United States: Finance and Banking

Federal banking regulators have jointly proposed sweeping reforms to U.S. capital requirements, formally rescinding the controversial 2023 Basel III Endgame Framework in favor of a modernized approach that would reduce capital burdens...

The NAIC's Spring National Meeting addressed critical changes to risk-based capital factors for life insurers' collateral loans, with industry stakeholders debating the appropriate methodology for calculating RBC factors based on loan-to-value ratios and overcollateralization levels.

Federal banking agencies have issued revised model risk management guidance in SR 26-2, introducing a more explicitly risk-based approach to model governance, validation, and monitoring. While primarily targeting organizations with over $30 billion in assets, the principles-based framework has broader implications for regional and community banks navigating evolving regulatory expectations.

Collateralized Fund Obligations (CFOs) have evolved from a niche structured finance product into a rapidly growing capital markets instrument, with annual issuance projected to reach $30 billion in 2026. This comprehensive analysis examines the structural mechanics, regulatory framework, and emerging trends driving CFO adoption among asset managers and institutional investors seeking rated exposure to diversified private fund portfolios.

In a world where access to credit is a cornerstone of financial stability, the need for fair and accurate credit reporting is of paramount importance.

On June 30, 2026, the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the “Staff”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued an exemptive order granting an exemption from Rules 14e-1(a) and (b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), for certain qualifying tender or exchange offers for non-convertible debt securities (“Five Business Day Tender Offers”). The SEC exemptive order supersedes the Staff’s 2015 no-action letter (the “2015 Letter”)[1] relating to Five Business Day Tender Offers and is effective immediately.

On July 13 and July 15, a coalition of 11 states and the District of Columbia, followed by two former FDIC Board members, filed amicus briefs supporting Colorado in the en banc proceedings...

A secured lender's appointment of a receiver over collateral may trigger a borrower's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, potentially causing significant delay and expense. Recent bankruptcy court decisions reveal how specific language in receivership orders can mitigate this risk by divesting debtor management of authority to act on the borrower's behalf.

On June 23, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed Senate Bill 3075, establishing capital, liquidity, corporate governance, audit, and risk-management requirements...

As the President’s previous near-blanket 10% tariff schedule expired on July 24, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued a Notice of Action...

The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved a significant overhaul of Nasdaq's continued listing standards, establishing a new $5 million baseline market value requirement for all listed securities. This rule change introduces strict consequences for companies falling below the threshold, fundamentally altering the landscape for maintaining Nasdaq listing status.

Oregon's Division of Financial Regulation has proposed guidance requiring Buy Now, Pay Later companies to obtain state lending licenses, rejecting common industry arguments about nonrecourse characterization and merchant-funded models. The bulletin interprets decades-old payday lending and consumer finance statutes to encompass modern BNPL products, potentially requiring licensing for technology providers and service companies that support these programs.