Dodd-Frank

Financial regulators sought to walk a fine line Tuesday between reassuring Republican senators that they are quickly implementing regulatory relief and defending themselves against Democratic criticism that they are going too fast.

A proposal to let certain thrifts operate like national banks blurs the line even further between the two institution types.

The central bank said the proposal is intended to eliminate duplication of rules for entities covered by the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008.

The agency wants more information as it conducts fair-lending exams, but conflicting statutes make writing a data collection rule difficult.

Policymakers have begun taking positive steps to update and improve existing regulations, though there’s still a lot more work to be done.

In its proposed “disclosure sandbox,” the bureau has eased restrictions on firms seeking a safe harbor from liability.

The proposal, required by the regulatory relief package that Congress passed in May, would exempt the healthiest banks from having to count reciprocal deposits as brokered deposits.

Heading into the mid-terms, credit unions must remain focused on how to move forward these four key legislative and regulatory initiatives.

The Senate Banking Committee said it is postponing a hearing on the implementation of regulatory relief for "logistical reasons."

The central bank, which received broad authority after the crisis to supervise big banks, is expected to get more attention from lawmakers over its discretion to ease banks’ burden.