NCUA’s 2026 Supervisory Priorities: What Credit Unions Should Be Watching Now
The National Credit Union Administration has released its 2026 Supervisory Priorities Letter, giving federally insured credit unions an early look at where examiner attention is likely to focus in the year ahead. For boards, executives, and risk leaders, this annual guidance is less about compliance checklists and more about understanding how supervisory expect
Navigating the Regulatory Maze: What’s Ahead for Financial Institutions
Financial institutions continue to operate in one of the most active regulatory environments in recent memory. As 2026 begins, institutions are preparing for updates that affect compliance expectations, reporting requirements, risk management practices, and examination priorities. For organizations balancing lean staffing models with increas
The Rise of Green Finance: Opportunities for Financial Institutions to Invest in Sustainability
Sustainability is shaping financial decision-making in new ways, and financial institutions across the country are taking note. As 2026 begins, demand for environmentally focused financing continues to grow, driven by customer expectations, evolving regulatory attention, and long-term economic opportunity. Green finance has moved beyond a niche initiative and i
Financial Fraud Prevention: Best Practices for 2026
Fraud risk continues to rise across the financial industry, and early 2026 is an important time for financial institutions to reexamine their prevention strategies. Criminal tactics are advancing quickly, technology is evolving, and regulatory expectations around cybersecurity, operational resilience, and risk management continue to intensify. Institu
Preparing for the 2026 Filing Season: Key Income Tax Considerations for Financial Institutions
Early-year tax planning is always important for financial institutions, but the 2026 filing season brings added complexity. Regulatory expectations continue to sharpen, the effects of 2025 transactions carry through to the return, and examination priorities from federal and state regulators increasingly intersect with tax reporting, documentation, and internal
Navigating Interest Rate Volatility: Strategies for 2026
After several years of unpredictable rate movements, community banks and credit unions are entering 2026 facing continued uncertainty. While inflation pressures have eased, the interest rate environment remains anything but stable. Margins are tighter, liquidity is in flux, and competition for deposits continues to shape the balance sheets of financia
AI in Credit Reviews: Efficiency vs. Bias
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform how financial institutions operate—from streamlining back-office workflows to enhancing fraud detection and customer service. One area seeing particularly rapid change is credit review and underwriting, where AI-powered models promise faster decisions, deeper data analysis, and more consistent risk
Stress Testing Beyond the Numbers: Preparing People, Not Just Balance Sheets
For years, stress testing has been viewed primarily as a financial exercise—a way for banks and credit unions to model adverse scenarios, measure capital adequacy, and satisfy regulatory expectations. But in today’s environment, effective stress testing is about more than the numbers. The institutions best prepared for disruption—whether e
The Rise of FinTech Partnerships: Opportunity or Threat for Community Banks?
The financial services landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. FinTech companies—once viewed as disruptors to traditional banking—have now become potential collaborators, offering innovative technologies that promise to enhance customer experience, improve efficiency, and expand access to financial services. For community banks, these
CRA Modernization – What Does This Mean for Your Institution?
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has been a cornerstone of banking regulation since 1977, requiring financial institutions to help meet the credit needs of the communities they serve—including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. After years of debate, the CRA is undergoing significant modernization, with regulators rolling out updates designed to bett