FRB

The three federal banking agencies issued the 2024 Shared National Credit report, describing credit risk associated with large, syndicated bank loans, as well as credit quality trends connected to the current state of interest rates. Read on »

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) published guidance reaffirming permissible cryptocurrency activities for banks while rescinding a requirement for institutions to get supervisory clearance before engaging in such activities. The agency also withdrew the OCC from a joint statement on crypto-asset risks to banking organizations. Read on »

Thirty Republican lawmakers anxious to see the Federal Reserve roll back regulations implemented during the Biden administration urged U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to act quickly in filling the role of vice chair of supervision recently vacated by Michael Barr, who stepped down at the end of February.  Read on »

After reviewing the Federal Reserve System’s efforts to implement revised timing goals for submitting and reviewing high-risk redlining cases, the Federal Reserve’s Office of Inspector General concluded no recommendations were necessary for improvement. Read on »

The Federal Reserve’s biannual Monetary Policy Report read like a “good news, bad news” scenario for economists and mortgage professionals. Despite positive economic growth and stabilization in the real estate sector last year, early inflation numbers and other factors could hang question marks around potential rate cuts. Read on »

The Federal Reserve released a list of hypothetical scenarios to be used in its annual stress testing, designed to ensure that large banks can withstand the effects of a severe economic downturn. This year’s stress tests will simulate a major dip in housing prices, among other adverse market conditions. Read on »

The Federal Reserve’s Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices examined trends in residential mortgage and business lending in the fourth quarter of last year, among other key metrics. Read on »

Regulations issued by federal agencies are under intense political scrutiny under the Trump administration, but regulatory bodies also have continued to conduct their own, regularly scheduled regulatory assessments. Learn what measures these organizations are taking to determine the effectiveness of the current policy framework governing financial institutions in this regulatory roundup. Read on »

The economy impacts every business sector involved in the real estate transaction. That is why October Research was pleased to welcome Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Economist Michael Fratantoni to kick off the 2025 Economic Outlook Series. Read on »

The U.S. Treasury Department withdrew from the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System – a coalition of central banks and regulators focused on bolstering the global financial system to withstand climate change. Read on »