Maher Named Chair of ABAís American Bankers Council
WASHINGTON, — Christopher D. Maher, CEO of OceanFirst Financial Corp. and OceanFirst Bank in New Jersey, has been named chair of the American Bankers Association’s American Bankers Council for the 2026-2027 membership year. The council comprises midsize bank chief executives who discuss regulatory and legislative issues, industry trends and competitive priorities. It advises ABA on…
ABA Poll Finds Broad Support for Social Media Fraud Legislation
WASHINGTON, — A national survey commissioned by the American Bankers Association and conducted by Fabrizio Ward found that 92% of registered voters supported the proposed Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct Act after learning about its provisions. The SCAM Act, introduced in the House and Senate earlier this year, would require social media companies to take…
ABA Invests in BankTech Ventures Fund II
WASHINGTON, — The American Bankers Association has invested in BankTech Ventures Fund II, a community-bank-backed venture fund focused on technology companies developing products and services for banks. Founded in 2021, BankTech Ventures is backed by community and regional banks and invests in early-stage financial technology companies. Its model combines financial returns with access to technology…
Bank Economists Expect Softer Credit Conditions
WASHINGTON, — Credit conditions are expected to weaken slightly over the next six months amid elevated inflation and restrictive financial conditions, according to the American Bankers Association’s latest Credit Conditions Index. The headline index fell to 44.7 in the third quarter of 2026, down 4.1 points from 48.8 the previous quarter. It was the seventh…
Financial Trades Urge FCC to Rate Robocall Prevention Results
WASHINGTON, — The American Bankers Association and eight other financial services trade groups urged the Federal Communications Commission to base its proposed Robocall Mitigation Scorecard on providers’ effectiveness in preventing illegally spoofed calls and texts, rather than solely on compliance with existing laws. In a joint comment letter, the associations supported the scorecard but recommended…
ICBA Sues OCC Over Crypto Trust Bank Charters
WASHINGTON, — The Independent Community Bankers of America has sued the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, challenging its authority to grant national trust bank charters to cryptocurrency firms conducting substantial non-fiduciary activities. The lawsuit, filed Oct. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia under the Administrative Procedure Act, challenges…
ABA Fraud Campaign Targets AI Scams
WASHINGTON, — The American Bankers Association has relaunched its #BanksNeverAskThat campaign with a new “Scam Slayer” initiative and expanded resources addressing scams involving artificial intelligence and deepfakes. The association also relaunched #PracticeSafeChecks, which provides guidance to help consumers and small businesses protect against check fraud. More than 2,500 banks have participated in the two campaigns…
ABA Expects Business Investment to Sustain Growth
WASHINGTON, — The American Bankers Association’s Economic Advisory Committee expects steady consumer spending and business investment to sustain economic growth through 2027, despite inflation remaining above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. The committee, which consists of chief economists from some of North America’s largest banks, projects inflation-adjusted gross domestic product growth of 2.7% in the…
ABA, BPI Support Stress Testing Rules
WASHINGTON, — The American Bankers Association and Bank Policy Institute expressed support for the Federal Reserve’s final stress testing rules, saying greater transparency and public input should improve accuracy and help covered banks plan their capital needs. In a joint statement, the associations also welcomed the Fed’s decision to re-propose certain pre-provision net revenue models,…
Ohio Bankers Foundation Launches Education Programs
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Bankers Foundation has launched two community education programs designed to help banks provide financial education and fraud prevention resources in their communities. The Financial Success Seminars focus on financial literacy and everyday money management, including budgeting, saving, managing debt and planning for the future. Fraud Awareness Seminars address financial scams,…