evaluate whether exception handling for higher-cost share class usage is documented, approved, and supported by a client-specific rationale.
Compliance functions may wish to assess whether remediation and restitution calculations are available if historical share class selection issues are identified.
What changed
This was not a new rulemaking or interpretive release; it was an SEC administrative enforcement action based on alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and inadequate disclosure tied to mutual fund share class selection and 12b-1 fee revenue. The SEC’s order indicates the firm recommended, purchased, or held higher-cost share classes for clients despite lower-cost alternatives being available, and the firm received compensation through 12b-1 fees that created a conflict.
Compliance impact
The SEC’s action signals meaningful enforcement risk where advisers steer clients into higher-cost mutual fund share classes while receiving 12b-1 compensation or similar revenue. Consequences in the order included disgorgement and prejudgment interest, and the conduct was framed as a fiduciary-duty and disclosure failure rather than a mere operational error.
The SEC issued an administrative order on 2026-08-12 against Investacorp Advisory Services, Inc. (Release No. 34-106089; File No. 3-19037) for failing to adequately disclose mutual fund share class selection conflicts and receipt of 12b-1 fees between 2014 and 2018. The case reinforces that the SEC treats conflicted share-class practices as breaches of fiduciary duty and deficient Form ADV disclosure rather than a technical fund-pricing issue, with disgorgement and prejudgment interest totaling 481,608.63 USD.
Key dates
2014-01-01
Start of relevant conduct period during which Investacorp Advisory Services, Inc. recommended or retained mutual fund share classes with 12b-1 fees despite lower-cost alternatives being available
2018-03-30
End of relevant conduct period covered by the SEC administrative order against Investacorp Advisory Services, Inc.
2026-08-12
SEC issues administrative order in Release No. 34-106089, File No. 3-19037, imposing cease-and-desist relief, censure, disgorgement, and prejudgment interest on Investacorp Advisory Services, Inc.
Suggested considerations
Firms should consider reviewing mutual fund share-class selection policies and procedures to confirm that, where clients are eligible, the lowest-cost available share class of a given fund is systematically considered and documented, particularly in accounts where the firm or an affiliate receives 12b-1 fees.
Compliance teams may wish to evaluate Form ADV Part 2A, advisory brochures, and other client disclosures to determine whether receipt of 12b-1 fees and similar distribution or servicing compensation is clearly described as a material conflict of interest, including the incentives it creates for advisers and affiliated broker-dealers.
Advisory firms with affiliated broker-dealers should consider mapping compensation flows, including 12b-1 fees and revenue sharing, between entities to identify where those arrangements could reasonably influence share-class recommendations, and whether enhanced disclosure or conflict-mitigation controls are warranted.
Firms may wish to implement or refine surveillance and testing to identify accounts invested in higher-cost mutual fund share classes when a lower-cost share class of the same fund appears available to that client, and to assess whether any such positions reflect policy exceptions or potential remediation candidates.
Investment committees and disclosure governance bodies should consider comparing actual fund-share-class usage patterns against stated policies and disclosures in advisory brochures, wrap-fee program documents, and client agreements to confirm alignment and identify gaps in describing conflicts tied to 12b-1 fee receipt.
Firms that historically received 12b-1 fees or similar fund distribution compensation during periods comparable to 2014–2018 may wish to consider whether a retroactive review of share-class selection and client eligibility is appropriate and whether any client reimbursement, remediation, or supplemental disclosure exercises are advisable in light of the SEC’s enforcement posture.
Compliance and supervisory functions should consider updating training for investment adviser representatives and registered representatives to ensure they understand how mutual fund share-class selection, 12b-1 fee arrangements, and affiliated broker-dealer compensation can create fiduciary and disclosure risk under the Advisers Act.
Legal and compliance teams may wish to revisit enterprise-level conflicts of interest inventories to ensure that mutual fund share-class selection practices, 12b-1 fee arrangements, and related revenue-sharing structures are explicitly captured, assessed, and tied to appropriate controls and disclosures.
What changed
The publication does not introduce new rules or amend existing regulations; it is an enforcement settlement applying existing fiduciary and disclosure obligations under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, including Sections 203(e) and 203(k). The order confirms that the SEC considers the practice of placing advisory clients into mutual fund share classes that charge 12b-1 fees when lower-cost, non-12b-1 share classes of the same fund are available to be a material conflict of interest when the adviser or an affiliated broker-dealer receives those fees.
Compliance impact
The compliance impact is significant for advisers involved in mutual fund distribution, as the SEC imposed censure and monetary remedies and explicitly linked undisclosed 12b-1 fee conflicts and higher-cost share-class recommendations to fiduciary breaches under the Advisers Act. The case underscores that inadequate conflict disclosure and failure to manage compensation-driven share-class incentives can result in enforcement actions with disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and reputational consequences.
The SEC entered a settled enforcement order against AXA Advisors, LLC over mutual fund share class selection practices and related 12b-1 fee disclosures. The Commission found that the firm breached fiduciary duty and made inadequate disclosures by causing clients to pay higher fees when lower-cost share classes were available, while the firm and associated persons received 12b-1 compensation.
Key dates
2026-08-12
SEC administrative-proceedings listing date for the AXA Advisors matter
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether mutual fund share class selection processes systematically identify the lowest-cost eligible class for each account type and client segment.
Firms may wish to assess whether disclosures in Form ADV, client agreements, and supervisory materials clearly describe 12b-1 compensation and other share-class conflicts.
Supervisory teams may wish to confirm that representatives’ incentives tied to 12b-1 revenue are identified, reviewed, and mitigated or disclosed where necessary.
Firms may wish to document a defensible comparison process for share classes and retain evidence supporting the selected class for each recommendation.
Compliance functions may wish to evaluate whether prior-client remediation procedures are calibrated for situations where clients were placed in more expensive share classes than necessary.
What changed
This publication is an enforcement order, not a rulemaking or policy statement. The order requires AXA Advisors to cease and desist from future violations of Sections 206(2) and 207 of the Advisers Act, is accompanied by a censure, and imposes monetary relief totaling $1,134,152, consisting of $972,007.36 in disgorgement and $162,144.64 in prejudgment interest. The order also directs payment to affected investors, reflecting the SEC’s view that inadequate share-class selection and conflict disclosure can require remediation.
Compliance impact
The matter is a meaningful enforcement signal because the SEC treated share-class selection and 12b-1 disclosure failures as fiduciary-duty and filing violations. The consequence described by the Commission is monetary disgorgement, prejudgment interest, censure, and cease-and-desist relief, which can create remediation and supervisory exposure for firms with similar practices.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) are proposing to amend their Community Reinvestment Act rules by making certain substantive, technical, and process-oriented changes to refocus on the statutory objective of…
AI Analysis
The OCC and FDIC have proposed a new CRA rulemaking that would refocus examinations on lending, tighten how grants and donations qualify for CRA credit, and raise asset-size thresholds that determine bank category and reporting burden. It is a consultation, not a final rule, but it signals a significant shift in CRA compliance priorities and documentation expectations for banks, especially community banks and large institutions making community development grants.
Key dates
2026-08-12
Federal Register publication of the proposed rule at 91 FR 52114
2026-10-13 Deadline
Comments due on the proposed rule
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map the proposed changes against current CRA policies, exam procedures, public file practices, and community development grant approval workflows.
Institutions may wish to assess how the proposed asset-size thresholds would change their CRA category and associated data collection, reporting, and evaluation obligations.
Banks making grants or donations may wish to review documentation standards for recipient use of funds, overhead limits, and evidentiary support needed for CRA consideration.
Community development and CRA governance teams may wish to identify which activities would still qualify under the revised CD definitions and performance tests.
Legal and regulatory affairs functions may wish to prepare comments on the proposed lending focus, grant criteria, sunshine requirements, and technical changes to OCC public welfare and corporate activity rules.
Banks subject to CRA-related agreements may wish to verify whether the proposed technical amendments would affect disclosure timing, content, or filing processes.
What changed
['The proposal would amend the OCC and FDIC Community Reinvestment Act rules to make substantive, technical, and process-oriented changes aimed at refocusing the statutory objective on meeting community credit needs and reducing burden, particularly for community banks.', 'The agencies propose to better ensure that community development grants reach intended communities and to provide greater clarity on how to obtain CRA consideration for activities.', 'The OCC and FDIC also propose technical changes to their CRA sunshine rules under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, which govern disclosure...
Compliance impact
The proposal is potentially high impact because it would alter how banks are assessed under CRA, especially by shifting emphasis toward lending and changing eligibility and documentation rules for community development credit. The agencies describe the changes as reducing unnecessary burden and improving clarity, but they also signal tighter accountability for grants and donations and different supervisory expectations.
Order. FinCEN is issuing this Geographic Targeting Order, requiring banks and money transmitters located in the Counties of Hennepin and Ramsey, Minnesota to retain and report records of certain payments of $3,000 or more.
AI Analysis
FinCEN issued a Geographic Targeting Order effective August 11, 2026 that requires banks and money transmitters with a branch, subsidiary, or office in Hennepin County or Ramsey County, Minnesota to retain and report records for certain covered international funds transfers of $3,000 or more. The stated purpose is to support Bank Secrecy Act enforcement and Treasury’s efforts to combat international money laundering tied to government benefits fraud in Minnesota.
Key dates
2026-08-11
Effective date of the Geographic Targeting Order
2027-02-06 Deadline
Order period ends after 180 days unless renewed
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to identify all branches, subsidiaries, and offices in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties and map which payment flows meet the Order’s definition of a Covered Transaction.
Firms may wish to update transaction-monitoring and customer due diligence workflows to capture the additional data elements required for bank or money transmitter reports, including beneficiary or recipient contact details and government-benefits-related funding questions.
Operational teams may wish to confirm readiness to submit reports through the FI Portal and to generate the required CSV files using the Minnesota Fraud GTO template and naming convention.
Records-management teams may wish to set a retention control ensuring all reports and related compliance records are preserved for five years from the last day the Order is effective.
Banks and money transmitters may wish to review whether any existing BSA or sanctions screening processes can be leveraged to identify covered international transfers meeting the $3,000 threshold.
Compliance teams may wish to test month-end reporting processes so filings occur by the end of the month following the month in which each Covered Transaction took place.
What changed
The Order creates a temporary, geographically targeted recordkeeping and reporting regime under 31 CFR Part 1010 for covered institutions in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. A “Covered Business” is any bank under 31 CFR 1010.100(d) or money transmitter under 31 CFR 1010.100(ff)(5) with a branch, subsidiary, or office in the covered area.
Compliance impact
This is a high-severity, binding temporary reporting and recordkeeping obligation for affected institutions in two Minnesota counties. The Order states that noncompliance may trigger consequences under the Bank Secrecy Act framework and requires records to be available to FinCEN or other appropriate law enforcement or regulatory agencies upon request.
The update is a Commissioner speech (informational content, urgency null) regarding SEC progress on Treasury clearing implementation. Treasury clearing is a capital markets infrastructure matter with reporting and disclosure implications.
Final rule; technical amendments. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") is adopting technical amendments to a rule under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act") related to registered investment company and business development company (collectively "regulated funds")…
Why this matters
This is a final rule that makes technical corrections to 17 CFR 270.0-1(a)(7) governing investment company board composition and governance. The SEC is removing the 75% disinterested director requirement and the disinterested chairman requirement following a 2006 federal court vacatur (Chamber of Commerce v. SEC).
Final rule. This final rule streamlines the NCUA Board (Board)'s regulations governing the purchase, sale, and pledge of eligible obligations. Specifically, the final rule removes the prescriptive lists of items that must be addressed in the written policies adopted by a federal credit union (FCU). Removal of the…
AI Analysis
NCUA issued a final rule amending 12 CFR 701.23 to make FCU policies for purchasing, selling, and pledging eligible obligations more principles-based and less prescriptive. The rule also removes detailed conflicts-of-interest and compensation provisions and makes a conforming cross-reference change in 12 CFR 746.201(c), with an effective date of 2026-09-08.
Key dates
2026-02-25
NCUA published the proposed rule for public comment.
2026-04-27
Public comment period closed after NCUA received 15 comments.
2026-08-06
NCUA published the final rule in the Federal Register at 91 FR 50680.
2026-09-08 Deadline
Final rule becomes effective.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review and update FCU written policies for purchases, sales, and pledges of eligible obligations so they no longer mirror the removed prescriptive checklist and instead reflect the board’s own risk-based framework.
Credit unions may wish to confirm that internal governance documents still address conflicts of interest and compensation consistently with bylaws and fiduciary-duty expectations, even though the detailed regulatory text has been removed.
Firms should consider updating any procedures, training materials, and control inventories that reference the old paragraph structure or the former 12 CFR 701.23(h) cross-reference.
Compliance teams may wish to validate that transaction approval, due diligence, documentation, and agreement-review processes continue to be embedded in policy at a level appropriate to the institution’s risk profile, even though the rule is less prescriptive.
Federal credit unions may wish to brief boards and relevant committees on the shift from a checklist-based rule to a principles-based framework so governance oversight remains aligned with supervisory expectations.
What changed
['The rule removes the mandated lists of items that FCU written policies must address for purchases, sales, and pledges of eligible obligations under 12 CFR 701.23(b)(6), (c), and (d). FCUs still must maintain written policies for these activities, but the regulation no longer prescribes a detailed checklist of required policy contents.', 'The rule removes the detailed conflicts-of-interest and compensation provision formerly in 12 CFR 701.23(g).
Compliance impact
The regulatory burden is reduced because FCUs no longer have to fit their written policies into a detailed mandatory checklist for eligible-obligation transactions. NCUA nevertheless expects FCUs to keep written policies, operate safely and soundly, and remain subject to bylaws-based conflict-of-interest limits and fiduciary duties, so institutions will still need governance, documentation, and supervisory controls.
Final rule. The NCUA Board (Board) is amending its regulations that establish the requirements for obtaining and maintaining federal share insurance with the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (Share Insurance Fund). The provisions of this part apply to all federally insured credit unions (FICUs). This final…
Why this matters
This is a deregulatory final rule (effective 09/08/2026) that amends 12 CFR 741.5 to replace a specific 30-day prior notice requirement with a more flexible 'before termination' standard for notifying members of excess insurance coverage termination.
Final rule. The NCUA Board (Board) is amending its regulations that establish the requirements for obtaining and maintaining federal share insurance with the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (Share Insurance Fund). The provisions of this part apply to all federally insured credit unions (FICUs). The rule…
Why this matters
This is a deregulatory final rule by NCUA that removes duplicative disclosure requirements for nonmember account notifications from 12 CFR 741.10. The rule affects federally insured state-chartered credit unions (FISCUs) specifically.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is proposing to increase quantitative thresholds for certain extensions of credit to insiders of FDIC-supervised institutions, as restricted by the Federal Reserve Act and regulations promulgated thereunder. Specifically, the proposal…
AI Analysis
The FDIC has proposed to raise and index the dollar thresholds that trigger certain insider-lending restrictions for FDIC-supervised institutions under 12 CFR part 337. The proposal would materially increase the executive-officer cap from $100,000 to $400,000 and the board-approval threshold from $500,000 to $2,000,000, which could broaden lending flexibility but also requires compliance teams to recalibrate controls, approvals, and monitoring.
Key dates
2026-08-06
FDIC published the notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register
2026-10-05 Deadline
Comments on the proposal must be received by the FDIC
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map current insider-lending policies against the proposed $400,000 and $2,000,000 thresholds to assess operational impact if finalized.
Firms may wish to review board-approval workflows and escalation triggers so systems can be updated quickly if the proposal is adopted.
Institutions may wish to evaluate whether existing exception reporting, insider tracking, and credit administration procedures will need revision to reflect periodic indexing rather than fixed thresholds.
Commenters may wish to submit feedback by the October 5, 2026 comment deadline if the proposed thresholds or indexing methodology would create implementation issues.
What changed
The proposal amends 12 CFR 337.3 for extensions of credit to insiders of FDIC-supervised institutions. It would increase the threshold for certain extensions of credit to executive officers not otherwise specifically authorized by statute from $100,000 to $400,000, and it would increase the threshold for extensions of credit to insiders requiring prior approval by the board of directors from $500,000 to $2,000,000. The FDIC also proposes to establish an indexing methodology to periodically update those dollar thresholds over time.
Compliance impact
The proposal is significant for insider-lending governance because it would raise quantitative triggers embedded in the Federal Reserve Act framework and FDIC regulations, potentially reducing the number of transactions subject to enhanced restrictions. The FDIC is signaling a structural shift by adding indexing, which means compliance programs may need an ongoing threshold-management process rather than treating the limits as static.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC" or "Commission") is proposing new rules and amendments to its existing regulations for futures commission merchants ("FCMs"), swap execution facilities ("SEFs"), designated contract markets ("DCMs"), and derivatives clearing organizations…
AI Analysis
The CFTC issued a proposed rulemaking on affiliations and conflicts of interest for FCMs, SEFs, DCMs, and DCOs, with a comment deadline of 2026-10-05. The proposal is aimed at perceived and potential conflicts created by affiliated relationships, including affiliated FCMs, affiliated principal trading firms, and affiliates that participate in or influence market regulation functions.
Key dates
2026-08-06
CFTC published the proposed rule in the Federal Register at 91 FR 50926.
2026-10-05 Deadline
Public comments on the proposal must be received by this date.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review current affiliate structures involving FCMs, SEFs, DCMs, DCOs, and trading affiliates to identify where the proposal would create new disclosure, surveillance, or conflict-management obligations.
Firms may wish to map any shared personnel, technology, office space, or information flows between affiliated entities and assess whether additional controls would be needed to protect regulatory impartiality.
Market-regulation and legal teams may wish to assess whether existing board, committee, and disciplinary-panel processes would satisfy the proposed independence and conflict-management expectations.
FCMs may wish to inventory current disclosures to customers and counterparties and determine whether additional affiliate-relationship disclosures would be needed if the rule is finalized.
Affected entities may wish to prepare comment letters before the 2026-10-05 deadline if they want to influence the final scope of the proposal.
What changed
The proposal would amend CFTC regulations in Parts 1, 37, 38, and 39, including regulations 1.52 and 1.55, to strengthen oversight of affiliated entities. For FCMs, it would add requirements around disclosure of affiliate relationships with SEFs, DCMs, or DCOs, and it would adjust SRO and DSRO financial-surveillance requirements for affiliate FCMs.
Compliance impact
The proposal is significant because it would impose new structural and disclosure expectations across several core CFTC-regulated entity types and could require changes to governance, surveillance, and affiliate-management processes. The CFTC frames the rule as necessary to address perceived and potential conflicts of interest and to protect the impartiality of SRO and SRO-like functions.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced it is establishing a new specialized unit within the Division of Enforcement to provide the dedicated expertise, focus, and capacity to pursue accounting and financial reporting fraud cases as well…
AI Analysis
The SEC is establishing a specialized Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in the Division of Enforcement, led by Timothy Zimmerman and staffed by both attorneys and accountants with deep technical expertise in financial reporting, accounting, and auditing. While this press release does not change the substantive accounting or disclosure rules, it signals a sustained and likely intensified enforcement focus on issuer financial statements, internal controls over financial reporting, auditor conduct, and related disclosure failures, requiring firms to proactively test and strengthen their reporting and governance frameworks.
Key dates
May 2026
– Timothy Zimmerman joins the SEC’s Division of Enforcement as a senior advisor to the Director, establishing the leadership base for the new unit
05 August 2026
– The SEC publicly announces the establishment of the Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in the Division of Enforcement
Suggested considerations
Conduct a targeted risk assessment of financial reporting and accounting controls, focusing on areas historically associated with SEC enforcement (e.g., revenue recognition, reserves, impairments, valuations, related-party transactions, and non-GAAP measures).
Review and, where necessary, enhance internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) and disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material accounting judgments are robustly documented, reviewed, and escalated.
Strengthen audit committee oversight of financial reporting and external audit, including regular discussions of SEC enforcement trends, known accounting risk areas, and the adequacy of management’s remediation of control deficiencies.
Ensure that documentation of significant accounting judgments and estimates (including communications with external auditors) is complete, contemporaneous, and capable of withstanding regulatory scrutiny.
Review external auditor engagement terms and governance, including partner rotation, independence safeguards, and responses to audit findings, to mitigate enforcement risk relating to audit quality and auditor misconduct.
What changed
- The SEC has created a new Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit within the Division of Enforcement focused on accounting and financial reporting fraud and broader accounting and auditing...
The new unit reflects an expanded enforcement capacity and prioritization for matters involving issuer financial statements, accounting judgments, internal controls, audit quality, and related...
The unit will use a specialized staffing model, combining attorneys and accountants with technical skills in financial reporting, accounting, and auditing in the securities regulation context.
The unit is expected to operate with enhanced cross-division coordination, working closely with staff across relevant SEC divisions and offices to ensure enforcement outcomes align with broader...
The publication is an organizational/enforcement announcement, not a rulemaking, and does not introduce new disclosure requirements, filing obligations, or changes to accounting standards.
Compliance impact
Non-compliance does not arise from new rules here, but enforcement risk is materially elevated: firms that maintain weak controls, poor documentation, or aggressive accounting practices face a greater likelihood of SEC investigation, potential civil penalties, restatements, reputational damage, and individual liability for senior finance and governance personnel.
PRESS RELEASE | AUGUST 5, 2026 FDIC Issues List of Banks Examined for CRA Compliance WASHINGTON — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today issued its list of state nonmember banks recently evaluated for compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The list covers evaluation ratings that the FDIC…
Why this matters
This is a standard FDIC press release announcing the monthly publication of CRA examination ratings for state nonmember banks, as mandated by FIRREA. It contains no new rules, enforcement actions, or regulatory guidance—only notification that evaluation lists are available through existing channels.
Notice of proposed rulemaking. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is proposing changes to its rules on information disclosure. The proposal would clarify the process for obtaining OCC approval to disclose non- public OCC information and allow for the disclosure of confidential supervisory information…
AI Analysis
The OCC issued a proposed rule on 2026-08-05 to revise 12 CFR part 4 and related rules governing access to and disclosure of OCC information, including a new category of “confidential supervisory information” (CSI) and streamlined FOIA procedures. The proposal matters because it would expand limited information-sharing exceptions while tightening the framework around non-public OCC information, disclosure safeguards, and expedited FOIA processing.
Key dates
2026-08-05
OCC published the proposed rule in the Federal Register (91 FR 50610)
2026-10-05 Deadline
Comment period closes for the proposed rule
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map which internal records fall into the proposed CSI category and compare current disclosure controls against the new exceptions and safeguard requirements.
Supervised entities may wish to review any confidentiality agreements and onward-sharing practices to determine whether they would satisfy the proposed conditions for permitted CSI disclosures.
Legal and FOIA teams may wish to update request-handling workflows for expedited processing requests, fee-waiver appeals, and request tracking once the rule is finalized.
Banks and other recipients of OCC information may wish to reassess litigation, government-reporting, and interaffiliate sharing procedures to ensure they align with the revised disclosure framework.
Firms may wish to submit comments by the close of the comment period if the proposed CSI scope, disclosure exceptions, or FOIA procedures would affect their supervisory, legal, or records-management processes.
What changed
The proposal would restructure the OCC’s information-disclosure rules in 12 CFR part 4 and make conforming changes in parts 5, 7, 21, and 163. It would create a new subcategory of non-public OCC information called confidential supervisory information (CSI), clarify when supervised entities and other recipients may disclose CSI without prior OCC approval, and require applicable safeguards and, in some cases, qualifying confidentiality agreements.
The OCC also proposes to permit certain disclosures of CSI in limited circumstances to support business efficiency, government accountability, and...
Compliance impact
This is a significant consultation rather than a final rule, but it signals meaningful changes to how OCC supervisory information may be classified, shared, and protected. The OCC indicates that unauthorized disclosure remains tightly controlled and that the rule would preserve enforcement consequences while adding new, limited disclosure pathways and more structured FOIA handling.
The title references Rule 0-1(a)(7), an SEC procedural rule governing technical amendments and regulatory clarity. As a commissioner statement rather than a final rule or enforcement action, and with only an RSS summary available, the content is informational in nature.
Notice of proposed rulemaking with request for public comment. The Board is inviting public comment on proposed amendments to Regulation O, which governs loans by member banks to their insiders and insiders of their affiliates. The proposed amendments would update and modernize the regulation, increase transparency by…
AI Analysis
The Federal Reserve issued a proposed rule to modernize Regulation O, the insider-lending rule for member banks and certain holding-company relationships, and opened a public comment period ending 2026-10-05. The proposal is significant because it would update outdated dollar thresholds, index them for future growth, clarify and codify longstanding interpretations, and address passive investment-fund ownership structures that can trigger insider-status presumptions.
Key dates
2026-08-04
Federal Reserve published the proposed rule in the Federal Register at 91 FR 49526.
2026-10-05 Deadline
Public comments on the proposed rule are due.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map the proposal’s threshold changes against existing Regulation O controls, including board-approval triggers, disclosure triggers, and internal lending limit checks.
Firms may wish to identify any lending relationships that rely on current presumptions of control, especially where portfolio companies of investment fund complexes could be affected.
Banks may wish to review insider-lending policies, forms, recordkeeping, and disclosure workflows for provisions that the proposal would codify, clarify, or remove.
Stakeholders may wish to submit comments by 2026-10-05 if they want to influence the final treatment of thresholds, fund-complex ownership, valuation rules, or correspondent-lending provisions.
Legal and compliance teams may wish to compare the proposed text against existing Regulation O, Regulation Y, and internal interpretive guidance to spot implementation impacts if the rule is finalized largely as proposed.
What changed
The proposal would amend 12 CFR part 215 (Regulation O) and conform related provisions in Regulation Y and other Board regulations. It would make a one-time adjustment to several dollar-based thresholds, then index those thresholds going forward based on nominal GDP. It would clarify how certain limits apply on an aggregate basis and streamline limits on loans to executive officers, including prior board-approval requirements for certain large loans.
Compliance impact
The proposal is a material compliance development because it would change core insider-lending thresholds, attribution rules, and definitional scope under Regulation O. If finalized, it could require policy, systems, disclosure, and board-governance updates across member banks and affected holding-company structures, but the publication itself is only a consultation and does not yet impose new binding duties.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking to implement structural and substantive changes to its rules governing the disclosure of OCC information.
AI Analysis
The OCC issued a proposed rulemaking on August 3, 2026 to restructure and revise 12 CFR part 4, which governs disclosure of OCC information. The proposal matters because it would create a new protected category called confidential supervisory information (CSI), broaden limited disclosure pathways, and change FOIA processing and appeal procedures for OCC records.
Key dates
2026-08-03
OCC issued Bulletin 2026-37 announcing the proposed rulemaking on availability of OCC information
2026-10-02 Deadline
Comment period closes 60 days after publication, based on the OCC’s stated deadline formula in the related rulemaking notice
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review current controls for handling nonpublic OCC information and identify where internal policies reference the existing 12 CFR part 4 subparts B and C.
Firms may wish to assess whether any current or planned disclosures of supervisory materials could fall within the proposed expanded exceptions for business efficiency, government accountability, or supervisory coordination.
Banks may wish to inventory records that could qualify as aged CSI once the final rule is issued, so they can update retention and disclosure procedures accordingly.
Legal and compliance functions may wish to monitor the final rule and any comment-driven changes to the proposed FOIA expedited-processing and fee-waiver appeal procedures.
Institutions may wish to align employee training with the OCC’s clarified position on unauthorized disclosure and potential criminal referral exposure.
What changed
The proposal would amend the OCC’s disclosure framework in 12 CFR 4 by creating a new subcategory of nonpublic OCC information called confidential supervisory information (CSI). It would modify the prior-approval regime for supervised entities that want to disclose CSI by expanding exceptions for business efficiency, government accountability, and supervisory coordination, while adding safeguards around those exceptions.
The OCC also proposes to provide for the release of certain aged CSI, which would create a time-based disclosure concept not described in the current rule.
Compliance impact
The OCC describes the rule as a significant recalibration of the balance between confidentiality and limited disclosure, so the practical impact is medium-to-high for institutions that handle supervisory information. The agency also signals continued sensitivity to unauthorized disclosure by retaining the possibility of criminal referral consequences and by tightening the framework around disclosure and FOIA processing.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today requested comment on a proposal to implement structural and substantive changes to its rules governing the disclosure of OCC information.
AI Analysis
The OCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on August 3, 2026 to restructure and revise 12 CFR part 4, which governs disclosure of OCC information. The proposal matters for compliance teams because it would change when supervised entities may share confidential supervisory information, expand certain disclosure exceptions, and update FOIA processing rules.
Key dates
2026-08-03
OCC issued the notice of proposed rulemaking
2026-10-05 Deadline
Comments on the proposal are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register
2026-08-05
Federal Register publication date of the proposed rule
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review current internal controls for handling OCC nonpublic information and map where the proposed CSI category could affect disclosure workflows.
Firms may wish to assess whether existing information-sharing arrangements with government agencies or service providers would fit within the proposed exceptions and safeguards.
Teams responsible for FOIA or public records requests may wish to update procedures for expedited processing requests and any related appeal handling.
Banks and supervised entities may wish to submit comments on operational burden, safeguards, and the practical impact of the proposed disclosure exceptions before the comment deadline.
What changed
The proposal would make structural and substantive changes to the OCC’s disclosure framework in 12 CFR part 4. According to the OCC, it would create a new nonpublic information category called confidential supervisory information (CSI), modify the prior-approval framework for supervised entities that want to disclose CSI, and add tailored exceptions for business efficiency, government accountability, and supervisory coordination, subject to safeguards.
Compliance impact
The OCC frames the rule as a balance between protecting confidential supervisory information and allowing limited disclosure to support business operations, public confidence, and accountability. For compliance programs, the main impact is operational: firms may need to adjust disclosure approvals, information-sharing controls, and FOIA response processes if the proposal is finalized.
The OCC and FDIC are proposing to amend their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rules by making certain substantive, technical, and process-oriented changes to refocus on the statutory objective of encouraging banks to meet the credit needs of their communities; to better ensure that community development grants reach…
AI Analysis
The OCC and FDIC issued an interagency notice of proposed rulemaking on July 31, 2026 to revise Community Reinvestment Act rules, with the stated goals of narrowing CRA evaluation toward lending, improving how community development grants are counted, reducing burden on smaller institutions, and clarifying qualification standards. For compliance teams, this is a significant consultation because it signals potential changes to CRA exam scope, bank-size categories, documentation expectations, and strategic plan treatment.
Key dates
2026-07-31
OCC Bulletin 2026-35 issued; interagency proposed CRA rule released
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map current CRA inventories against the proposed lending-focused retail services framework to identify deposit-service items that could lose CRA consideration.
Firms may wish to review community development grant and donation controls to determine whether documentation exists to show direct use for a qualifying primary-purpose community development activity.
Large banks may wish to assess whether recipient overhead data, written commitments, attestations, tax filings, and budget records would be available to support the proposed 15% overhead limitation.
Banks near the $1 billion and $10 billion thresholds may wish to model whether the proposed size reclassification would change their CRA evaluation approach, reporting obligations, or supervisory expectations.
Institutions using or considering strategic plans may wish to reassess whether the proposal would make that option more operationally feasible under the revised framework.
CRA and public-disclosure teams may wish to inventory public file and notice processes to determine whether technology-enabled publication changes would require procedural updates.
What changed
['The proposal would narrow the retail banking services analyzed under CRA to focus on credit services and would exclude deposit services from that component of the evaluation, while giving greater weight to activities with a lending nexus.', 'Community development grants would count only if they are directly used for a plan, project, or initiative with community development as a primary purpose; for large banks, defined as banks with assets over $10 billion, the recipient would also need documented overhead costs not exceeding 15% of the grant amount.', 'The bank-size framework would be...
Compliance impact
The OCC describes the proposal as intended to reduce unnecessary burden while preserving continuity in much of the CRA framework, so the immediate impact is consultation-stage rather than binding change. If adopted, the rule could materially change which activities earn CRA credit, how banks are categorized for exams, and the documentation burden for community development grants, especially for banks above $10 billion in assets.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the agencies) today proposed targeted changes to their current rules implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to better align with the statutory mandate; better ensure that community development grants reach the…
AI Analysis
The OCC and FDIC issued a joint proposed rule on July 31, 2026 to amend the Community Reinvestment Act regulations, with the stated goals of tightening CRA consideration around lending and community development while reducing burden, especially for community banks. The proposal matters because it would rework CRA evaluation mechanics for banks of all sizes and would, if adopted, change what activities count for CRA credit and which banks must meet data collection and reporting requirements.
Key dates
2026-07-31
OCC and FDIC issued the joint proposal amending CRA rules
2026-10-01 Deadline
Approximate comment deadline, calculated as 60 days after the July 31, 2026 publication date if the proposal was published in the Federal Register on the same day as the release
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether current CRA strategies rely materially on deposit services, since the proposal would exclude deposit services from the retail banking services analysis.
Firms may wish to map all community development grants and donations to identify whether documentation would support that funds are used for the primary purpose of community development and reach the intended assessment areas.
Banks with assets at or below $10 billion may wish to assess the operational impact of being relieved from data collection, maintenance, and reporting requirements under the proposal.
Institutions may wish to compare their current CRA performance-test approach against the proposed lending-focused framework and identify activities that could lose or gain CRA consideration.
Compliance functions may wish to track the Federal Register publication date closely, because the comment window runs for 60 days after publication.
What changed
['The agencies said the proposal would keep the core CRA framework that has generally been in place since 1995, while making substantive, technical, and process-oriented revisions. The proposal follows the agencies’ October 24, 2023 CRA final rules, which were enjoined by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas before they became effective.', 'The proposal would place greater emphasis on lending performance and would narrow the retail banking services considered under CRA to credit services, expressly excluding deposit services from that part of the analysis.', 'The...
Compliance impact
The OCC describes the proposal as a material recalibration of CRA examinations, especially for banks that rely on deposit-services activity or on current grant-and-donation structures for CRA credit. The agencies frame the changes as reducing burden and improving objectivity, but the proposal could still require significant policy, controls, and documentation updates if adopted.
CFTC Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting covering Basel III proposal, COT reporting, risk management tools for agricultural end users, and emerging market structures. This is informational content about regulatory discussions and industry engagement rather than a binding regulatory action, hence null urgency.
Federal Reserve Board requests comment on a proposal to modernize its rule governing the extension of credit to bank "insiders"—bank executives, board members and major shareholders who could potentially influence a bank's lending decisions
AI Analysis
The Federal Reserve Board requested comment on a proposal to modernize Regulation O, the insider-lending rule for banks. The proposal is significant because it would update long-standing dollar thresholds, index them to economic growth, and simplify or clarify several rule applications while preserving anti-preferential-treatment safeguards.
Key dates
2026-07-31
Federal Reserve Board requested comment on the proposed Regulation O modernization
2026-10-05 Deadline
Expected comment deadline stated in the Federal Register notice
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map current insider-credit controls, approval thresholds, and disclosure workflows against the proposed higher dollar limits.
Banks may wish to identify products and systems affected by Regulation O exceptions, including credit cards, overdraft lines, and other-purpose loans.
Institutions may wish to review whether any existing insider or related-interest procedures depend on legacy interpretations that the proposal would codify or reorganize.
Firms with investment fund ownership structures may wish to assess whether the proposed relief for passive interests would change current principal-shareholder or control analyses.
Interested parties may wish to prepare comments for the Federal Register comment period once publication occurs, as the proposal states comments are due 60 days after publication.
What changed
The proposal would increase several outdated dollar-based thresholds in Regulation O, including the amounts tied to certain credit card exceptions, overdraft exceptions, executive officer loans for other purposes, and the level at which prior board approval is required. It would also establish an indexing methodology so the thresholds are automatically adjusted over time based on cumulative nominal GDP growth, reducing the need for repeated rulemaking.
The Federal Reserve also says the proposal would address unnecessary applications of the rule to passive interests in companies held by...
Compliance impact
The proposal is material for banks because it would change core insider-lending thresholds and related control logic, which can affect credit approvals, monitoring, and disclosure processes. The Federal Reserve presents the update as preserving safeguards against preferential treatment while reducing unnecessary burden and improving clarity.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (collectively, the agencies) are publishing revisions to the Community Bank Compliance Guide for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) framework.
AI Analysis
The OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC issued an updated Community Bank Compliance Guide for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) framework to reflect rule changes effective July 1, 2026. For community banks that use the optional CBLR election, the practical significance is a lower qualifying leverage threshold and a more flexible grace-period mechanism for temporary noncompliance.
Key dates
2026-07-01
Revisions to the CBLR framework became effective, including the lower 8% threshold and revised grace-period rules
2026-07-30
OCC Bulletin 2026-34 published the updated Community Bank Compliance Guide
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether current capital planning and reporting processes reflect the revised 8% CBLR entry threshold.
Firms that use or may elect the CBLR framework may wish to reassess whether they can remain above the 7% grace-period floor during any temporary noncompliance.
Banks may wish to confirm how the four-quarter cure period and the eight-quarter cap over five years would operate in their internal capital contingency planning.
Community banking organizations may wish to reconcile the updated guide with the text of the capital rule, since the guide is only a summary and not binding legal text.
What changed
The agencies revised the non-binding compliance guide to align with the updated CBLR framework in the capital rule. The key substantive change is the minimum leverage ratio for CBLR qualification, which was lowered from greater than 9% to greater than 8%. The grace period for a bank that elects the CBLR framework but temporarily fails to meet the qualifying criteria was revised from two quarters to four quarters, provided the bank maintains a leverage ratio greater than 7% and does not exceed eight quarters in grace-period status over a five-year period.
Compliance impact
The OCC describes this as a regulatory-relief update for qualifying community banks, with the main compliance impact being easier access to the CBLR framework and more time to cure temporary breaches. The consequence of dropping to 7% or below is the need to return to the generally applicable risk-based capital standards.
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that the Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee meeting held on July 21, 2026, will reconvene August 6, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET, virtually, on SEC.gov. The committee will…
Request for comment; extension of comment period. On June 25, 2026, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission" or "CFTC") published in the Federal Register a request for comment ("RFC") titled "Request for Comment on the Extension of Standard Futures Contracts to 24/7 Trading and on Perpetual Contracts…
AI Analysis
The CFTC has extended the public comment period for its June 25, 2026 request for comment on 24/7 trading of standard futures contracts and on perpetual contracts referencing physically delivered or storable energy commodities. The new deadline is August 26, 2026, and the Commission also added a specific request for comment on CME NYMEX’s self-certified 24/7 crude oil contract that the CFTC stayed on July 9, 2026.
Key dates
2026-06-25
CFTC published the original request for comment in the Federal Register at 91 FR 38334
2026-07-08
CME NYMEX self-certified a 24/7 oil contract
2026-07-09
CFTC stayed the self-certified 24/7 oil contract
2026-07-28
CFTC published the extension of the comment period at 91 FR 47158
2026-08-26 Deadline
Extended comment deadline for the request for comment
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to assess whether existing trading, clearing, settlement, surveillance, and customer-protection controls would function on a 24/7 basis.
Firms may wish to review the CFTC’s additional questions on the stayed CME NYMEX crude oil contract and consider whether their comments should address execution, settlement, market integrity, and operational resilience issues.
Market participants may wish to prepare data-driven comments, because the CFTC’s consultation is focused on factual and empirical input rather than conclusory policy statements.
Firms considering perpetual or around-the-clock products may wish to map any dependencies on payment systems, margin processes, and holiday/weekend operational support before submitting comments.
What changed
This publication does not impose a new binding rule; it extends the comment deadline for an existing request for comment by 30 days. The underlying consultation covers two issues: whether standard futures contracts, including energy futures, can trade on a 24/7 basis without changing expiration, delivery, or settlement terms, and whether perpetual contracts referencing physically delivered or storable energy commodities should be permitted.
Compliance impact
The practical impact is moderate but broad for energy derivatives and exchange-traded products: the CFTC is signaling active scrutiny of 24/7 trading models and perpetual contracts, especially where physical delivery or storability of the underlying commodity is relevant. The extension gives firms more time to submit comments, but the consultation itself indicates the Commission is evaluating possible risks around liquidity, price formation, surveillance, clearing, settlement, and customer protection.
The Securities and Exchange Commission released a report to Congress today highlighting policy recommendations from the SEC’s 45th Annual Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation. The report provides a summary of the forum…
Why this matters
SEC report to Congress on small business capital formation policy recommendations. Informational content summarizing forum recommendations affecting capital-raising policies broadly across financial services. No immediate compliance deadline indicated.
CFTC advisory providing procedural guidance to designated contract markets (DCMs) on self-certification requirements for event contracts. This is informational guidance clarifying regulatory compliance procedures under Commission Regulations § 40.2 and § 40.3, not announcing new requirements or enforcement actions.
Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period. FinCEN is extending the comment period for the referenced notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) it published to amend the existing definition of Huione Group to include, within the definition of that group, H-Pay Service PLC, and adding and defining the term…
AI Analysis
FinCEN extended the comment period for its June 2026 proposed rule amending the Huione Group definition to add H-Pay Service PLC and define “successor entity.” The extension matters because FinCEN said a portal technology failure prevented electronic comments for six days, so it gave the public additional time to submit input.
Key dates
2026-06-25
FinCEN published the underlying NPRM to amend the Huione Group definition
2026-06-25
Electronic comment filing became unavailable due to a portal issue
2026-06-30
Portal issue period ended after six days of blocked electronic filing
2026-07-22
FinCEN dated the comment-period extension notice
2026-07-24
Federal Register publication of the extension notice at 91 FR 46761
2026-08-02 Deadline
Extended deadline for written comments on the NPRM
Suggested considerations
Consider whether to submit comments on the NPRM by the extended deadline of 2026-08-02.
Review customer, correspondent, and payment relationships for any exposure to Huione Group, H-Pay Service PLC, or entities that may be treated as successor entities if the proposal is finalized.
Assess whether internal screening, escalation, and due diligence procedures would need updates if FinCEN finalizes the expanded definition.
Monitor FinCEN’s final action on the NPRM and any resulting special-measures scope changes under 31 CFR 1010.
What changed
This publication does not impose a new final obligation; it extends the public comment deadline for an existing NPRM. The underlying proposal would amend FinCEN’s definition of Huione Group, a financial institution operating outside the United States of primary money laundering concern, to include H-Pay Service PLC and to add a defined term for “successor entity.” The extension was granted because a technological issue with the comment portal prevented electronic filing from June 25 through June 30, 2026.
Compliance impact
The immediate compliance impact is limited because this is a procedural extension, not a binding substantive rule. The practical significance is that the proposal signals FinCEN’s intent to broaden the Huione Group definition, which could affect screening, correspondent-account controls, and transaction monitoring if finalized.
The CFTC has extended by 30 days the public comment period on its targeted Request for Comment (RFC) covering (i) extension of **standard futures contracts (including energy futures) to 24/7 trading** and (ii) **perpetual contracts referencing physically delivered or storable energy commodities**. This extension signals that the Commission intends to build a more complete record on market structure, risk management, and investor protection before setting a regulatory framework, and compliance teams in energy and derivatives markets now have additional time to shape that framework and align their controls with emerging expectations.
Key dates
22 June 2026
- CFTC issues the targeted request for comment on extending standard energy futures to 24/7 trading and on the listing of perpetual contracts referencing physically delivered or storable energy commodities
26 July 2026 Deadline
- Original 30‑day comment deadline for the RFC on 24/7 trading and energy perpetual contracts (now superseded by the extension)
26 August 2026 Deadline
- Extended deadline for submission of public comments on the RFC regarding 24/7 trading of standard energy futures and perpetual contracts referencing physically delivered or storable energy commodities
Suggested considerations
Identify and convene an internal cross‑functional working group (trading, risk, operations, compliance, legal, and IT) to assess potential impacts of 24/7 trading and energy perpetual contracts on your firm’s business model and control environment.
Perform a gap analysis of current trading, clearing, surveillance, margin, and risk management frameworks against the operational and risk expectations articulated in recent CFTC staff advisories and policy statements on 24/7 markets and perpetual contracts.
Draft and submit a data‑driven comment to the CFTC by 26 August 2026 addressing the RFC questions most relevant to your activities, including empirical analysis of liquidity, price formation, manipulation risk, funding rate behavior, and customer protection in energy derivatives.
Review and update internal policies and procedures for trade surveillance, market abuse monitoring, and manipulation detection to address continuous 24/7 trading windows and any contemplated use of energy perpetual contracts.
Assess whether current staffing models, systems support, and incident‑response processes can support 24/7 trading or clearing operations, and document enhancements or mitigations that would be needed to maintain operational resilience.
What changed
- The CFTC has extended the comment deadline on the RFC regarding 24/7 trading of standard futures contracts and perpetual contracts in energy markets by 30 days, moving the due date to 26 August...
The RFC focuses on the extension of standard futures contracts, including energy futures, to a 24/7 trading schedule while keeping fixed expirations but allowing potentially material economic changes...
The RFC separately focuses on the listing and regulation of perpetual contracts that reference physically delivered or storable energy commodities, such as crude oil, and that have no fixed...
The Commission has added additional questions to the original RFC to probe market integrity, price formation, operational resilience, customer protections, and risk management implications of 24/7...
The RFC builds on and is informed by the CFTC’s May 29, 2026 coordinated actions on perpetual contracts and 24/7 trading in digital commodities, including the Policy Statement on perpetual contracts,...
Compliance impact
Non‑compliance with eventual CFTC expectations and rules around 24/7 trading and perpetual energy contracts could result in denial of product listings, enforcement action for inadequate risk controls or misleading disclosures, and heightened supervisory scrutiny. Early alignment with the RFC themes and proactive engagement with the CFTC will reduce regulatory risk and position firms favorably as the framework solidifies.
This is an informational announcement about a CFTC Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting. The agenda covers Basel III proposal, risk management tools, and trading practices relevant to agricultural market participants and commodity traders.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Sam Waldon, Principal Deputy Director of the Division of Enforcement, will depart the agency on July 31, 2026, after more than 14 years at the SEC. He will be succeeded as Principal Deputy…
AI Analysis
The SEC has announced that **Principal Deputy Director of Enforcement Sam Waldon will depart the agency on 31 July 2026**, and that he will be succeeded as Principal Deputy Director by another senior Enforcement Division leader (name specified in the release). This leadership change matters for compliance teams because Waldon has been a central architect of recent Enforcement Division restructuring, prioritization of “core” fraud cases, and changes to investigative and Wells processes; his departure and successor may recalibrate enforcement focus, case selection, and expectations around cooperation and remediation.
Key dates
16 March 2026
- Judge Margaret A. Ryan’s resignation as Director of the Division of Enforcement becomes effective, and Principal Deputy Director Sam Waldon is named Acting Director of Enforcement
Early April 2026
- David Woodcock is named permanent Director of the Division of Enforcement, succeeding Judge Ryan
31 July 2026
- Principal Deputy Director of Enforcement Sam Waldon departs the SEC after more than 14 years at the agency; his successor assumes the role of Principal Deputy Director
Suggested considerations
Review and update enforcement‑risk assessments to reflect the forthcoming change in SEC Enforcement Division Principal Deputy Director, with particular focus on core fraud, insider trading, and accounting‑related risks.
Re‑evaluate internal investigation, Wells process, and SEC engagement protocols to ensure they align with current Enforcement Manual practices and anticipate any refinements under the new Principal Deputy Director.
Brief senior management, boards, and audit committees on the SEC enforcement leadership transition and its implications for prioritization of accounting, disclosure, and gatekeeper cases, particularly in light of the SOX‑focused enforcement unit.
Reassess crypto and digital asset exposure, including ongoing or threatened SEC matters, to account for potential shifts in enforcement posture under new leadership while maintaining preparedness for fraud‑focused actions involving retail investors.
Reinforce insider trading surveillance, market‑abuse monitoring, and controls around material non‑public information, reflecting the Enforcement Division’s continued emphasis on traditional trading‑related misconduct.
What changed
- The SEC has formally announced that Principal Deputy Director of the Division of Enforcement Sam Waldon will leave the agency effective 31 July 2026, ending more than 14 years of service at the SEC.
The Enforcement Division will have a new Principal Deputy Director (named in the release), who will assume responsibility for overseeing day‑to‑day enforcement operations, supervision of regional and...
Waldon’s departure follows his recent tenure as Acting Director and Principal Deputy Director during a period of strategic restructuring of the Enforcement Division, including creation of multiple...
The transition occurs against the backdrop of earlier Commission decisions to rescind delegation of formal order authority to the Enforcement Director, returning formal order approvals to the...
Under Waldon’s leadership, the Division emphasized “quality over quantity” cases, focusing on traditional “core” areas (insider trading, accounting and disclosure fraud, market manipulation,...
Compliance impact
Non‑compliance with securities‑law obligations in core enforcement areas (fraud, insider trading, accounting and disclosure violations, market manipulation, and fiduciary breaches) remains subject to significant SEC sanctions, including civil penalties, disgorgement, bars, and undertakings. The leadership transition does not lessen enforcement risk; instead, it may refine focus and increase predictability around investor‑harm cases, making robust controls and documented remediation essential to mitigate potential penalties and collateral consequences.
Final Order. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC" or the "Commission") is issuing this Order pursuant to Sec. 20.9 of its regulations, the sunset provision of the Commission's large trader reporting rules for physical commodity swaps ("Part 20" or the "Swaps LTR Rules"). Based on the findings set out…
AI Analysis
The CFTC has issued a final order under 17 CFR 20.9 to sunset the routine large trader reporting regime for physical commodity swaps in Part 20. The agency says the move matters because SDR-based swap reporting now largely duplicates the Part 20 data, while preserving special-call authority over underlying books, records, and futures-equivalent conversion methods.
Key dates
2011-07-22
CFTC adopted Part 20 as a temporary large trader reporting framework for physical commodity swaps.
2026-07-21
Final order effective date; routine Part 20 reporting requirements become ineffective and unenforceable.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to confirm that Part 20 daily and event-based filing workflows are disabled or archived as of the effective date.
Firms may wish to retain the underlying books, records, and futures-equivalent conversion methodologies required for special-call production under § 20.6 and related retained provisions.
Operational teams may wish to map any legacy Part 20 controls to SDR, Parts 43 and 45, and Part 150 processes to avoid duplicate reporting.
Firms may wish to review document retention and response procedures so that special-call requests can be answered promptly if the CFTC seeks underlying records.
Compliance functions may wish to update internal regulatory inventories and policies to reflect that Part 20 routine reporting is no longer enforceable, while recordkeeping obligations remain.
What changed
The order renders the routine position-reporting requirements of Part 20 ineffective and unenforceable, so clearing organizations, clearing members, and swap dealers are no longer required to file the daily and event-based reports previously required under §§ 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, and related reporting provisions. The CFTC is retaining, under § 20.9(b), the recordkeeping and special-call provisions, including the obligation to keep records of paired swaps and swaptions and the methods used to convert positions into futures equivalents and to produce those records on request.
Compliance impact
The impact is significant for affected reporting firms because a recurring daily and event-based reporting burden is removed, reducing duplicative reporting costs and systems maintenance. The CFTC says it will still be able to compel underlying records by special call, so firms remain exposed to supervisory requests and must preserve the supporting data and conversion methods.
Proposed rule. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission") is proposing Regulation E-Delivery. The proposed rule sets forth conditions for covered entities to deliver covered information to covered recipients electronically without first obtaining their affirmative consent. The proposed rule…
AI Analysis
The SEC has proposed Regulation E-Delivery, a cross-cutting electronic delivery framework that would let covered entities send covered information electronically without first obtaining affirmative consent, subject to specified conditions. The proposal matters because it would reshape delivery obligations under the federal securities laws, including proxy and tender offer communications and fund shareholder report delivery, while preserving a paper opt-out path.
Key dates
2026-07-21
SEC proposed Regulation E-Delivery and published the proposal in the Federal Register
2026-09-21 Deadline
Comment period closes
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to inventory all information currently delivered under an opt-in electronic delivery framework and map it to the proposed covered information categories.
Firms may wish to assess whether their current customer or client communications systems can support a direct-delivery model and a statement-of-availability model, including website hosting and link accuracy controls.
Operational teams may wish to review whether they can generate and track the proposed transition notices for recipients currently receiving paper delivery.
Firms may wish to evaluate how they will handle paper-copy requests, opt-outs, and updates to electronic address records if the proposal is adopted.
Proxy and fund operations teams may wish to identify rule-specific processes that would need revision if Rule 30e-3 is rescinded and the proxy/tender offer amendments are finalized.
Compliance teams may wish to prepare comment letters focused on definitions, PFI handling, remediation obligations, and the transition process before the comment deadline.
What changed
The proposal would create a new Part 303 in the SEC rules for “Regulation E-Delivery: Delivering Covered Information Through Electronic Delivery.” It would define key concepts such as electronic delivery, electronic address, covered entity, covered information, and covered recipient, and would set conditions for when information may be delivered directly electronically versus when a statement of availability must be used.
Compliance impact
The proposal is significant because it would move a broad set of SEC delivery obligations from an affirmative-consent model toward a default electronic-delivery model, which would require firms to redesign notices, controls, and recordkeeping. The SEC frames the change as preserving paper delivery on request, but firms that rely on electronic communications would still need to meet new conditions to avoid delivery failures and compliance gaps.
CFTC sunset order eliminating routine large trader reporting requirements for physical commodity swaps under Part 20. Affects clearing organizations, clearing members, and swap dealers. Informational regulatory update reducing compliance burden while maintaining recordkeeping and special-call provisions.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued version 2.0 of the "Allowances for Credit Losses" booklet of the Comptroller's Handbook. The booklet provides information for examiners regarding allowances for credit losses under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 326, "Financial Instruments-Credit…
Why this matters
This is an informational bulletin updating the Comptroller's Handbook to reflect the now-mandatory CECL accounting standard (ASC Topic 326) and interagency policy revisions. It rescinds prior guidance and provides examiners with current supervisory expectations for credit loss allowances.
The SEC issued a proposal for **Regulation E-Delivery**, which would let covered securities-law senders deliver required information electronically without first getting affirmative consent, so long as specified conditions are met. The proposal matters because it would shift the current paper/opt-in default toward an electronic default for a wide range of investor and client disclosures, while preserving paper delivery rights on request.
Key dates
2026-07-16
SEC proposed Regulation E-Delivery
2026-09-21 Deadline
Public comments due on the proposal
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map all current delivery obligations to determine which documents would qualify as 'covered information' under the proposal.
Firms may wish to review whether their records reliably capture valid electronic addresses for intended recipients.
Firms may wish to assess how they would evidence the required prominent disclosure and opt-out status before relying on electronic delivery.
Firms may wish to identify communications containing personal financial information and evaluate whether those items would need a statement-of-availability approach rather than direct electronic delivery.
Firms may wish to plan for paper-notice and transition workflows for recipients currently receiving paper delivery.
Firms may wish to review affected proxy, tender offer, fund reporting, Form CRS, and Form ADV processes for operational and disclosure changes if the proposal is finalized.
What changed
The proposal would create a new, cross-cutting framework under the federal securities laws for electronic delivery of 'covered information' by 'covered entities.' Under the proposal, electronic delivery could satisfy delivery obligations without prior affirmative consent if the recipient has provided an electronic address, has received prominent disclosure that information will be sent electronically, and has not opted out.
Compliance impact
The SEC’s proposal is potentially significant because it could materially change how firms satisfy delivery obligations across multiple securities-law regimes and require operational changes to consent, notice, address capture, and paper-transition processes. The SEC frames the proposal as increasing accessibility and usefulness of information while still preserving paper access on request.
The SEC proposed Regulation E-Delivery on July 16, 2026, to let covered entities satisfy many federal securities law delivery obligations electronically by default, without first obtaining affirmative consent. The proposal matters because it would replace the SEC’s long-standing opt-in orientation with a rule-based opt-out framework for a broad set of disclosures, while preserving paper delivery rights on request and adding transition notices for recipients moved from paper to electronic delivery.
Key dates
2026-07-16
SEC issued the proposal for Regulation E-Delivery
2026-07-21
Federal Register publication date for the proposing release
2026-09-21 Deadline
Deadline for public comments on the proposal
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to map which current disclosures could move to electronic delivery under the proposed framework.
Firms may wish to assess whether their client and investor records reliably capture valid electronic addresses and opt-out status.
Operations teams may wish to review how to generate the two required paper transition notices for recipients currently in paper delivery.
Firms may wish to evaluate whether existing website, authentication, and delivery controls could support the proposed delivery methods, especially for materials containing personal financial information.
Regulatory teams may wish to prepare comment letters before the SEC’s comment deadline.
Firms may wish to inventory downstream rule changes needed if the SEC finalizes conforming amendments to proxy and tender-offer delivery rules.
What changed
The proposal would create a new Regulation E-Delivery framework under which covered entities could deliver covered information electronically without first obtaining affirmative consent, provided specified conditions are met. The SEC says the rule would apply broadly across federal securities laws and cover issuers, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and others, including materials such as prospectuses, fund annual and semi-annual shareholder reports, proxy statements, trade confirmations, Form CRS disclosures, and Form ADV Part 2 brochures.
Compliance impact
The SEC characterizes the proposal as a broad modernization of delivery mechanics that could significantly reduce paper-based compliance workflows and change default disclosure delivery across the securities industry. If adopted, firms that rely on investor consent processes, paper notices, or legacy delivery controls would face meaningful operational and control redesign obligations, and recipients would retain the right to receive paper on request and to opt out of electronic delivery.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed Regulation E-Delivery, a new rule that would expand the ability of issuers, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and others to use electronic delivery to satisfy information delivery requirements…
AI Analysis
The SEC has proposed **Regulation E‑Delivery**, a new, technology‑neutral rule that would allow electronic delivery to become the **default method** for satisfying many information delivery requirements under the federal securities laws, while preserving a right to paper on request. This is a material shift away from the long‑standing, guidance‑based and “affirmative consent” model, and will require firms to redesign their disclosure, investor communication and recordkeeping frameworks to comply with new notice, opt‑out and failure‑remediation obligations.
Key dates
TBD (upon Federal Register publication)
– Start of the 60‑day public comment period on the Regulation E‑Delivery proposal
TBD Deadline
– End of the 60‑day comment period; market participants must have submitted feedback on scope, conditions, investor protections and operational impacts by this date
TBD (post‑adoption) Deadline
– Effective date of final Regulation E‑Delivery, after which firms may begin relying on the rule for default e‑delivery, subject to any specified compliance or phase‑in dates in the adopting release
TBD (post‑effective date) Deadline
– Commencement of required transition processes, including the mailing of two paper notices and implementation of opt‑out mechanisms, for investors currently receiving paper communications
Suggested considerations
Conduct a comprehensive mapping of all documents currently delivered under federal securities law requirements (prospectuses, shareholder reports, proxy materials, trade confirmations, Form CRS, Form ADV brochures) and determine how each will be delivered under Regulation E‑Delivery.
Review and update disclosure, investor communication and delivery policies to incorporate e‑delivery as the default method while clearly documenting investor rights to request and receive paper delivery at any time.
Design and implement procedures for maintaining accurate electronic contact information for investors and clients, including periodic verification processes and remediation steps for undeliverable emails or failed electronic transmissions.
Develop and operationalize the transition process for paper‑based recipients, including generation and mailing of the two required paper notices that explain the move to e‑delivery and the opt‑out option.
Update client and investor onboarding materials, account agreements and preference‑capture workflows to reflect the new default e‑delivery model and how investors can elect paper delivery or change their preferences.
What changed
- Regulation E‑Delivery would formally replace the SEC’s decades‑old, purely guidance‑based approach to electronic delivery and establish a rule‑based framework that expressly permits e‑delivery to...
Electronic delivery would become the default method of delivery, meaning firms could deliver required regulatory information electronically without first obtaining the investor’s affirmative consent,...
The rule would preserve investor choice by requiring that investors and other recipients be able to request paper delivery at any time and continue receiving paper format upon request.
The proposal would set out requirements and conditions for when e‑delivery is deemed compliant, including use of electronic addresses or other electronic methods reasonably designed to ensure receipt...
The range of deliverable documents under Regulation E‑Delivery would be broad, covering prospectuses for funds and other issuers, fund annual and semi‑annual shareholder reports, proxy statements,...
Compliance impact
Non‑compliance could result in failures to meet statutory disclosure and delivery obligations, exposing firms to SEC enforcement, supervisory findings, investor complaints, and potential civil liability where investors allege inadequate or inaccessible information. Mismanaged transitions or poor controls around e‑delivery failures may also create conduct risk, reputational damage and remediation costs, particularly for retail and senior investors.
This is an informational announcement about a scheduled CFTC Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting. It relates to capital markets trading (agricultural commodity futures and options) and involves disclosure/communication between regulators and market participants.
Minutes of the Board's discount rate meetings on June 8 and June 17, 2026
Why this matters
This is a procedural announcement of minutes from Federal Reserve Board discount rate meetings. The content is informational only—it documents past meetings and clarifies that discount rate setting is distinct from federal funds rate policy. No new rules, guidance, or enforcement actions are present.
## PART 1: ANALYSIS
**Executive summary**
The CFTC has finalized amendments to its uncleared swaps margin rule for swap dealers and major swap participants that are not under prudential regulator margin rules, primarily by narrowing when seeded funds are treated as “margin affiliates,” broadening eligible initial...
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Municipal Securities today announced it has updated its Registration of Municipal Advisors FAQs webpage to offer more clarity on municipal advisor registration and recordkeeping requirements. The…
AI Analysis
The SEC Office of Municipal Securities has updated its **Registration of Municipal Advisors FAQs** to clarify when public‑private partnership (P3) participants must register as municipal advisors, how Form MA/MA‑I filers must treat **remote work locations as “offices”**, and the **recordkeeping scope** when advising on pricing of new municipal issues. The FAQs also add explicit guidance on **how to register** (including for sole proprietors) and cross‑reference existing SEC staff and MSRB resources, effectively tightening expectations around registration and books-and-records controls for municipal advisory activity.
Key dates
20 March 2023
- SEC Office of Municipal Securities updates the Registration of Municipal Advisors FAQs to add guidance on completion and timelines for Form MA, Form MA‑I, and Form MA‑NR, setting baseline expectations for registration filings and updates
22 January 2025
- SEC updates the Registration of Municipal Advisors FAQs to provide additional staff views for public finance market participants on when their activities require municipal advisor registration
10 July 2026
- SEC Office of Municipal Securities issues the latest update to the Registration of Municipal Advisors FAQs, adding clarifications for P3 participants, remote work office disclosures on Forms MA/MA‑I, recordkeeping scope for pricing advice, and a new FAQ on how to register as a municipal advisor
Suggested considerations
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of public‑private partnership activities to determine whether any structuring, advisory, or financing work for state or local governments involves “municipal advisory activities” that trigger SEC municipal advisor registration requirements.
Review all current and planned municipal advisory activities (including indirect advice through third‑party professionals) against the SEC’s municipal advisor definition, exclusions, and exemptions, and document registration determinations in a formal internal memo.
Identify all locations, including employees’ remote and home offices, where municipal advisor‑related business is conducted, and update Form MA and Form MA‑I filings to ensure accurate disclosure of “offices” according to the new FAQ guidance.
Review and, where necessary, update books‑and‑records policies and procedures to ensure that advice on pricing of new issues of municipal securities is fully captured, including communications, analyses, models, and recommendations, in line with SEC and MSRB recordkeeping standards.
Establish or update onboarding and change‑management controls to ensure that new municipal advisory lines of business, new P3 mandates, or expansions into remote work arrangements are reviewed by compliance for municipal advisor registration and office‑reporting implications before launch.
What changed
- The FAQs now provide targeted guidance for public‑private partnership (P3) market participants on when their activities in structuring or advising on P3 financings constitute municipal advisory...
The FAQs clarify for Form MA and Form MA‑I filers which remote work locations where municipal advisor‑related business is conducted must be disclosed as an “office,” affecting how firms classify and...
The FAQs add staff views on the scope of recordkeeping requirements when a municipal advisor provides advice on the pricing of a new issue of municipal securities, reinforcing obligations under...
A new FAQ explains how to register as a municipal advisor, directing prospective advisors (including sole proprietors) to an existing SEC staff Informational Bulletin and MSRB compliance resource...
The SEC reiterates that the final municipal advisor registration rules adopted in 2013 remain in force and emphasizes that firms and individuals conducting municipal advisory activity should “come...
Compliance impact
Non‑compliance primarily risks unregistered municipal advisory activity and deficient recordkeeping, which can lead to SEC enforcement actions, censures, monetary penalties, and potential restrictions on municipal advisory business. The clarification around remote offices also increases the likelihood of registration form deficiencies being identified through exams or surveillance.
Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with TS Banking Group, Inc. and TS Contrarian Bancshares, Inc.
AI Analysis
The Federal Reserve announced a written agreement dated July 6, 2026 with TS Banking Group, Inc. and TS Contrarian Bancshares, Inc. The public notice confirms an enforcement action but does not itself describe the substantive deficiencies; the attached agreement and third-party reporting indicate the Fed is focused on capital, liquidity, and support for subsidiary banks.
Key dates
2026-07-06
Federal Reserve and the firms executed the written agreement
2026-07-09
Federal Reserve publicly announced the enforcement action
2026-08-05 Deadline
Cash flow forecasts due 30 days after the agreement date, as described in the agreement reporting
2026-09-04 Deadline
Capital plan due 60 days after the agreement date, as described in the agreement reporting
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review the written agreement and map each requirement to responsible owners, due dates, and reporting lines.
Firms in similar structures may wish to confirm whether capital distribution limits, new debt restrictions, or prior-approval conditions apply under their own supervisory agreements.
Boards may wish to assess whether consolidated capital planning, liquidity forecasting, and subsidiary support expectations are sufficiently documented and tested.
Supervisory response plans may wish to be updated to reflect escalation triggers for capital shortfalls, liquidity stress, and required regulator communications.
What changed
The Fed executed a written agreement with TS Banking Group, Inc. and TS Contrarian Bancshares, Inc. on July 6, 2026, and publicly disclosed it on July 9, 2026. The public press release identifies only the parties and the action type, while the attached agreement indicates the Board can enforce the agreement under section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and section 50 of the FDI Act.
Compliance impact
The action signals heightened supervisory concern around capital adequacy and intragroup support at the holding-company level. The practical consequence is ongoing restrictions on capital distributions and borrowing, plus mandatory supervisory reporting and remediation planning.
Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, June 16-17, 2026
Why this matters
The document is a press release announcing the availability of FOMC meeting minutes from June 16-17, 2026, published on July 8, 2026. It contains only procedural information about the release timing and links to the full minutes, with no substantive policy content, guidance, or regulatory changes disclosed in the...
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation and the Division of Corporation Finance will co-host a livestreamed discussion on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 2 p.m. to re-examine…
Why this matters
SEC roundtable discussion on IPO modernization and public market access expansion. Informational/consultative content focused on capital markets structure and regulatory framework for market participants. No immediate compliance deadline indicated.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee announced that it will hold a meeting on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 10 a.m. to explore ways to modernize public market access and encourage IPOs…
Federal Reserve Board requests comment on a proposal to amend its requirements for banks to maintain anti-money laundering programs
AI Analysis
The Federal Reserve Board issued a consultation on July 7, 2026 proposing to amend its bank AML program requirements so they align with similar changes proposed by four other agencies. The proposal matters because it would push banks toward a more explicit risk-based AML/CFT framework, require FinCEN priorities to be built into risk assessments, and signal that supervision will focus on significant failures to implement an AML program rather than the mere existence of a program.
Key dates
2026-07-07
Federal Reserve Board issued the request for comment on the proposed AML program amendments
2026-09-05 Deadline
Indicative comment deadline if the proposal is published in the Federal Register on July 7, 2026; the Federal Reserve states comments are due 60 days after Federal Register publication
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review current AML/CFT program governance against the proposed minimum program components, including risk-based controls, independent testing, training, and designated accountable oversight.
Firms may wish to map their current risk assessment methodology to the FinCEN AML priorities referenced in the proposal and identify any gaps in documentation or calibration.
Banks may wish to assess whether resources are demonstrably weighted toward higher-risk customers, products, services, and activities, since the proposal emphasizes risk-based allocation.
Compliance functions may wish to track the Federal Register publication date closely so the 60-day comment clock can be calculated once the notice is published.
Commenting stakeholders may wish to compare the Federal Reserve proposal with the parallel proposals from the other agencies to identify alignment issues or operational inconsistencies.
What changed
The proposal would amend the Federal Reserve's requirements for banks to maintain anti-money laundering programs to align with parallel proposals from four other agencies. It would require banks to allocate AML resources based on risk, with greater attention to higher-risk customers and activities. It would also require banks to incorporate the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's AML priorities into their risk assessment processes.
Compliance impact
The regulatory impact is material because the Federal Reserve is proposing to tighten how banks evidence an effective AML/CFT program and how examiners will evaluate implementation. The Board indicates that supervision and enforcement will concentrate on significant implementation failures, which raises the stakes for documentation, governance, and demonstrable risk-based resourcing.
PRESS RELEASE | JULY 2, 2026 FDIC Issues List of Banks Examined for CRA Compliance WASHINGTON — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today issued its list of state nonmember banks recently evaluated for compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The list covers evaluation ratings that the FDIC…
Why this matters
This is a standard FDIC press release announcing the publication of Community Reinvestment Act examination ratings for state nonmember banks evaluated in April 2026. It is informational in nature, directing readers to existing public disclosure mechanisms and consolidated lists already available since 1990.
Federal Reserve issues initial findings from its 2025 triennial payments study
Why this matters
This is a press release announcing initial findings from the Federal Reserve's triennial payments study conducted every three years since 2001. The content reports aggregate statistics on noncash payment volumes and trends (cards, ACH, checks) without introducing new regulations, guidance, or enforcement actions.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) published updated statistics and data visualizations covering key segments of the U.S. capital markets, including three new asset-backed securities (ABS) issuance data…
This is a policy speech by the SEC Chairman articulating the agency's strategic direction under the 'ACT strategy' (Advance, Clarify, Transform). It contains multiple regulatory signals: modernization of digital asset frameworks and Project Crypto; SEC-CFTC MOU on jurisdictional clarity; proposed IPO and filer status...
PRESS RELEASE | JUNE 30, 2026 Agencies Release List of Distressed or Underserved Nonmetropolitan Middle-Income Geographies WASHINGTON — Federal bank regulatory agencies today released the 2026 list of certain geographies where certain bank activities are eligible for Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) credit. Under the…
Why this matters
This is an informational press release announcing the 2026 list of distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies eligible for CRA credit consideration.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a request for public comment on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) seeking to invest in innovative asset classes or engage in novel investment strategies. The request focuses on ways to facilitate innovation…
Why this matters
SEC request for public comment on novel ETF structures and investment strategies. Informational content seeking stakeholder input on regulatory framework for innovative ETF products. Relevant to asset managers and broker dealers involved in ETF creation and distribution. No immediate compliance deadline indicated.
Agencies release list of distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies
Why this matters
This is an informational press release announcing the 2026 list of distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies eligible for CRA credit consideration.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission today issued a joint request for public comment on potential approaches to further harmonize regulatory frameworks applicable to portfolio margining across securities,…
Why this matters
Joint SEC-CFTC request for public comment on portfolio margining framework harmonization. This is informational/consultative content seeking industry input on regulatory alignment between securities and futures markets. Primarily affects capital markets participants and investment firms subject to margin requirements.
BOARD MEETING | JUNE 25, 2026 FDIC Board of Directors Meeting Today, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Board of Directors met in open session to consider the following matters. Materials and information relative to the open Board actions are available on the Board Matters webpage . Items Addressed in Open…
AI Analysis
On 2026-06-25, the FDIC Board met in open session and approved three notices of proposed rulemaking: one on resolution submissions for covered insured depository institutions, one on assessment thresholds/rate schedules/adjustments, and one on disclosure of information. This matters because each proposal signals material shifts in FDIC compliance obligations, with the resolution proposal and assessment proposal appearing to reduce or reshape filing and assessment burdens while the disclosure proposal expands permitted sharing of confidential FDIC information under defined conditions.
Key dates
2026-06-25
FDIC Board met in open session and approved three notices of proposed rulemaking
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to assess whether the institution would fall above the proposed resolution-submission threshold if raised to $100 billion in assets.
Firms may wish to inventory current resolution-planning, interim supplement, and public-section processes to identify work that could be reduced or repurposed if the proposal is finalized.
Assessment and finance teams may wish to model the impact of a $10 billion to $30 billion threshold change and any indexed future adjustments on deposit insurance assessments.
Legal and information-governance teams may wish to review confidentiality-agreement templates and third-party-sharing controls in anticipation of broader permitted disclosure under Part 309.
Institutions currently subject to FDIC resolution submissions may wish to monitor whether the proposed filing-cycle change to every three years alters internal preparation calendars and governance approvals.
What changed
The Board approved a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise resolution-submission requirements for covered insured depository institutions; secondary reporting indicates the proposal would raise the applicability threshold from $50 billion to $100 billion in total assets, move covered institutions to a three-year filing cycle, eliminate certain interim supplements and public sections, and remove a substantial portion of current narrative content requirements.
Compliance impact
The practical impact is potentially significant for large and midsize FDIC-insured institutions, because the proposals could materially change resolution planning, assessment exposure, and handling of confidential FDIC information. The publication does not describe enforcement consequences, but a final rule could require firms to redesign reporting, governance, and third-party disclosure controls.
The CFTC has proposed amendments to Parts 15, 16, and 17 to establish a new reporting regime for certain covered event contracts, including a new **§16.03 “Covered Event Contracts”** provision. If adopted, the rule would require relevant market participants to report these contracts under the Parts 15 through 18 framework rather than under selected reporting provisions in Parts 38, 39, 43, and 45, making this a material compliance redesign for firms active in event contracts.
Key dates
2017
- Staff no-action letters began providing the interim reporting approach for certain fully collateralized event contracts
TBD (est. late 2026)
- The proposal will proceed through the public-comment process and could later be finalized, subject to Commission action
13 May 2026
- CFTC staff issued a no-action letter regarding swap data reporting and recordkeeping for event contracts, reinforcing the temporary relief framework
25 June 2026
- The CFTC published the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on amendments to Parts 15, 16, and 17
Suggested considerations
Firms that list, clear, intermediate, or report covered event contracts should inventory all event-contract products and map each product to the current reporting regime and the proposed Parts 15 through 18 framework.
Compliance teams should identify all reporting fields, systems, and workflows currently relying on Parts 38, 39, 43, or 45 for event-contract reporting and assess whether those processes would need redesign.
FCMs, clearing members, and foreign brokers should review their data governance and source-of-truth controls to ensure they can produce the reporting elements required under §16.00, §16.01, Part 17, and Part 18 if the proposal is adopted.
Firms should track the public-comment process and prepare comments if the proposed framework creates operational gaps, duplicated reporting, or ambiguities in product scope.
Market participants should review reliance on existing no-action letters and prepare contingency plans for a transition from interim relief to a codified rule.
What changed
- The CFTC proposes an alternate reporting framework for certain fully collateralized event contracts, replacing reliance on certain reporting provisions in Parts 38, 39, 43, and 45 with reporting...
The proposal would amend Part 15, Part 16, and Part 17 of the CFTC’s regulations.
The proposal would add a new §16.03 titled “Covered Event Contracts” to Part 16.
The proposal would require reporting pursuant to §16.00, §16.01, Part 17, and Part 18 for covered event contracts.
The proposal would apply to reporting by certain reporting markets, futures commission merchants, clearing members, and foreign brokers.
Compliance impact
The compliance impact is moderate to high because the proposal could require firms to re-engineer reporting architecture, amend procedures, and retest controls for event-contract data submission. Non-compliance after final adoption could expose firms to CFTC supervisory findings, reporting deficiencies, and possible enforcement risk if required data are not reported correctly or on time.
CFTC Chairman's keynote address providing regulatory guidance on perpetual contracts, prediction markets, and agricultural commodity derivatives. Informational speech clarifying agency's balanced approach to innovation versus traditional market protection, with emphasis on COT reporting enhancements, Basel III capital...
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking to implement Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and sanctions compliance standards applicable to OCC-supervised permitted payment stablecoin issuers (PPSI), as required by the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S…
AI Analysis
The OCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on June 22, 2026 to implement Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions compliance standards for OCC-supervised permitted payment stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act. The proposal matters because it would formalize AML/CFT and OFAC compliance expectations, create an OCC enforcement framework, and establish a consultation channel with FinCEN for significant actions.
Key dates
2026-06-22
OCC bulletin announcing the notice of proposed rulemaking was issued
2026-07-22 Deadline
Planned deadline for comments, if the Federal Register publication date aligns with the bulletin date and the OCC’s 30-day comment period is measured from publication
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to assess whether the entity falls within the OCC-supervised PPSI category or within the state-qualified issuer population covered by OCC authority under the GENIUS Act.
Firms may wish to review existing AML/CFT and sanctions controls against the BSA, FinCEN, and OFAC requirements referenced in the proposal, including reporting, monitoring, and risk assessment procedures.
Compliance teams may wish to map governance, escalation, and record-sharing workflows to the proposed OCC-FinCEN consultation framework, particularly for potential significant supervisory or enforcement matters.
Firms may wish to consider whether their current policies, procedures, and internal controls are sufficiently tailored to stablecoin-specific risks and whether additional board or senior management oversight would be needed.
Compliance teams may wish to evaluate whether they should submit comments during the 30-day Federal Register comment period if aspects of the proposed framework could affect operating models or compliance design.
What changed
The proposed rule would require OCC-supervised PPSIs to comply with the BSA, sections 4(a)(5) and 4(a)(6)(B) of the GENIUS Act, and applicable FinCEN and OFAC regulations, including AML/CFT program, sanctions program, and reporting requirements. It would also create a supervision and enforcement framework for PPSI AML/CFT programs, so the OCC can take AML/CFT supervisory and enforcement action against covered issuers.
The rule would establish a formal consultation process between the OCC and FinCEN when the OCC intends to initiate an AML/CFT enforcement action or a significant AML/CFT...
Compliance impact
The proposal signals a material increase in AML/CFT and sanctions compliance scrutiny for OCC-supervised stablecoin issuers, with explicit supervisory and enforcement consequences for program deficiencies. The OCC describes a framework that could support significant supervisory action or enforcement action, making program design, governance, and escalation controls more consequential for affected issuers.
Joint CFTC-SEC request for public comment on derivatives product definitions and jurisdictional clarification under Dodd-Frank Title VII. This is informational guidance seeking stakeholder input on swap definitions, mixed swaps, and emerging products.
Joint CFTC-SEC request for public comment on harmonizing swap and security-based swap data reporting frameworks. This is informational content seeking stakeholder input on modernizing reporting requirements, data quality standards, and operational complexity reduction.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission today issued a joint request for public comment on potential opportunities to further update, clarify, and harmonize certain derivatives product definitions and…
Why this matters
Joint SEC-CFTC request for public comment on derivatives product definitions clarification and harmonization. This is informational/consultative content seeking stakeholder input on potential regulatory updates to derivatives definitions, affecting capital markets participants and investment managers.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission today issued a joint request for public comment on potential opportunities to harmonize, modernize, and streamline data reporting requirements in their regulation of the…
CFTC no-action letter providing regulatory relief for swap post-trade risk reduction service providers. Addresses registration requirements for swap execution facilities and reporting obligations under part 43.
CFTC no-action letter providing regulatory relief for designated contract markets (DCMs) converting perpetual-style digital commodity futures contracts. This is informational guidance clarifying regulatory treatment and procedural requirements for contract amendments.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to rescind Rules 611 and 610(e) of Regulation NMS.“After two decades of Rule 611, it is high time that the Commission review its unintended consequences that have hindered — rather than…
AI Analysis
The SEC has proposed to **rescind Regulation NMS Rules 611 (Order Protection Rule) and 610(e) (quotations access fee cap)**, fundamentally re‑opening how U.S. equity markets handle trade‑through protection and access fee limits. For compliance teams at equity trading venues and intermediaries, this is a structural market‑microstructure change that will eventually require re‑engineering best‑execution, routing, and surveillance frameworks that are currently built around Rule 611’s trade‑through regime and Rule 610(e)’s fee cap.
Key dates
TBD (post‑comment, est. 2027 or later) Deadline
– Potential SEC adoption of a final rule rescinding Rules 611 and 610(e), including any specified effective and compliance dates
TBD (proposal publication date in Federal Register)
– SEC proposal to rescind Regulation NMS Rules 611 and 610(e) is published, starting the public comment period
TBD (typically 30–60 days after Federal Register publication)
– End of the initial public comment period on the proposal to rescind Rules 611 and 610(e)
Suggested considerations
Map all current policies, procedures, and controls that explicitly reference or rely on Rule 611 (Order Protection Rule) and Rule 610(e) (access fee caps), including best‑execution frameworks, routing policies, fee schedules, and surveillance rules.
Conduct a system inventory of smart order routing, execution algorithms, and venue connectivity logic that prevents trade‑throughs of protected quotations and enforces access‑fee caps, and identify components that would need redesign if Rules 611 and 610(e) are rescinded.
Review and, if necessary, update best‑execution policies and client disclosures to decouple best‑execution rationales from mechanical Rule 611 compliance, preparing a framework that can operate in an environment without trade‑through prohibitions or fee caps.
Enhance governance processes to monitor the SEC rulemaking, assign ownership (e.g., to a market structure working group), and prepare internal impact assessments and board‑level briefings on potential business, conduct, and conflict‑of‑interest implications of rescission.
Develop scenario analyses and playbooks describing how routing strategies, venue selection, and payment‑for‑order‑flow or other economic arrangements would be adjusted in the absence of Rule 611 and Rule 610(e).
What changed
- The SEC proposes to rescind Rule 611 of Regulation NMS (17 CFR 242.611), which currently requires trading centers to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably...
The rescission would eliminate the current requirement on trading centers to prevent executions at prices inferior to protected quotations displayed on other trading centers, subject to the present...
The SEC proposes to rescind Rule 610(e) of Regulation NMS, which currently imposes caps on access fees that trading centers may charge for the execution of quotations in NMS stocks, intended to...
The proposal would remove the regulatory framework that links protection of top‑of‑book quotations with capped access fees, allowing market forces and competition to shape routing behavior, fee...
The proposal would likely be accompanied by conforming amendments to related definitions and cross‑references in Regulation NMS that currently rely on or reference Rules 611 and 610(e).
Compliance impact
Rescission would not immediately apply until a final rule and effective date, but once effective it will require a fundamental re‑design of U.S. equity order‑routing, best‑execution, and surveillance frameworks that have been built around Regulation NMS’s order‑protection architecture. Non‑compliance with any new framework (and with ongoing best‑execution and conduct duties during and after the transition) could lead to enforcement actions, client disputes, and significant market conduct risk, even if the specific NMS provisions are removed.
The CFTC is proposing to revise its whistleblower award framework to make smaller awards more predictable by presuming a **30% award rate for claims of $5 million or less**, subject to Commission judgment. This is a significant compliance development because it aligns more closely with SEC whistleblower methodology and may encourage more whistleblower submissions tied to Commodity Exchange Act violations, increasing the need for firms to detect issues early and respond quickly.
Key dates
11 June 2026
- The CFTC published the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on amendments to its whistleblower rules
TBD (30 days after Federal Register publication)
- The public comment period closes 30 days after the NPRM is published in the Federal Register
TBD (after comment review)
- The CFTC may finalize, modify, or withdraw the proposal after reviewing public comments
Suggested considerations
Review whistleblower intake, escalation, and investigation procedures to ensure the firm can identify potential CEA violations before they become external whistleblower submissions.
Update training for front office, operations, compliance, and management personnel on CFTC whistleblower protections and the increased incentive structure.
Assess whether confidentiality, reporting, and non-retaliation controls are sufficiently documented to withstand scrutiny if a whistleblower complaint arises.
Reconfirm that internal policies do not discourage employees from communicating with the CFTC or otherwise create retaliation risk.
Monitor the Federal Register publication date and decide whether the firm, trade association, or counsel should submit a comment during the open comment period.
What changed
- The CFTC proposes a 30% presumption for whistleblower awards of $5 million or less.
The presumption remains subject to Commission discretion and application of relevant regulatory factors.
The proposal is modeled on SEC Rule 21F-6(c) to further harmonize CFTC and SEC whistleblower frameworks.
The CFTC says the change is intended to improve the efficiency, transparency, and predictability of award processing.
The proposal would affect how the CFTC’s Whistleblower Office evaluates award claims under Part 165.
Compliance impact
The practical impact is moderate to high because the proposal raises the attractiveness of reporting to the CFTC and may increase the likelihood of externally originated enforcement matters. Firms that fail to maintain strong internal reporting channels, prompt investigations, and anti-retaliation safeguards face higher risk of enforcement, litigation, and reputational harm if a whistleblower report is filed.
The SEC Chairman used the June 11, 2026 open meeting to signal support for a proposal that would rescind Regulation NMS Rule 611 (the Order Protection / trade-through rule) and Rule 610(e) (the locked and crossed markets provision). For compliance professionals, this is a significant market-structure signal because it could remove core intermarket price-protection and quotation-handling obligations that have applied to NMS stocks since 2005.
Key dates
2026-06-11
SEC open meeting at which Chairman Atkins discussed the proposed rescission of Rules 611 and 610(e)
2026-08-10 Deadline
Comment period deadline if measured as 60 days after the June 11, 2026 Federal Register publication date reflected in the SEC materials
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to inventory policies, procedures, surveillance logic, and supervisory manuals that reference Rule 611, Rule 610(e), or related Rule 600 definitions.
Broker-dealers and ATS operators may wish to assess whether current routing and execution-quality models assume protected-quotation routing obligations that could change if the proposal is finalized.
Market structure and legal teams may want to map client disclosures, best execution policies, and venue-selection standards that rely on the current trade-through regime.
Surveillance and technology teams may wish to test how lock/cross alerts, protected-quote checks, and trade-through exception logic would operate under a rescinded Rule 611/610(e) framework.
Firms may want to monitor the Federal Register publication and comment process, since the proposal states comments would be due 60 days after publication.
What changed
The publication is not a final rule; it is a policy statement accompanying a proposed rulemaking. The SEC said the proposal would rescind Rule 611, rescind Rule 610(e), remove related defined terms in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS, and make conforming amendments to related provisions. Rule 611 currently requires trading centers to maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent trade-throughs of protected quotations in NMS stocks, subject to exceptions, and Rule 610(e) addresses locking and crossing quotations.
Compliance impact
The practical impact is potentially high, but the publication itself does not create new obligations because it is a proposal, not a final rule. If adopted, the rescission could materially change routing behavior, best-execution analysis, market surveillance, and handling of locked and crossed markets in NMS stocks.
The SEC proposed rescinding Regulation NMS Rule 611, the trade-through/order protection rule, and Rule 610(e), the locked and crossed markets prohibition, along with related definitions and conforming amendments. Commissioner Peirce supported the package as a simplification measure, and the proposal matters because it would materially change core U.S. equity market-structure obligations if adopted.
Key dates
2026-06-11
SEC issued the proposal to rescind Rules 611 and 610(e) of Regulation NMS and related conforming changes
2026-08-10 Deadline
Comment period end date if counted as 60 days from the June 17, 2026 Federal Register publication date stated in the source materials
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review any policies and procedures built around Rule 611 trade-through prevention and Rule 610(e) locked/crossed quote handling.
Firms may wish to assess whether market-structure controls, best-execution surveillance, and routing logic would need revision if the proposal is finalized.
Trading and legal teams may wish to track the Federal Register publication date to determine the 60-day comment window.
Broker-dealers and exchanges may wish to inventory downstream rulebook, system, and disclosure references to Rule 611, Rule 610(e), and related Rule 600 definitions for conforming updates.
What changed
The Commission proposed to rescind Rule 611 of Regulation NMS in its entirety, eliminating the federal trade-through prohibition for national market system stocks. It also proposed to rescind Rule 610(e) in its entirety, which would remove the federal prohibition on locked and crossed quotations in NMS stocks. In addition, the proposal would rescind related defined terms in Rule 600 and make conforming changes to other related provisions. The SEC also stated that the public comment period would remain open for 60 days after publication of the proposing release in the Federal Register.
Compliance impact
The proposal is potentially high-impact for U.S. equity market-structure compliance because it would remove two foundational Regulation NMS obligations if adopted. The SEC describes the changes as removing rules that technological advances have rendered unnecessary and as simplifying and fostering innovation in markets.
Commissioner Uyeda’s statement announces a proposed SEC rollback of core Regulation NMS protections, centered on rescinding Rule 611’s trade-through prohibition and Rule 610(e)’s locked/crossed market restrictions. The proposal matters because it would materially change how national market system stocks are quoted and executed, shifting market structure obligations away from federal price-protection rules.
Key dates
2026-06-11
SEC issued the proposed amendments to rescind Regulation NMS Rule 611 and Rule 610(e)
2026-08-17 Deadline
Public comment period closes according to contemporaneous SEC practitioner coverage of the proposal
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether routing, best-execution, and market access controls rely on the continued operation of Rule 611 protected quotation logic.
Firms may wish to assess whether any surveillance, OMS/EMS configuration, or venue selection logic should be updated if trade-through and locked/crossed market protections are rescinded.
Market participants may wish to monitor the SEC comment process and any conforming amendments that could affect execution quality metrics, routing obligations, and exchange rulebooks.
What changed
The SEC proposes to rescind Rule 611 of Regulation NMS, which currently prohibits trade-throughs in national market system stocks. It also proposes to rescind Rule 610(e), which restricts locking and crossing quotations in national market system stocks. The proposal would additionally remove related defined terms in Rule 600 and make conforming changes to related provisions.
Compliance impact
The SEC describes this as a significant restructuring of Regulation NMS that would remove core federal protections against trade-throughs and locked/crossed quotations. For firms active in U.S. equities, the practical impact would likely be broad, because routing, execution oversight, and venue behavior would no longer be governed by those specific Rule 611 and Rule 610(e) constraints.
Jim Moloney, Director, Division of Corporation Finance
Why this matters
The title references SEC regimes governing registered offerings and filer status, which are core disclosure and authorization frameworks affecting public capital markets participants. The speaker's seniority and the framing as 'improving' these regimes suggests policy intent.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission established joint data standards under the Financial Data Transparency Act of 2022. The final rule establishes technical standards for data submitted to certain financial regulatory agencies. Eight additional…
AI Analysis
The SEC has adopted **joint data standards** under the Financial Data Transparency Act of 2022 (FDTA) to govern how data is formatted and submitted to specified U.S. financial regulators, including the SEC. This materially raises the bar on data structure, tagging, and interoperability for regulatory reporting and disclosures, requiring firms to shift from document-centric to **machine‑readable, standardized data** across multiple reporting regimes.
Key dates
TBD (2026)
– SEC press release date and effective date of the joint data standards rule (exact calendar date to be taken from the final rule and press release)
TBD (2026–2027)
– SEC and other participating agencies publish technical specifications, schemas, and implementation guides for specific forms and data collections that will transition to the joint data standards
TBD (2027 and beyond) Deadline
– Phased compliance dates for particular reporting forms and regimes as each agency completes its implementation plans under the FDTA; individual forms will have distinct first‑applicable reporting periods and transition windows
Suggested considerations
Conduct a comprehensive mapping of all current and upcoming regulatory data submissions to the SEC and other FDTA‑covered agencies to identify which reports are likely to be brought under the joint data standards.
Review and update data governance frameworks so that key data elements (counterparty identifiers, instrument identifiers, balances, exposures, classifications) are uniquely defined, consistently sourced, and traceable across internal systems in alignment with anticipated joint taxonomies.
Assess existing regulatory reporting systems and vendor solutions (including XBRL tools, data warehouses, and filing platforms) and develop an upgrade plan to support the new machine‑readable, standardized formats and schemas.
Establish an internal FDTA/joint data standards implementation program, with clear ownership (e.g., finance, regulatory reporting, data management, IT) and a cross‑functional steering committee to oversee design, testing, and rollout.
Engage with technology, regtech, and data vendors to confirm their timelines for supporting the new SEC and cross‑agency standards and to obtain updated taxonomies, schemas, and validation rules as soon as they are published.
What changed
- The SEC, jointly with seven other U.S. financial regulators, has established mandatory technical data standards for information submitted to those agencies pursuant to the Financial Data...
The joint standards apply to regulatory data collections within each participating agency’s remit (e.g., SEC filings and reports, certain prudential and market data submissions), and are intended to...
The rule requires use of structured, non‑proprietary, machine‑readable formats (such as XML, JSON, XBRL, or similar open standards) where data is collected electronically, moving away from...
The standards require use of public, non‑exclusive data dictionaries and taxonomies, so that data elements (e.g., fields, metrics, identifiers) are consistently defined and tagged across different...
The rule embeds interoperability requirements, so that the same data element (for example, a LEI, CUSIP, counterparty ID, asset class, or exposure type) is reported using harmonized definitions and...
Compliance impact
The impact is high, because the rule drives structural changes to how regulatory data is formatted, governed, and submitted, with material systems and process implications across multiple reporting regimes. Non‑compliance may result in rejected filings, late‑filing violations, enforcement risk, and increased scrutiny over the accuracy and reliability of reported data.
CFTC announces establishment of joint data standards under Financial Data Transparency Act of 2022, affecting multiple financial regulatory agencies and market participants. This is informational guidance on standardized data reporting requirements across banking, capital markets, and payments sectors.
PRESS RELEASE | JUNE 5, 2026 FDIC Issues List of Banks Examined for CRA Compliance WASHINGTON—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today issued its list of state nonmember banks recently evaluated for compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The list covers evaluation ratings that the FDIC…
Why this matters
This is a standard monthly press release announcing the public availability of CRA compliance examination ratings for banks evaluated in March 2026. It is informational in nature, directing readers to existing consolidated lists and procedures for obtaining individual bank evaluations.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced five new members of the Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee. The new members were appointed to four-year terms and will join the 15 current …
The Securities and Exchange Commission today published a Draft Strategic Plan that focuses on returning the agency to the core mission set by Congress more than 90 years ago: protecting investors; maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient…
AI Analysis
The SEC has issued a **Draft Strategic Plan for public comment** that sets out three agency-wide priorities: refocusing regulation on investor protection, market efficiency, and capital formation; improving stakeholder engagement and compliance facilitation; and modernizing internal operations and technology. For compliance teams, this matters because it signals where the Commission may concentrate rulemaking, examinations, enforcement, and disclosure modernization over the planning horizon.
Key dates
02 July 2026 Deadline
- Deadline for submitting public comments on the Draft Strategic Plan
Suggested considerations
Submit written comments by 02 July 2026 if your firm wants to influence the SEC’s strategic priorities, especially on disclosure modernization, private markets, digital assets, or enforcement posture.
Include File Number DSP-3 on all comments and use only one submission method, because the SEC requires the file number on email subject lines and asks commenters to choose a single channel.
Review internal compliance roadmaps for likely impacts from disclosure simplification, rule retrospectives, and enforcement refocusing, and identify where current controls may become redundant or need redesign.
Assess whether your firm’s digital asset, tokenization, or distributed ledger activities may benefit from future SEC guidance or may face new framework requirements.
Monitor developments on EDGAR modernization and filing technology changes, and test whether internal reporting, tagging, or submission processes would need upgrades.
What changed
- The SEC is proposing a strategic reorientation toward core statutory objectives: investor protection, fair and orderly markets, and capital formation.
The plan emphasizes clearer, fit-for-purpose rules intended to support innovation while deterring misconduct.
The SEC says it will prioritize modernizing and simplifying disclosure practices, which may affect reporting frameworks and issuer-facing compliance processes.
The draft plan highlights expanded access to private markets and new capital-raising pathways, signaling possible future changes in offering, exemptive, and disclosure regimes.
The SEC identifies digital assets and distributed ledger technologies as an area needing a “firm regulatory foundation,” indicating continued policy development for crypto-related activities.
Compliance impact
The immediate legal risk is low because this is a consultation document, not a binding rule, but the strategic direction is important for supervisory planning, examination priorities, and future rulemaking. Firms that fail to engage or prepare may face higher remediation costs later if the SEC follows through on disclosure, enforcement, or technology changes.
The CFTC has implemented a technical enhancement to its electronic Portal system that allows exchanges to submit a single set of product self‑certification documents covering multiple closely related contracts in one consolidated filing. This matters for compliance teams at CFTC‑registered exchanges because it changes the *operational* process for Part 40 product submissions, reduces duplicative documentation, and will require updates to internal procedures, templates, and controls governing self‑certifications.
Key dates
20 March 2025
– Executive Order 14243 is issued, setting an administrative objective to eliminate bureaucratic duplication and inefficiency, which this CFTC enhancement is designed to support
01 June 2026
– CFTC announces and launches the Portal enhancement permitting consolidated product self‑certification submissions for multiple closely related contracts
Suggested considerations
Review and obtain the updated submission instructions on the CFTC Portal and ensure legal, compliance, and operations staff understand the consolidated filing functionality and any new formatting or data‑entry requirements.
Update internal product approval and submission procedures (including Part 40 playbooks and checklists) to reflect the ability to file a single set of documents for multiple closely related contracts, and to define when consolidation is appropriate.
Revise internal documentation templates (e.g., product term sheets, legal analyses, core principle compliance memos, risk assessments) so that they can explicitly support multiple closely related contracts in a single package where relevant.
Adjust governance workflows (approvals, sign‑offs, and quality checks) so that:
Each contract included in a consolidated submission is clearly identified and traceable, and
What changed
- The CFTC Portal now supports consolidated product self‑certification submissions, enabling exchanges to file a single set of certification documents that apply to multiple closely related contracts...
Exchanges are no longer required to upload multiple identical copies of supporting product certification documents when listing several closely related contracts; one shared documentation set can be...
The enhancement is framed as an administrative/technical change to the filing process; it does not alter substantive legal standards for product self‑certification under the Commodity Exchange Act or...
The CFTC has issued updated submission instructions on the Portal site specifying how to use the new consolidated filing functionality, including formatting and process guidance.
Dedicated technical and non‑technical CFTC contacts have been identified (Howard Rosen for system use; Chris Goodman for product submission process questions), signaling that the Commission expects...
Compliance impact
Non‑compliance with the updated filing process is unlikely to result in direct enforcement, but incorrect or incomplete use of consolidated submissions could delay product listings, prompt CFTC information requests, or lead to questions regarding the adequacy and completeness of self‑certification packages. Over time, persistent deficiencies in product submissions could increase regulatory scrutiny of a venue’s compliance controls and governance around new product listings.
This is an informational announcement regarding CFTC leadership appointment. Dr. Schorno's role as Chief Economist will focus on economic analysis and regulatory cost-benefit analysis across derivatives markets, affecting capital markets participants.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed the rescission of overly burdensome and costly rules that require companies to provide certain climate-related information in their registration statements and annual reports. The Commission’s…
AI Analysis
The SEC has issued a **proposal to rescind its climate‑related disclosure rules** that currently require registrants to provide specified climate information in registration statements and Form 10‑K‑type annual reports. If finalized, this would materially reduce prescriptive federal climate disclosure obligations, but compliance teams must carefully manage the transition because existing rules remain in force until any rescission is adopted and effective, and investors, proxy advisors, and other regimes (notably EU and state-level) will still expect robust climate disclosure.
Key dates
TBD (est. late 2026 or later)
– Potential SEC adoption of a final rule rescinding, modifying, or replacing the climate‑related disclosure rules, subject to consideration of comments and potential legal challenges
29 May 2026
– SEC issues press release and proposing release announcing the proposed rescission of the climate‑related disclosure rules and opens the public consultation
TBD (comment deadline, est. mid‑2026) Deadline
– Public comment period expected to close a set number of days (typically 30–60) after publication of the proposing release in the Federal Register; the precise date will be specified in the Federal Register notice
TBD (effective date, est. 30–60 days after Federal Register publication of final rule) Deadline
– Effective date of any final rescission; compliance with the existing climate rules would continue to be required for reporting periods and filings before this date
Suggested considerations
Maintain full compliance with the existing SEC climate‑related disclosure rules in registration statements and annual reports until a final rescission (if any) becomes effective, and do not scale back disclosures based solely on the proposal.
Prepare internal briefing materials for the board, audit committee, and senior management explaining the proposed rescission, its potential implications, and the need to maintain current disclosures in the interim.
Coordinate with legal, finance, sustainability, and investor relations teams to develop a contingency disclosure strategy that anticipates both outcomes: (i) rescission is finalized and prescriptive line items disappear, or (ii) the rule is modified or retained following comments or litigation.
Review and update risk factor, MD&A, and business section drafting guidance to ensure that material climate‑related risks and opportunities continue to be addressed under general disclosure standards even if specialized climate items are removed.
Engage external counsel and proxy‑advisory or ESG stakeholders to assess how reduced prescriptive SEC climate requirements will interact with EU, UK and state‑level climate disclosure regimes, and align internal reporting processes to meet the most stringent applicable framework.
What changed
- The SEC proposes to rescind the 2024–2025 climate‑related disclosure rules that mandated detailed climate information in Securities Act registration statements and Exchange Act annual reports,...
The proposal would remove line‑item requirements for climate‑related governance and oversight by the board and management that had been added to Regulation S‑K and related forms.
The proposal would eliminate prescriptive disclosure of climate‑related risks over specified time horizons (short, medium, long term) and their impacts on strategy, business model, and outlook that...
The proposal would rescind obligations to provide certain climate‑related financial metrics in audited financial statements, including disaggregation of climate‑related impacts in footnotes, thereby...
The proposal would eliminate any mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disclosures that were part of the climate rules, including Scopes that were required for large filers, returning GHG...
Compliance impact
Non‑compliance remains significant because, until any rescission is effective, issuers are expected to meet existing climate disclosure requirements and can face enforcement, private litigation, and restatement risk for material misstatements or omissions. Even after rescission, climate‑related statements will remain subject to the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and to scrutiny from investors, proxy advisors, and other regulators.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting at the SEC Headquarters in Washington D.C. on June 4 at 10 a.m. ET to discuss private markets, passive index funds, and recommendations regarding fund…
Why this matters
SEC Investor Advisory Committee meeting announcement discussing private markets and passive index funds. This is informational content about a public meeting, not a regulatory requirement or enforcement action.
PRESS RELEASE | MAY 27, 2026 FDIC-Insured Institutions Reported Return on Assets of 1.26 Percent and Net Income of $80.5 Billion in First Quarter 2026 WASHINGTON— The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today released the results of its latest Quarterly Banking Profile , a comprehensive summary of financial…
Why this matters
The FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile is a standard periodic publication summarizing financial results from insured institutions. It contains no new rules, guidance, enforcement actions, or regulatory requirements—only historical performance data (Q1 2026 results) and industry statistics.
PRESS RELEASE | MAY 22, 2026 Agencies Publish Resolution Plan Feedback Letters for Certain Domestic and Foreign Banking Organizations WASHINGTON—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Reserve Board today published feedback letters for several resolution plans submitted in July 2025. Resolution…
Why this matters
This is a press release announcing the publication of resolution plan (living will) feedback letters for 2025 submissions from the eight largest domestic banks and 56 foreign banking organizations. The agencies found no shortcomings and confirmed prior derivatives-related weaknesses were addressed.
STATEMENT | MAY 22, 2026 Statement by Chairman Travis Hill on Title I Feedback Letters and Resolution-Related Reforms Today, the FDIC and Federal Reserve Board announced the approval of joint agency feedback letters in response to the 2025 resolution plan submissions of the eight U.S. global systemically important…
AI Analysis
Chairman Travis Hill said the FDIC and Federal Reserve Board approved joint feedback letters on the 2025 Title I resolution plan submissions of the eight U.S. GSIBs and 56 foreign-based firms. He also signaled a broader recalibration of large-bank resolution policy, including forthcoming amendments to the FDIC’s IDI Rule and possible changes to other resolution-related rules and the Title I planning process.
Key dates
2026-05-22
FDIC and Federal Reserve Board approved joint agency feedback letters on the 2025 resolution plan submissions; Chairman Hill issued his statement
2026-06-01
Expected timeframe for the FDIC to propose amendments to the IDI Rule, described as coming in the following weeks
Suggested considerations
Compliance and resolution-planning teams may wish to review the forthcoming FDIC IDI Rule proposal closely for potential changes to large-bank resolution expectations.
Firms subject to Title I planning may wish to reassess prior resolution-plan assumptions, including any areas likely to be revisited through joint FDIC-Federal Reserve feedback.
Large banking organizations may wish to map which existing resolution-related policies or internal playbooks could be affected if the FDIC rescinds or modifies current requirements.
Teams may wish to monitor whether the FDIC and Federal Reserve Board signal changes to the structure, scope, or cadence of future Title I submissions and feedback letters.
What changed
The announcement does not create a new binding rule or immediate compliance deadline. Instead, it confirms supervisory feedback on the 2025 resolution plans for the eight U.S. GSIBs and 56 foreign-based firms and signals that the FDIC is actively reevaluating its resolution framework. Chairman Hill said the FDIC plans to propose amendments to the IDI Rule for large insured depository institutions in the coming weeks, is reviewing other resolution-related rules and policies, and expects to engage the Federal Reserve Board on reconsidering elements of the Title I resolution planning process.
Compliance impact
The immediate practical impact is moderate: the statement signals policy direction rather than imposing a new requirement. The main compliance risk is forward-looking, because the FDIC is telegraphing changes that could alter resolution planning expectations, supervisory feedback, and large-bank preparedness standards.
On 19 May 2026, the CFTC Division of Enforcement issued a new cooperation advisory that supersedes all prior CFTC cooperation and self‑reporting advisories and policies. For compliance teams, this resets the playbook for how voluntary self‑reporting, cooperation, remediation, and restitution/disgorgement are assessed for mitigation credit, including a clarified path to potential declinations where specific conditions are met.
Key dates
19 May 2026
- CFTC Division of Enforcement issues the new cooperation advisory, which supersedes all prior cooperation and self‑reporting advisories and becomes the operative policy for ongoing and future enforcement matters
Suggested considerations
Identify and catalogue all existing internal policies, playbooks, and checklists relating to CFTC investigations, dawn raids, inquiries, self‑reporting, and cooperation, and amend them to reflect the new advisory’s superseding status.
Update the firm’s enforcement‑response framework to explicitly incorporate the new declination pathway, including clear decision criteria for when and how to voluntarily self‑report potential CFTC violations.
Establish or refine escalation triggers for potential insider trading, fraud, manipulation, and market abuse in CFTC‑regulated markets to ensure that issues can be investigated and elevated quickly enough to support “prompt” and “voluntary” self‑reporting.
Design and document a structured internal investigation protocol that can generate the level of factual development, analysis, and documentation needed to demonstrate “full cooperation,” including protocols for sharing findings, data, and analytics with the CFTC where appropriate.
Implement procedures to rapidly secure, preserve, and collect relevant trading records, communications (including messaging apps), surveillance alerts, and algorithmic trading data so that the firm can cooperate effectively and avoid any appearance of obstruction or delay.
What changed
- The CFTC Division of Enforcement has adopted a new, unified cooperation policy that expressly supersedes all prior Division cooperation and self‑reporting advisories (including the 2017 corporate...
The new advisory establishes a clear “declination pathway” under which, absent aggravating circumstances, a respondent that voluntarily self‑reports, fully cooperates, timely and appropriately...
The advisory formalizes that voluntary self‑reporting is a central prerequisite for the highest level of credit, distinguishing between cases with self‑reports (potential declination or high...
The policy confirms that “full cooperation” will be a necessary condition for a declination, which in practice will require proactive, resource‑intensive engagement with Enforcement beyond mere...
The advisory codifies that timely and appropriate remediation is a separate and indispensable requirement for top‑tier outcomes, emphasizing that firms must implement corrective measures before...
Compliance impact
The impact is high: the advisory reshapes incentives around self‑reporting and cooperation and directly affects whether firms can obtain declinations or material penalty reductions in CFTC enforcement actions. Failure to align investigation, remediation, and reporting practices with the new framework may result in higher civil monetary penalties, loss of declination eligibility, and more intrusive enforcement scrutiny.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to its rules and forms governing registered offerings that are designed to increase efficiency, flexibility, and cost savings for public companies while maintaining robust investor…
AI Analysis
The SEC has issued a proposing release, “SEC Proposes Transformative Reforms to Help Public Companies Conduct Registered Offerings and Simplify Reporting Requirements,” that would overhaul key aspects of the Securities Act of 1933 registered offering framework and associated Exchange Act reporting. The proposal is aimed at streamlining shelf registration, communications, and periodic reporting to reduce cost and friction for seasoned public companies while preserving core disclosure and liability safeguards, so issuer compliance teams will need to reassess their entire offering and disclosure playbook if the rules are adopted.
Key dates
TBD 2026
– Federal Register publication of the SEC proposing release “SEC Proposes Transformative Reforms to Help Public Companies Conduct Registered Offerings and Simplify Reporting Requirements,” starting the formal comment period
TBD 2026 Deadline
– End of SEC comment period (typically 30–60 days after Federal Register publication; exact deadline to be confirmed in the notice)
TBD (est. late 2026 or 2027)
– Potential adoption of final rules by the SEC, following review of comment letters
TBD (effective date)
– Final rules become effective on a date specified in the adopting release (often 30–60 days after Federal Register publication of the final rules)
TBD (compliance date / transition period) Deadline
– Staggered or delayed compliance dates for specific form and disclosure changes, expected to give registrants time to update registration statements, shelf programs, and periodic reporting templates
Suggested considerations
Monitor the Federal Register and SEC website for the full proposing release text and the precise comment deadline for this rulemaking.
Coordinate among legal, finance, and investor relations teams to prepare and submit a comment letter to the SEC addressing practical implications of the proposed offering and reporting reforms for your issuer, including any concerns about liability, operational feasibility, and investor impact.
Inventory all existing shelf registration statements (including automatic shelves), universal shelves, and continuous‑offering programs and identify where proposed changes to shelf mechanics, incorporation by reference, or prospectus updating could affect structure, timing, or disclosure.
Review current offering communication practices, including use of free writing prospectuses, roadshow materials, and research reports, and map them against the proposed expanded communications safe harbors to determine what additional flexibilities could be used in future offerings.
Assess your firm’s use of Exchange Act reports incorporated by reference into Securities Act registration statements and plan to revise drafting and review procedures to take advantage of streamlined incorporation while managing Securities Act liability for incorporated information.
What changed
*(Based on the SEC’s description and consistent with prior offering‑reform initiatives; specific rule and form cites will need to be confirmed against the proposing release once reviewed in full.)*
The SEC proposes to modernize the shelf registration process for Form S‑3 and F‑3 issuers, including expanded use of automatic or “universal” shelves and greater flexibility to add classes of...
The proposal would streamline incorporation by reference, allowing more categories of Exchange Act reports and exhibits to be incorporated into Securities Act registration statements and prospectuses...
The SEC proposes to expand the use of “access equals delivery” for final prospectuses, permitting issuers in additional circumstances to satisfy Securities Act Section 5(b)(2) delivery requirements...
The reforms would broaden the range of permissible communications in connection with registered offerings, including issuer and underwriter use of certain factual and forward‑looking information,...
Compliance impact
Because the proposal seeks mainly to reduce friction and modernize existing processes rather than impose new prohibitions, the risk of traditional “non‑compliance” arises primarily from failing to adapt offering and disclosure practices to the updated framework, potentially leading to inefficient capital‑raising, errors in form usage, or Securities Act liability from misapplied incorporation and communication rules. Issuers and intermediaries that do not update their procedures once rules are finalized could face increased regulatory scrutiny, offering delays, or remedial filings.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today rescinded a policy, codified in Rule 202.5(e) of its informal rules of procedures, stating that when it chooses to settle an enforcement action in which a sanction is imposed, it will not settle unless the…
AI Analysis
The SEC has rescinded its long‑standing “no‑deny” settlement policy, previously codified in Rule 202.5(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, which had prohibited settling respondents from publicly denying the Commission’s allegations in cases resolved on a “neither admit nor deny” basis. This materially alters how firms can speak about resolved SEC enforcement matters and will directly affect settlement negotiations, collateral consequences analysis, and post‑settlement communications and disclosure strategies.
Key dates
18 May 2026
- The SEC issues the press release announcing rescission of its “no‑deny” policy codified in Rule 202.5(e), signalling immediate policy change for new enforcement settlements
TBD
- Any subsequent SEC guidance, FAQs, or amendments to the Rules of Practice or Enforcement Manual that clarify how post‑settlement denials will be treated in future cases may be issued at a later date
Suggested considerations
Review existing internal playbooks for handling SEC investigations and settlements and update them to reflect the rescission of Rule 202.5(e), including how settlement language on admissions, denials, and public statements is negotiated.
For matters currently under SEC investigation or in active settlement negotiations, direct outside and in‑house counsel to reassess settlement strategy, including whether to seek greater flexibility for post‑settlement denials or clarifications in the consent language and undertakings.
Conduct an inventory of significant historical SEC settlements that included “no‑deny” provisions and identify where ongoing communications plans, disclosure narratives, or litigation strategies may be constrained by legacy language.
For high‑impact historical orders with restrictive “no‑deny” clauses, obtain legal advice on whether and how to approach the SEC about potential modification or clarification of those provisions in light of the Commission’s changed policy.
Train senior management, board members, and spokespersons on the revised SEC posture, emphasising that while denials may now be more permissible, inaccurate or overly aggressive denials could adversely affect ongoing private litigation, insurance recoveries, or relationships with other regulators.
What changed
- The SEC has rescinded the policy in Rule 202.5(e) of its informal Rules of Practice that conditioned settlements involving sanctions on the respondent’s agreement not to publicly deny the...
Settling parties in SEC enforcement actions may now have greater scope to make public statements that deny or contest aspects of the SEC’s allegations, subject to the specific language of each...
The traditional “neither admit nor deny” construct will no longer automatically include a built‑in prohibition on denials, which means the SEC staff will need to negotiate any desired limitations on...
Communications and disclosure provisions in SEC settlement papers (including “undertakings” and clauses governing press releases and investor communications) are likely to become more tailored and...
The rescission increases the importance of alignment between legal, compliance, and communications teams when crafting public statements following an SEC settlement, because statements that deny...
Compliance impact
Non‑compliance will not typically arise from the policy rescission itself, but from making public statements that conflict with specific settlement terms, are misleading to investors, or undermine other legal obligations. Missteps in this area can trigger renewed SEC scrutiny, private securities litigation exposure, reputational damage, and potential challenges with insurers and other regulators.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed rule and form amendments that would give public companies the option of filing semiannual reports in lieu of quarterly reports to meet their interim reporting obligations under the federal securities…
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) jointly proposed amendments to reduce private fund reporting burdens while enabling the continued collection of necessary and appropriate information. The…
AI Analysis
The SEC and CFTC have jointly proposed amendments to Form PF to reduce reporting burdens for private fund advisers by streamlining data requirements, simplifying calculations, and adjusting filing thresholds, while preserving essential information for systemic risk monitoring and investor protection. This matters for compliance professionals as it offers relief from prior expansions to Form PF (adopted in 2024), potentially lowering operational costs amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny, but requires monitoring during the comment period to influence final rules. https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-40-sec-cftc-jointly-propose-amendments-reduce-private-fund-reporting-burdens
Key dates
Nov. 17, 2027 Deadline
Extended compliance date for Names Rule-related Form N-PORT reporting (fund groups ≥$10B AUM); ; related relief via separate SEC action
May 18, 2028 Deadline
Extended compliance date for Names Rule-related Form N-PORT reporting (fund groups <$10B AUM)
60 days after Federal Register publication (est. mid
2026) - End of public comment period; ; proposing release to be published soon after April 2026 announcement
TBD (post
comment, est. late 2026/early 2027) - Adoption of final amendments; , subject to notice-and-comment revisions
Suggested considerations
Review Proposal: Download full proposing release post-Federal Register publication; assess current Form PF processes against proposed simplifications (e.g., audit AUM calculations, exposure schedules).
Submit Comments: File detailed feedback by comment deadline, focusing on burden estimates, implementation feasibility, and alternatives (e.g., via SEC's online portal); prioritize if your firm files quarterly/detailed sections.
Update Systems: Map current reporting workflows to proposed changes; pilot simplified data pulls for inflows, performance, and structures; prepare for potential transition rules if adopted.
Monitor Extensions: Track related no-action relief (e.g., CFTC Letter 25-50 for interim burden reduction) and Form N-PORT extensions.
Internal Training: Educate compliance teams on threshold changes and event reporting tweaks to avoid over-reporting during transition.
What changed
- Streamlined Reporting Items: Amendments propose removing or simplifying certain Form PF fields, such as reducing detailed breakdowns of investment exposures, counterparty data, and performance...
Adjusted Filing Thresholds: Raise thresholds for "large hedge fund advisers" and "large private equity advisers" (e.g., from $1.5B to potentially higher AUM levels for certain funds), limiting who...
Simplified Calculations: Eliminate complex aggregation rules for master-feeder/parallel structures, revert to prior methods for inflows/outflows and AUM (e.g., no double-counting exclusions for...
Event Reporting Relief: Propose delaying or narrowing 72-hour current event reporting (e.g., for large hedge funds under new Section 6), responding to burden complaints from 2024 amendments.
These...
Compliance impact
Urgency: High – Proposals signal imminent relief from 2024 Form PF expansions (effective 2025+), which added significant burdens like 72-hour events and granular exposures, but firms must act on comments now (within ~60 days) to shape outcomes and avoid sunk costs in current systems. Matters because it reverses prior increases (e.g., separate master-feeder reporting, detailed strategies), potentially saving millions in annual external costs, but non-response risks locking in suboptimal rules amid FSOC scrutiny.
This regulatory update from the CFTC and SEC proposes amendments to Form PF, the confidential reporting form for certain SEC-registered investment advisers to private funds. The changes aim to reduce reporting burdens for private funds, including raising filing thresholds and streamlining requirements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the launch of Material Matters With SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, a new podcast that provides stakeholders and the investing public with exclusive interviews and insights around the agency’s policy and…
Why this matters
This regulatory update announces the launch of a new SEC podcast that will provide insights and interviews related to the agency's policies and activities. As an informational announcement, the urgency is low, but the content is relevant to capital markets, investment management, and wealth management firms, as well...
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee announced that it will hold a meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to explore ways to encourage more companies to go public.The meeting will be open…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC's Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee indicates a focus on encouraging more companies to go public, which impacts capital markets, reporting, and licensing requirements for broker-dealers and fintech firms involved in public offerings.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a concept release soliciting public comment in support of a comprehensive review of the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) and other audit trails and related data sources currently used in the regulation of…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC is relevant for capital markets participants, particularly broker-dealers and asset managers, as it seeks public comment on the Consolidated Audit Trail and other data sources used for market surveillance and reporting.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that David Woodcock has been appointed Director of the Division of Enforcement, effective May 4, 2026. Mr. Woodcock is currently a partner in the Dallas and Washington, D.C. offices of Gibson, Dunn…
AI Analysis
The SEC has appointed David Woodcock, a Gibson Dunn partner and former SEC Regional Director, as the new Director of its Division of Enforcement, effective May 4, 2026, following the abrupt resignation of prior Director Margaret Ryan after six months. This leadership change signals a "significant course correction" under Chairman Paul Atkins, emphasizing investor protection and market integrity over prior aggressive enforcement approaches. Compliance professionals should monitor this closely, as it may shift enforcement priorities, potentially de-emphasizing certain areas like crypto crackdowns while intensifying focus on accounting fraud and financial reporting violations.
Key dates
March 2026
- Prior Director Margaret Ryan resigned after approximately six months in the role amid reported disagreements on enforcement priorities
May 4, 2026
- David Woodcock assumes role as Director of the Division of Enforcement, succeeding Acting Director Sam Waldon
Suggested considerations
Review current exposure to SEC enforcement matters, particularly in financial reporting, accounting, and disclosures, in light of Woodcock's expertise.
Monitor SEC announcements post-May 4, 2026, for signals on evolving priorities, such as reduced crypto focus or enhanced fraud detection.
Enhance internal compliance training on investor protection and market integrity cases, aligning with the stated "course correction."
Engage external counsel familiar with Woodcock's tenure (e.g., Gibson Dunn alumni or Fort Worth Regional Office veterans) for strategic advice.
What changed
There are no direct regulatory changes or new requirements in this announcement; it is a personnel appointment rather than a rulemaking or policy shift. However, SEC Chairman Atkins highlighted the Division's ongoing "course correction" to prioritize cases aligned with congressional intent for meaningful investor protection and market integrity, moving away from prior Gensler-era emphases. Woodcock's background in securities enforcement, financial reporting, and audit task forces suggests potential heightened scrutiny in those areas, though no specific mandates are outlined.
Compliance impact
Urgency: Medium. This matters because leadership transitions at the Enforcement Division can reshape investigative priorities, resource allocation, and case selection for a team of over 1,000 professionals, influencing enforcement trends across securities violations. While not imposing new obligations, the shift from prior leadership—coupled with Atkins' emphasis on targeted investor protection—could reduce risks in deprioritized areas (e.g., crypto) but heighten them in core areas like accounting fraud, warranting vigilance ahead of the May 4 effective date.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced enforcement results for the fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2025.Central to an effective enforcement program is determining which cases to bring and responsibly stewarding Commission…
AI Analysis
The SEC's announcement details enforcement results for Fiscal Year 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), highlighting a significant slowdown in actions to 313 cases—the lowest in a decade—and $808 million in settlements, down 45% from FY 2024, amid leadership changes and a shift to "back-to-basics" priorities like retail investor protection. This matters for compliance professionals as it signals reduced enforcement volume under new Chair Paul Atkins, potential policy resets (e.g., crypto case dismissals), and a focus on core misconduct like fiduciary breaches and insider trading, influencing risk prioritization and resource allocation.
Key dates
October 1, 2024
December 31, 2024; - FY 2025 Q1; record 200 enforcement actions filed
January 20, 2025
- Inauguration Day; marker for post-transition enforcement slowdown (only 4 public company actions afterward)
April 21, 2025
- Paul Atkins sworn in as SEC Chair
September 30, 2025
- End of FY 2025; period covered by the announcement
Suggested considerations
Review and strengthen controls around core risks: insider trading, offering fraud, fiduciary duties, and retail investor disclosures.
Self-assess exposure to legacy Gensler-era cases, especially crypto-related, anticipating potential dismissals or settlements.
Enhance self-reporting, remediation, and cooperation protocols, as SEC continues to credit these in resolutions.
Monitor SEC task forces on crypto and cross-border fraud for emerging priorities.
Update firm-wide risk assessments to deprioritize novel theories (e.g., shadow trading) in favor of traditional misconduct.
What changed
This is not a rulemaking publication introducing new regulations but an annual enforcement summary reflecting operational shifts rather than formal regulatory changes. Key developments include:
Enforcement volume decline: 313 standalone actions (down 27% from 431 in FY 2024), with only 4 new actions against public companies post-January 20, 2025 (93% of 56 public company cases initiated...
Monetary penalties reduced: $808 million in settlements (lowest since 2012) and record-low $108 million in disgorgement.
Policy shifts: Dismissals of high-profile crypto cases (e.g., Coinbase, Binance); new task forces on crypto and cross-border fraud; emphasis on "bread-and-butter" cases like offering fraud, insider...
Leadership and staffing impact: Post-Gensler transition (Uyeda as Acting Chair, Atkins sworn in April 2025); ~15% Enforcement staff reduction; record Q1 actions (200 total, October-December 2024)...
Compliance impact
Urgency: Medium - This reflects a transitional slowdown and policy pivot rather than imminent threats or new rules, reducing short-term enforcement pressure but requiring strategic recalibration for sustained "back-to-basics" focus on investor protection. Matters due to signaling under new leadership: firms can reallocate resources from prior high-volume pursuits (e.g., crypto) to core compliance areas, but must prepare for targeted actions on fraud and fiduciary issues amid staffing changes.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the agenda and panelists for its April 16, 2026, roundtable on options market structure.The roundtable will be held at the SEC’s headquarters at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., from 9:00 a.m.…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC announces a roundtable discussion on options market structure, which is relevant for capital markets participants such as broker-dealers and asset managers.
This regulatory update from the CFTC involves a case against a former hedge fund manager for fraudulent swap valuation practices, resulting in a $2.2 million penalty and other sanctions.
This regulatory update from the CFTC relates to enforcement action against the former head of engineering at the crypto exchange FTX. It covers topics such as fraud, misappropriation, and cooperation with regulators, which are relevant to crypto firms and fintech companies.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Assistance (OIEA) today announced that as part of April’s National Financial Literacy Month it will highlight financial planning tools and resources on Investor.gov to…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC focuses on providing financial planning tools and resources to investors, which is relevant for firms in the banking, investment management, and capital markets sectors.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today approved an amendment to the National Market System Plan governing the Consolidated Audit Trail (“CAT”) and provided exemptive relief from certain requirements of Rule 17a-1 under the Securities Exchange Act…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC relates to the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT), which is a regulatory reporting system for the U.S. securities markets. The update indicates changes to reduce the costs of the CAT, which is relevant for broker-dealers and other firms that are required to report to the CAT system.
This regulatory update from the CFTC is relevant for capital markets firms, particularly broker-dealers, as it amends no-action positions related to the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
The speech discusses the CFTC's priorities under the new chairman, including harmonization efforts with the SEC, reevaluating Dodd-Frank regulations, and addressing new areas of responsibility such as AI, crypto, and prediction markets.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today issued an interpretation clarifying how the federal securities laws apply to certain crypto assets and transactions involving crypto assets. This is a major step in the Commission’s efforts to provide…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC provides clarity on how federal securities laws apply to crypto assets and related transactions. It is a significant development for crypto firms and fintechs operating in this space, as it provides more regulatory certainty around the treatment of different types of crypto assets.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) published a new report on security based swap dealers (SBSDs) and updated statistics and data visualizations on initial public offerings (IPOs), follow-on registered…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC covers data and statistics on public and private securities offerings, municipal advisors, transfer agents, and securities-based swap dealers.
This regulatory update from the CFTC and SEC provides important clarification on the application of federal securities laws to crypto assets, which is critical for crypto exchanges, fintech firms, and other market participants operating in the digital asset space.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11, which sets out certain information gathering and review requirements for broker-dealers that publish quotations for, or maintain a continuous quoted market in…
AI Analysis
The SEC is proposing amendments to Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11, which governs broker-dealer quotation requirements in OTC markets outside national securities exchanges, aiming to update information review standards for enhanced investor protection. This matters for compliance professionals as it could impose stricter due diligence on broker-dealers quoting OTC securities, building on 2020 amendments amid ongoing fixed income implementation challenges, potentially reducing fraud in retail-heavy OTC markets. https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-28-sec-proposes-amendments-exchange-act-rule-15c2-11
Key dates
TBD (post
Federal Register publication) - Proposed comment period closes; SEC seeks input on amendments.; (Inferred from "consultation" type; exact date not in summary.) https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-28-sec-proposes-amendments-exchange-act-rule-15c2-11
Suggested considerations
Review processes: Broker-dealers must verify current issuer info (financials for last 2 years, filings) is publicly available (EDGAR/website) before quoting; annual checks for Phase 3 fixed income.
Exception compliance: Limit piggyback to priced quotes, avoid 60-day post-suspension, cap shell quoting at 18 months.
Systems updates: Implement OTC quote surveillance for fixed income/private securities; document reviews.
Issuer coordination: OTC issuers ensure info on EDGAR/website; monitor no-action phases.
Comment submission: Firms respond to proposal via SEC portal during consultation.
What changed
Rule 15c2-11 requires broker-dealers to review current, publicly available issuer information (e.g., via EDGAR or issuer websites) before publishing or submitting quotations for OTC securities, with exceptions like piggybacking limited to scenarios with one-way priced quotes, post-trading suspension restrictions (60 days), and time-bound quoting for shell companies (18 months).
Compliance impact
Urgency: High – Builds on enforced 2020/2021 changes with fixed income phases expired (Phase 3 active since 2024), pressuring broker-dealers on ongoing quotes amid SEC scrutiny; proposals could tighten "publicly available" standards or exceptions, risking enforcement for non-compliant OTC activity in fraud-prone markets. Matters as OTC is retail-dominated, amplifying gatekeeper liability; operational overhauls needed now to avoid quoting halts.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Judge Margaret A. Ryan has resigned from her role as Director of the Division of Enforcement. Principal Deputy Director Sam Waldon has been named Acting Director of the Division, effective March…
AI Analysis
Judge Margaret A. Ryan, who assumed the role of SEC Enforcement Division Director in August 2025 and signaled a significant recalibration of enforcement priorities toward fraud and market integrity while reducing enforcement actions for technical violations, has resigned from the agency. Principal Deputy Director Sam Waldon has been named Acting Director, creating immediate uncertainty regarding continuity of the enforcement approach that was just articulated in February 2026 and may signal a shift in the SEC's enforcement trajectory going forward.
Key dates
February 11, 2026
- Director Ryan delivered public remarks outlining enforcement priorities and Wells process commitments
February 24, 2026
- SEC announced comprehensive updates to Enforcement Manual (first update since 2017)
March 17, 2026
- Judge Margaret A. Ryan's resignation announced; Sam Waldon named Acting Director (effective immediately)
Ongoing
- Four-week timeline for post-Wells meetings with senior leadership remains in effect pending Acting Director's confirmation of policy continuity
Suggested considerations
*Immediate (Next 30 Days):
*Monitor Acting Director's statements: Compliance teams should closely track any public remarks or guidance from Acting Director Sam Waldon regarding enforcement priorities and procedural expectations.
*Assess Wells submissions in progress: For entities with pending Wells submissions, evaluate whether the change in leadership creates opportunities to supplement submissions or request expedited meetings under the four-week timeline.
*Review investigation status: Entities in early-stage investigations should assess whether the leadership transition may affect investigation trajectory or resolution opportunities.
*Update compliance calendars: Ensure all enforcement-related deadlines and procedural requirements under the updated Enforcement Manual remain tracked and current.
What changed
The resignation itself does not constitute a regulatory change, but it creates operational uncertainty regarding the enforcement priorities and procedural reforms that Director Ryan had recently...
Reduced enforcement for technical violations: Director Ryan had signaled that routine violations concerning reporting requirements, recordkeeping, and internal accounting controls should not...
"Middle ground" approach: For non-fraud violations posing investor or market integrity risks, the Division was to pursue resolutions emphasizing remediation over punishment.
Continued fraud focus: The Division was to maintain rigorous enforcement on fraud, insider trading, market manipulation, and scams targeting retail investors.
Enforcement Manual Updates (Effective...
Four-week timeline for post-Wells meetings with senior leadership (Associate Director level or above)
This regulatory update announces the appointment of a new Director of the Division of Data and Chief Data Officer at the CFTC. This is a significant leadership change that will impact data strategy, analytics, and oversight across the derivatives markets.
This announcement describes a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the CFTC and SEC to coordinate oversight and promote regulatory clarity, particularly in areas related to crypto assets and other emerging financial technologies.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting at the SEC Headquarters in Washington D.C. on March 12 at 10 a.m. ET to discuss public company disclosure reform, fund proxy voting, and a potential…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC is relevant to investment management firms, broker-dealers, and wealth managers, as it discusses public company disclosure reform, fund proxy voting, and potential new regulations.
This regulatory update announces the appointment of a new Director of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the CFTC. This is relevant for banking, capital markets, and consumer credit firms, as the CFTC oversees these sectors.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted final rule and form amendments to reflect the requirements of the recently enacted Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act (HFIA), which will increase transparency into the holdings and transactions…
AI Analysis
The SEC adopted final rules on February 27, 2026, implementing the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act (HFIA), which extends Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting requirements to directors and officers of foreign private issuers (FPIs) with Exchange Act Section 12-registered equity securities, effective March 18, 2026. This aligns FPI insiders' disclosure obligations with those of U.S. domestic issuers, enhancing market transparency while exempting >10% holders from reporting. Compliance professionals must prioritize preparation as the deadline approaches in two weeks from today (March 3, 2026).
Key dates
December 18, 2025
HFIA enacted into law
February 27, 2026
SEC adopts final rules (ahead of 90-day mandate)
March 18, 2026 Deadline
Effective date; directors/officers of existing FPIs must file initial Form 3; new directors/officers file within 10 days of appointment; ongoing Forms 4 within 2 business days of transactions
Ongoing
Annual Form 5 for unreported transactions; adopting release published in Federal Register (date TBD)
Suggested considerations
For FPIs and Insiders: Identify all directors/officers subject to Section 16; implement processes for electronic/English-language filings via EDGAR; file initial Form 3 by March 18, 2026 (or sooner for new appointees); establish transaction monitoring for prompt Form 4 filings.
Training and Policies: Update insider trading policies, provide training on forms/reporting timelines; designate EDGAR filers with proper contacts.
Systems Preparation: Integrate with trading/brokerage systems for real-time ownership tracking; prepare for Form 5 annual reconciliations.
Monitor Exemptions: Watch for SEC exemptive relief based on foreign law equivalency; assume compliance required absent announcement.
What changed
- Extension of Section 16(a) Reporting: Directors and officers of FPIs must now file Forms 3 (initial beneficial ownership), 4 (changes in ownership), and 5 (annual summary) electronically and in...
Rule Amendments:
- Rule 3a12-3(b): Removes full Section 16 exemption for FPI insiders; retains exemptions only for Section 16(b) short-swing profits and Section 16(c) short-selling prohibitions....
Form Updates: Forms 3, 4, and 5 amended to include non-U.S. issuers and reporters; technical changes to instructions for EDGAR support contacts and paper filing addresses.
Exemptive Authority: SEC may exempt persons/securities/transactions if foreign laws impose "substantially similar" requirements, but no exemptions granted yet; staff evaluating.
Compliance impact
Urgency: Critical – With the March 18, 2026, effective date just two weeks away (as of March 3, 2026), non-compliance risks SEC enforcement, including public disclosure failures and potential civil penalties under Section 16. This materially heightens governance burdens for FPIs, demands immediate system/process overhauls, and aligns foreign insiders with U.S. standards to prevent opacity in cross-border listings.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Services Agency of Japan (FSA) convened the Spring SEC-FSA Financial Regulatory Dialogue in Tokyo on Feb. 27, 2026.The SEC–FSA Dialogue builds upon longstanding efforts between the two…
Why this matters
This regulatory dialogue between the SEC and FSA covers topics related to prudential requirements, reporting and disclosure, and authorization and licensing for financial firms across banking, investment management, and capital markets sectors.
This regulatory update from the CFTC provides additional no-action relief for certain commodity pool operator (CPO) delegation arrangements, which is relevant for investment managers and hedge funds operating commodity pools.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced it will hold a roundtable on March 4 to discuss private market valuations and responsible retailization.The roundtable will be hosted by the Division of Investment Management from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC is focused on private market valuations and responsible retailization, which impacts investment managers, broker-dealers, fintechs, and crypto exchanges that provide access to private markets.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement today announced significant updates to its Enforcement Manual. These updates underscore the Commission’s ongoing commitment to fairness, transparency, and efficiency in the investigations…
AI Analysis
The SEC's Division of Enforcement announced updates to its Enforcement Manual on February 24, 2026, focusing on enhancing fairness, transparency, and efficiency in investigations through standardized procedures like the Wells process and settlement considerations. These changes, the first major revisions since 2017, introduce uniform timelines and best practices to streamline resolutions and improve dialogue with investigated parties. Compliance professionals should prioritize this as it directly affects how firms respond to SEC inquiries, potentially accelerating outcomes and reducing uncertainties in enforcement actions.
Key dates
February 24, 2026
- Updates to Enforcement Manual announced and effective; last major revision was 2017, with annual reviews planned going forward
Four weeks from Wells notice receipt Deadline
- Standard deadline for Wells submissions
Four weeks from Wells submission receipt
- Scheduling of Wells meetings with senior leadership
Suggested considerations
Review the updated Enforcement Manual (https://www.sec.gov/files/enforcementmanual.pdf) and train compliance/in-house legal teams on new Wells timelines and submission guidance.
Update internal policies for responding to Wells notices: Prepare submissions within four weeks, focusing on elements staff find "most helpful" (e.g., detailed facts, legal analysis).
For settlements, incorporate simultaneous waiver requests in offers to leverage restored process and mitigate collateral impacts.
Enhance cooperation strategies per new evaluation framework to potentially reduce civil penalties; document internal collaboration for enforcement interactions.
Monitor annual Manual reviews via SEC Division of Enforcement page (https://www.sec.gov/about/divisions-offices/division-enforcement).
What changed
The updates target investigative and enforcement procedures for greater consistency:
Uniform Wells process: Recipients of a Wells notice receive four weeks to submit responses; Wells meetings are scheduled within four weeks of submission and include senior Division leadership.
Simultaneous settlement and waiver consideration: Restores practice allowing settling parties to request Commission waivers from collateral consequences (e.g., disqualifications) alongside settlement...
Urgency: High - These procedural updates are immediately effective and alter critical interaction points with SEC staff, such as Wells responses and settlements, which can determine investigation closure, enforcement recommendations, or penalty severity. Firms under active scrutiny or anticipating inquiries gain from predictable timelines reducing prolonged uncertainty, but must adapt quickly to avoid suboptimal outcomes; non-compliance risks inefficient resolutions or missed cooperation credits.
This regulatory update from the SEC proposes amendments to reduce reporting burdens for investment funds, which impacts investment managers, broker-dealers, and wealth managers. The changes relate to fund portfolio holdings disclosure, which is a key regulatory reporting requirement for these firms.
The Securities and Exchange Commission will host the agency’s 45th Annual Government Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation at SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C., on March 9 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. The event will be webcast live. …
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC announces an annual forum focused on improving capital-raising policies for small businesses. It is informational in nature and relevant to investment managers, broker-dealers, and fintech firms involved in capital markets and investment activities.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) has published two new reports on exchange traded funds and fund mergers, and updated statistics and data visualizations on municipal advisors, transfer agents, and…
This regulatory update is relevant for banking, capital markets, and investment management firms, as it involves misappropriation of confidential information, illegal kickbacks, and market abuse.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the appointment of Demetrios (Jim) Logothetis, as Chairman, and Mark Calabria, Kyle Hauptman, and Steven Laughton, as Board members, of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). George…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC announces the appointment of new leadership to the PCAOB, which oversees public company auditors. This is relevant for capital markets firms, investment managers, and banks that are subject to PCAOB oversight and reporting requirements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed settled charges against Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) and its former executives, Vince Macciocchi and Ray Young, and a litigated action against its former executive Vikram Luthar, for …
This regulatory update from the CFTC is relevant to banking, capital markets, and payments firms as it announces the sponsorship of the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) by the CFTC Chairman. This committee provides advice on agricultural derivatives market regulation, which impacts firms across these sectors.
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul S. Atkins and Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig will hold a joint event on Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at CFTC headquarters to discuss harmonization between the…
Why this matters
This regulatory update discusses a joint event between the SEC and CFTC to discuss harmonization and U.S. financial leadership in the crypto era. This is relevant for banking, capital markets, and crypto firms in terms of authorization, reporting, and technology/cyber issues.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee announced that it will hold a public meeting at the SEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET. The meeting will also be…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC discusses the Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee's plans to continue discussions on the regulatory framework for finders and explore the private secondary market. This is relevant for broker-dealers, fintechs, and crypto exchanges that may be involved in these areas.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today approved the 2026 budget for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the related accounting support fee.The 2026 PCAOB budget totals $362.1 million. The 2026 budget reflects a 9.4% ($37.6…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC approves the 2026 budget for the PCAOB, which oversees public company audits. This is relevant for broker-dealers and banks that are subject to PCAOB oversight and reporting requirements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking candidates for appointment as members of the SEC’s Investor Advisory Committee, established pursuant to Section 39 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to help protect investors and improve securities…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC is seeking candidates for the Investor Advisory Committee, which advises the SEC on regulatory priorities, securities products and trading, and initiatives to protect investor interests.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the senior team from the Division of Corporation Finance responsible for advising division Director James Moloney on all matters the division has before the Commission. These include rulemaking…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC announces senior leadership changes in the Division of Corporation Finance, which oversees corporate disclosure and rulemaking.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Christina M. Thomas will rejoin the Division of Corporation Finance in February as deputy director and chief advisor on disclosure, policy, and rulemaking.“Christina brings her deep technical…
Why this matters
This regulatory update announces the appointment of Christina M. Thomas as the Deputy Director of the SEC's Division of Corporation Finance. This is an informational announcement that does not require immediate action, but is relevant for all firms that interact with the SEC on disclosure and compliance matters.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that J. Russell “Rusty” McGranahan has been named SEC General Counsel. As the SEC’s chief legal officer, Mr. McGranahan will oversee the provision of legal expertise and advice to the Office of the…
Why this matters
This regulatory update announces the appointment of a new SEC General Counsel, which is relevant for banking, investment management, and capital markets firms that interact with the SEC. The topics covered include licensing, governance, and reporting requirements, which are important for these firm types.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Paul H. Tzur and David M. Morrell have been named as Deputy Directors of the Division of Enforcement. Mr. Tzur joined the Commission on January 6, 2026, as the Deputy Director overseeing the…
AI Analysis
The SEC announced on January 12, 2026, the appointment of Paul H. Tzur and David M. Morrell as Deputy Directors of the Division of Enforcement, with Tzur joining on January 6, 2026, to oversee key operations. This personnel change is part of a broader reorganization replacing Regional Directors with Deputy Directors for more centralized oversight of investigations. It matters for compliance teams as it signals greater consistency in enforcement approaches, potentially affecting investigation timelines, Wells process strategies, and settlement negotiations across SEC-regulated entities.
Key dates
January 6, 2026
- Paul H. Tzur joins SEC as Deputy Director of the Division of Enforcement.
January 12, 2026
- SEC announces appointments of Paul Tzur and David Morrell as Deputy Directors.
Suggested considerations
Review and update internal protocols for SEC investigations to align with centralized reporting structures, anticipating uniform standards across regions.
Train legal/compliance staff on refined Wells process (e.g., prepare for four-week timelines and evidence access requests).
Monitor upcoming SEC communications for Enforcement Director Judge Margaret Ryan's guidance on fraud-focused priorities.
Assess current or potential matters for earlier engagement with Deputy Directors on case theories and resolutions.
What changed
This announcement reflects structural reforms rather than new substantive regulations:
Replacement of Regional Directors with Deputy Directors, centralizing reporting from local offices (e.g., Boston, Fort Worth, Atlanta) and specialized units directly to headquarters-led Deputy...
Enhanced supervision of enforcement decisions, aiming for consistency and reduced regional variations in handling investigations.
Complements parallel Wells process reforms under Chairman Paul Atkins, including a baseline four-week response period, greater access to evidence, and senior-level meetings for transparency and due...
Compliance impact
Urgency: Medium. This matters due to its role in ongoing SEC transition under Chairman Atkins and Director Ryan, promising more predictable enforcement but requiring adaptation to centralized decision-making and Wells enhancements. While not imposing immediate obligations, it could accelerate case resolutions and shift settlement dynamics, especially amid 2025's enforcement slowdown from staffing cuts (15-20% headcount reduction). Firms with active investigations should prioritize strategic adjustments now.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced it will hold its third and final outreach event to help firms comply with amendments to Regulation S-P. The event, which is focused on small firms, is open to in-person or virtual attendance, and is…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC is focused on helping small firms comply with amendments to Regulation S-P, which covers consumer privacy and data protection requirements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation today published and delivered to Congress its 2025 staff report that serves as a comprehensive and data-rich resource on capital-raising dynamics…
Why this matters
This SEC report covers capital-raising dynamics, which is relevant for investment management, wealth management, and broker-dealers. The topics of reporting, licensing, and consumer protection are also highlighted. As an informational publication, the urgency is low.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to the rules that define which registered investment companies, investment advisers, and business development companies qualify as small entities for purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility…
AI Analysis
The SEC proposed amendments on January 7, 2026, to expand the definitions of "small entities" under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) for registered investment advisers (RIAs), investment companies, and business development companies by significantly raising asset thresholds last updated in 1998. This would increase the number of qualifying small entities, enabling the SEC to better assess regulatory impacts and potentially provide tailored relief like extended compliance timelines during rulemaking. It matters because it could indirectly reduce compliance burdens for mid-sized firms by influencing future SEC rules to minimize disproportionate effects on smaller players.
Key dates
January 7, 2026
- SEC issues proposal and press release
60 days after Federal Register publication
- Public comment period closes (publication expected shortly after January 7; exact date TBD, likely March 2026 based on estimates)
No stated adoption date
- Typically at least one year post-comment period under normal processes
Every 10 years post
adoption; - Inflation adjustments to thresholds via SEC order
Suggested considerations
Submit public comments by the deadline to influence thresholds, alternatives (e.g., client types, headcount), or exclusions (e.g., funds advised by small RIAs).
Monitor Federal Register for exact publication and comment instructions; review proposed rule and fact sheet on SEC site (https://www.sec.gov/rules-regulations/2026/01/s7-2026-01).
Assess internal status: Calculate current RAUM/net assets against new thresholds to anticipate RFA benefits in upcoming rulemakings.
No immediate compliance changes, as this affects SEC rulemaking process only; prepare for potential indirect impacts via future rules.
What changed
- Raise the RAUM threshold for RIAs to qualify as small entities from $25 million to $1 billion, with conforming changes for control affiliates.
Increase the net asset threshold for investment companies from $50 million to $10 billion.
Update aggregation of related funds from "group of related investment companies" to "family of investment companies" as defined in Form N-CEN for easier identification.
Introduce inflation adjustments to thresholds every 10 years via SEC order, without formal rulemaking.
Make corresponding amendments to Form ADV and rules on continuing hardship exemptions for electronic filing.
Compliance impact
Urgency: Medium. This proposal does not impose direct new requirements or alter existing obligations—it's procedural for SEC's RFA analyses during rulemaking. However, adoption could lead to meaningful indirect benefits for mid-sized RIAs and funds, such as longer compliance phases or reduced burdens in rules on reporting, recordkeeping, or vendor reliance, addressing outdated 1998 thresholds amid industry AUM growth. Firms should engage now via comments to shape outcomes, but no urgent operational changes needed.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Cicely LaMothe, Deputy Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, has retired from the agency.“Cicely has gone above and beyond the call of duty over the past twenty-four years to serve…
Why this matters
This regulatory update announces the retirement of a senior SEC official, which is informational in nature and does not require immediate action from regulated firms.
This CFTC no-action letter provides relief from CPO registration requirements for certain SEC-registered investment advisers, which is relevant for asset managers and broker-dealers in the investment management and capital markets sectors. The content is informational in nature.
This statement from the CFTC Acting Chairman discusses a report from IOSCO on pre-hedging, which is relevant to capital markets participants and crypto firms that engage in trading and market activities.
This regulatory update from the CFTC relates to whistleblower awards, which is relevant for firms in the banking, capital markets, and crypto sectors. The topics covered include AML/financial crime, market abuse, and reporting requirements, which are important compliance areas for the affected firm types.
This CFTC update relates to direct clearing by retail participants, which impacts capital markets firms and crypto exchanges that facilitate retail trading and clearing. It touches on authorization and licensing requirements as well as reporting and disclosure obligations.
The CFTC approved a final rule on December 18, 2025, that codifies existing staff no-action positions and eliminates duplicative business conduct and documentation requirements for swap dealers and major swap participants. This rule resolves over a decade of regulatory uncertainty, reduces operational costs, and harmonizes CFTC requirements with SEC and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board standards.
Key dates
April 4, 2025
- CFTC Staff Letter 25-09 issued, establishing no-action position on PTMMM requirement
September 12, 2025
- CFTC issued further amended exemptive order permitting JSCC to clear interest rate swaps
September 24, 2025
- CFTC issued Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (comment period opened)
October 24, 2025 Deadline
- Comment period deadline (ISDA and SIFMA submitted comments on this date)
December 18, 2025
- CFTC approved final rule (subject to pre-publication technical corrections)
Suggested considerations
*Immediate Actions (Pre-Implementation)
*Implementation Actions (Upon Effective Date)
trade disclosure systems to remove PTMMM generation and delivery requirements
based operations, review implications of superseded Staff Letter No. 23-01
*Ongoing Compliance
What changed
The final rule introduces the following substantive amendments:
Exceptions for Swaps Intended to be Cleared (ITBC Swaps)
Swap dealers and major swap participants are exempted from certain External Business Conduct Standards and swap trading relationship documentation requirements when executing swaps that are intended by the parties to be cleared contemporaneously with execution.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that financial economist and academic scholar Dr. Joshua T. White will return to the agency beginning the week of Jan. 5, 2026, to serve as its Chief Economist and Director of the Division of…
Why this matters
This regulatory update announces the appointment of a new Chief Economist at the SEC, which is relevant for banking, investment management, and capital markets firms that are subject to SEC oversight and reporting requirements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Investor Advocate today delivered its Report on Activities for the Fiscal Year 2025 to Congress, highlighting the initiatives and work of the office during the fiscal year.The report includes:An…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC's Office of the Investor Advocate covers activities related to investment management, capital markets, and crypto/digital assets. It focuses on consumer protection, reporting/disclosure, and technology/cyber issues, which are relevant to a wide range of financial firms.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the agenda and panelists for its Dec. 16, 2025, roundtable on Rule 611 of Regulation NMS and other associated rules and regulatory requirements.The roundtable will be held at the University of Austin…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC relates to Rule 611 of Regulation NMS, which governs order protection and market transparency requirements for broker-dealers.
This regulatory update from the CFTC involves enforcement action against a precious metals and foreign currency pool fraud, which impacts firms across the banking, investment management, and capital markets sectors. The key topics covered are consumer protection, anti-money laundering, and reporting requirements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Lori J. Schock, who has served as the Director of the Office of Investor Education and Assistance (OIEA) since 2009, will retire from the agency at the end of December.“I have known Lori for…
Why this matters
This regulatory update announces the departure of the Director of the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Assistance, which is relevant to investment management firms, broker-dealers, and wealth managers in terms of consumer protection, reporting, and governance.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced it will hold the second in its series of compliance outreach events regarding the 2024 adoption of amendments to Regulation S-P. The event, for transfer agents, is a webinar scheduled for December 17…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC is relevant for transfer agents, which are typically broker-dealers and asset managers. It covers reporting and disclosure requirements under Regulation S-P, as well as authorization and licensing for these firms.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Cristina Martin Firvida, who has served as the Director of the Office of the Investor Advocate since January 2023, will conclude her tenure with the agency at the end of January 2026. As…
Why this matters
This regulatory update announces the upcoming departure of the Director of the SEC's Office of the Investor Advocate, which is relevant for investment management, wealth management, and capital markets firms that interact with the SEC.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Dec. 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. ET. The meeting will be webcast on the SEC website.The committee will host two panels:Regulatory Changes in Corporate…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC covers changes to corporate governance and the tokenization of equity securities, which are relevant to capital markets, crypto/digital assets firms, and the broader financial industry. The topics of reporting, disclosure, authorization, and technology/cyber are key areas of focus.
The CFTC filed a civil enforcement action on November 21, 2025, against Brian Mitchell, Kevin Mack Jr., and their unregistered entity Young Pros Investment Group LLC (YPIG) for fraudulently soliciting ~$1 million from 33 pool participants to trade commodity futures, using misrepresentations, Ponzi payments, false statements, and registration violations, including Mitchell's breach of a prior 2021 CFTC order. This case underscores the CFTC's aggressive enforcement against unregistered commodity pools and fraud, seeking restitution, disgorgement, penalties, trading bans, and injunctions under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). Compliance teams must prioritize registration checks and fraud prevention to avoid similar actions, as it highlights personal liability for controlling persons.
Key dates
~December 2020
May 2022; - Alleged fraudulent solicitation and trading period
2021
- Prior CFTC administrative order against Mitchell (Press Release 8427-21) prohibiting trading and registration activities for three years
November 21, 2025
- CFTC files complaint in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Suggested considerations
Verify registration: Check CFTC/NFA BASIC database before engaging with pools or advisors; unregistered status warrants avoidance.
Implement controls: Segregate pool funds (Regulation 4.20), avoid commingling, disclose risks fully, prohibit profit guarantees/misrepresentations, and issue accurate statements.
Conduct due diligence: Screen principals for prior CFTC orders; cease activities if barred.
Train staff: On fraud red flags (e.g., Ponzi payments, high-yield promises) and report suspicions via CFTC hotline (866-FON-CFTC) or online tip form.
For SEC-registered advisers: Evaluate eligibility for CFTC Letter 25-50 relief to avoid dual registration while ensuring pools limit to qualified eligible persons (QEPs).
What changed
This is an enforcement action, not a rulemaking, so there are no new regulatory changes or requirements. It reinforces longstanding CEA and CFTC rules on:
Mandatory registration as a Commodity Pool Operator (CPO) and Associated Persons (APs) for pools trading commodity futures (CFTC Regulation 4.13 exemptions do not apply here due to fraud and public...
Prohibitions on fraud, misrepresentations, guarantees of profit, non-disclosure of risks, commingling funds, and operating pools as non-separate entities (CEA Section 4o, Regulations 4.20, 4.21).
Compliance with prior CFTC orders barring trading or registration-required activities.
Compliance impact
Urgency: High - This action signals intensified CFTC scrutiny on unregistered pools amid rising crypto/futures fraud (e.g., similar January 2026 case against Wolf Capital). It matters because penalties include personal bans, multimillion restitution/disgorgement, and whistleblower awards (10-30% of sanctions), amplifying financial/reputational risk; non-registration alone triggered charges alongside fraud. Firms with commodity exposure must audit operations immediately to preempt enforcement.
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it will hold a roundtable on Dec. 16, 2025, to discuss Rule 611 of Regulation NMS and other, associated rules and regulatory requirements. This roundtable is a follow-up to the SEC’s Sept. 18,…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC announces a roundtable discussion on Rule 611 of Regulation NMS, which is a key market structure rule related to order execution and best execution requirements. This is relevant for capital markets participants, particularly broker-dealers, as well as broader market participants.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Examinations today released its 2026 examination priorities. The Division publishes its annual examination priorities to provide transparency to registrants and investors about the topics that the…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC's Division of Examinations outlines its 2026 priorities, which are likely to impact investment managers, broker-dealers, and crypto exchanges through increased focus on technology/cyber risks, reporting and disclosure requirements, and licensing/authorization procedures.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued an order granting temporary exemptive relief from certain compliance dates adopted under Regulation NMS: Minimum Pricing Increments, Access Fees and Transparency of Better Priced Orders as follows:…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC relates to compliance with certain rules under Regulation NMS, which impacts capital markets participants such as broker-dealers and banks.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today enhanced its efforts to assist broker-dealers and other market participants on the path to central clearing of U.S. Treasury securities, developing a one-stop webpage that puts the latest status updates, staff…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC is relevant to broker-dealers and banks that participate in the U.S. Treasury securities market. It discusses the SEC's efforts to assist these firms with the implementation of central clearing rules for Treasury securities, which has implications for prudential requirements and...
The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued an order granting conditional exemptive relief related to certain requirements of the National Market System Plan governing the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT NMS Plan), Rule 613 of Regulation NMS, and…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC relates to the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) requirements, which impact capital markets participants such as broker-dealers and asset managers.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today published a concept release soliciting public comment on how to improve current SEC rules governing residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and certain aspects of asset-backed securities (ABS) generally…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the SEC is focused on improving rules governing residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and certain aspects of asset-backed securities (ABS).
This regulatory update from the CFTC involves a commodity pool fraud case, which impacts investment management firms, broker-dealers, and banks that offer commodity pool products.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Ken Johnson, who has been serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO) since December 2017, will retire from the agency in December. “Ken has been an integral leader at the SEC for more than two…
Why this matters
This regulatory update announces the departure of the SEC's Chief Operating Officer, which is a senior leadership change at the regulator. It impacts firms across the banking, investment management, and capital markets sectors, particularly around reporting, governance, and operational resilience requirements.
This joint statement from the SEC and CFTC likely contains information relevant to capital markets participants, particularly those involved in crypto and digital asset activities.
This appears to be a regulatory update from the CFTC regarding the Spring 2025 Unified Agenda. It is likely to impact a range of financial firms including banks, broker-dealers, crypto exchanges, and fintechs, particularly in areas related to licensing, reporting, and technology/cyber issues.