On January 16, U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced H.R. 478, the “Promoting New Bank Formation Act,” which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services. This bill aims to support the establishment and growth of new financial institutions, particularly in rural areas, by easing regulatory requirements.
James Stevens, co-leader of Troutman Pepper Locke’s Financial Services Industry Group, was quoted in the January 31, 2025 Banking Dive article, “Banking Sector Girds for M&A Uptick in 2025.”
Troutman Pepper Locke attorneys Alexandra Steinberg Barrage, Matthew Bornfreund, and James Stevens, along with Michele Alt of Klaros Group and other leading banking and financial services professionals, released an open letter to the incoming administration outlining concrete ways the FDIC, OCC, and Federal Reserve Board (Agencies) could encourage new and innovative bank formation.
On January 20, Travis Hill became the Acting Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Following his remarks on FDIC policy issues on January 10 at the American Bankers Association, in his first statement as Acting Chairman, Hill highlighted various priorities and mentioned new initiatives, emphasizing a commitment to regulatory reform, innovation, and a focus on core financial risks.
James Stevens, co-leader of Troutman Pepper Locke’s Financial Services Industry Group, was quoted in the January 15, 2025 Banking Dive article, “BaaS Outlook Brighter After Period of Growing Pains.”
On January 8, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the claims brought by Banco San Juan Internacional, Inc. (BSJI) against the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board). BSJI alleged that the termination of its master account by the FRBNY violated various federal laws. The ruling in the BSJI case underscores the discretionary authority of Federal Reserve Banks in granting or denying master accounts.
James Stevens, co-leader of Troutman Pepper’s Financial Services Industry Group, was quoted in the December 5, 2024 S&P Global article, “Old National books rare share price gain after announcing large bank deal.”
In a previous post, we discussed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) notice of proposed rulemaking aimed at enhancing recordkeeping for bank deposits received from fintech and other third-party, non-bank companies. The proposed rule initially set a public comment period ending on December 2, 2024. Yesterday, the FDIC announced a 45-day extension to this comment period, now allowing stakeholders until January 16, 2025, to submit their feedback.
During the event, industry leaders and experts will discuss emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and business-to-business (B2B), and provide updates on faster payments developments and policy changes at both federal and state levels. James, alongside Ali Cook, a Corporate & Finance Partner at Arnall Golden Gregory, will host the “Discussion of DOJ Lawsuit and Capital One / Discover Merger” panel.
Troutman Pepper Partner James Stevens will be a featured speaker at PLI’s Banking Law Institute 2024 program on October 24, 2024 at 9 a.m. This program will focus on recent developments impacting banks, particularly given recent regulatory scrutiny and enforcement actions.