Banking & Finance

Federal regulatory enforcement against U.S. financial services firms fell sharply in the first half of 2025, according to Wolters Kluwer’s latest Regulatory Violations Intelligence Index. The number and severity of penalties declined 37% overall compared to the previous year, with financial offenses dropping 53%, competition-related violations down 50%, and consumer protection cases reduced by 22%. The value of penalties decreased by 32%, led by a 97% fall in competition-related fines...

CFOs are navigating increasingly volatile conditions as economic, geopolitical, and technological disruptions reshape traditional budgeting practices. To remain effective, budgets must directly support strategy, rely on granular data, and operate at a cadence that matches real-time business needs. This means reassessing probability-weighted scenarios frequently, identifying the most critical initiatives, and tailoring budget decisions to specific risks across business units, products, and markets...

A recent white paper from the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) highlights the significant role that strong partnerships between Chief Legal Officers (CLOs) and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) play in advancing business performance. In a survey conducted in April with 326 CLOs, 57% described their relationship with their CFO as “excellent,” while 26% called it “good.” Only 5% reported a “fair” or “poor” relationship...

U.S. Bank has completed its first trade finance collection transaction using a fully digital process, becoming the first American bank to use the WaveBL blockchain-based platform. This development marks a significant step in modernizing trade and working capital services. WaveBL supports secure and encrypted document transfers between trading partners and their banks, replacing traditional courier-based methods...

Banks have made cautious but deliberate moves in adopting generative AI within their credit businesses, with McKinsey and the International Association of Credit Portfolio Managers surveying 44 institutions in late 2024. These included megabanks, super-regionals, and core regionals. While 52% of respondents said gen AI adoption was a priority backed by investment and hiring, only a few have achieved full-scale deployment...

Corpay, a business payments company, has announced the appointment of Peter Walker as Chief Financial Officer. Walker brings extensive experience in both public and private companies, having served most recently as CFO at Instructure Holdings. There, he oversaw the company’s privatization and sale to KKR. His previous leadership roles include CFO positions at Sterling Check Corp and Jackson Hewitt, as well as a 17-year tenure at Assurant, where he concluded his time as Global Chief Strategy Officer...

As the U.S. financial sector enters the second half of 2025, Executives express renewed confidence following months of market volatility driven by tariff and policy changes. Key takeaways from the 16th Morgan Stanley U.S. Financials Conference suggest a more stable outlook across investment banking, consumer spending, and regulatory reforms. The CFO of a Regional Bank noted, “Sentiment is moving much more positively, and we think there is good news still coming, such as a new tax bill and more progress in tariff talks”...

Corpay, an Atlanta-based corporate payments firm listed on the S&P 500, has appointed Peter Walker as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective July 21, 2025. Walker most recently served as CFO of Instructure Holdings, where he played a key role in its privatization and subsequent $4.8 billion sale to investment firm KKR. He brings significant financial leadership experience, having also held CFO roles at Sterling Check Corp. and Jackson Hewitt..

The European Commission has confirmed that the implementation of new international banking rules known as the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book (FRTB) will be delayed until January 1, 2027. This decision follows earlier postponements and reflects ongoing concerns about uneven adoption across major financial jurisdictions. The FRTB, a core component of the Basel III regulatory package, aims to strengthen capital requirements for banks engaged in trading activities...

A group of banking industry associations has officially urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to revoke a cybersecurity breach reporting rule introduced during the Biden administration. The rule requires public companies to disclose material cybersecurity breaches within four business days of determining their significance...