In its January 5, 2026 release, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) identified 15 institutions rated “Outstanding” among Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance evaluations made public in December 2025. Across these evaluations, the OCC most often attributes “Outstanding” ratings to strong lending distribution results, community development activity framed as leadership or responsiveness, […]

On December 17, 2025, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued proposed guidance aimed at simplifying the strategic plan process under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) for community banks. The proposal, accompanied by an 80+-page supplemental guidance document, seeks to clarify expectations for measurable goals and the components required for regulatory approval. […]

Short regulatory comment periods are becoming more common across federal financial regulation. For financial institutions, preparing for short comment periods means having predefined governance, accessible data, and cross-functional coordination in place before a proposal is formally released so that meaningful, evidence-based feedback can be submitted within compressed timelines. When the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) […]

The landscape of fair lending is shifting beneath our feet. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) proposed amendments to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) have reignited the long-standing debate over whether fair lending rules should focus on a lender’s intent, or the resulting impact on protected class groups. The proposal challenges long-held assumptions about […]

During RiskExec Connect 2025, RiskExec’s annual half-day virtual event, senior leaders across compliance, risk, and banking gathered to make sense of a fast-changing regulatory environment. Enforcement priorities are shifting, AI utilization is growing within financial services institutions, and state regulators are stepping forward to fill new roles. The virtual event featured some of the most […]

Federal oversight may be loosening, but compliance risk remains. As 2026 approaches, financial institutions continue to navigate an uneven landscape in which enforcement priorities change with political winds, and state regulators continue to gradually expand their authority. At RiskExec’s annual virtual event, RiskExec Connect 2025, Erik Pieczkowski, CEO of RiskExec, and Andy Sandler, CEO and […]

Artificial intelligence has become essential to how financial institutions manage compliance, assess credit, and evaluate risk. Throughout RiskExec’s virtual event RiskExec Connect 2025, one theme stood out: AI is transforming compliance, but responsibility cannot be automated. As automation and data analytics reshape financial services, regulators and executives are focusing on the same challenge—how to maintain […]

Mortgage compliance has entered a new phase as we head towards 2026. The enforcement tone has softened, but complexity has grown. Federal oversight is evolving, state regulators are becoming more active, and technology continues to redefine how lenders manage risk. At RiskExec’s annual virtual event, RiskExec Connect 2025, Rob Chrisman and Robbie Chrisman of The […]

The rules have not changed, but the climate has. After years of expanding oversight and data transparency, fair lending and CRA enforcement have now entered a period of uncertainty. New Executive Orders, shifting priorities, and state-level actions are reshaping how compliance officers interpret risk. At RiskExec’s annual virtual event, RiskExec Connect 2025, Dr. Anurag Agarwal, […]

The CFPB’s November 13, 2025 Section 1071 revised proposal focuses on narrowing covered credit, raising reporting thresholds, redefining small business eligibility, eliminating several data fields, and setting a uniform compliance date of January 1, 2028. What did the CFPB propose on November 13, 2025? On November 13, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed […]

As part of RiskExec’s annual virtual event titled “RiskExec Connect 2025,” Arielle Sutherland, Director of Compliance Products at RiskExec, sat down with Dan Matthews, Director of Fair and Responsible Banking at Synovus, and Shannon Thomason, Senior Vice President and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer at Central Bank, to discuss how modernization is changing the way institutions […]

In a recent RiskExec panel webinar, leaders Annie Perizzolo of American Express and Chris Turner of FNBO shared firsthand insights from their 2025 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) exam experiences. The discussion revealed significant shifts in regulatory expectations, and offered actionable strategies for financial institutions preparing for upcoming exams. The Evolving Landscape of CRA Exams Both […]