House Votes to Cut Red Tape for Smaller Banks

The House of Representatives passed bills Tuesday (May 12) that would tailor the supervisory requirements and reduce the frequency of examination for smaller financial institutions that are well managed and well capitalized. The two bills will now be considered by the Senate.

PYMNTS • May 13, 2026

Banks Face A Two-Front War: Inflation And Rising Defaults

For much of the past year, investors and bank regulators hoped the U.S. banking system was moving beyond the regional banking turmoil of 2023. Most banks remained profitable, liquidity conditions improved, and fears of a broader financial crisis faded.

Forbes • May 13, 2026

Bank Stock Buybacks Hit a Record in First Quarter. Here Are the Leaders.

The buybacks are encouraging for investors amid a mixed performance for banking stocks this year.

Barrons • May 12, 2026

OCC Recommends Banks Sharpen AI Defense Tactics

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency highlighted artificial intelligence as both a risk and an opportunity for innovation in its spring 2026 Semiannual Risk Perspective. AI is one of several key issues facing banks surveyed in the report released Thursday (May 7).

PYMNTS • May 8, 2026

Beyond Bank Runs: The OCC Warns Of A More Complex Financial Threat

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's latest risk assessment offers a striking message for the banking industry: the U.S. financial system may appear stable on the surface, but underneath, risks are becoming more interconnected, more operationally complex, and potentially more difficult to contain.

Forbes • May 7, 2026

The Quiet Rate Shift Powering One of This Year's Strongest Trades

The Federal Reserve has held the fed funds target at 3.75% for roughly five months, and the 10-year Treasury yield sits near 4.5%, near the top of its 12-month range.

24/7 Wall Street • May 6, 2026

Forget Geopolitics: Bet on Earnings Growth & Invest in These Sector ETFs

Strong Q1 earnings momentum continues as S&P 500 firms beat estimates. Tech, Energy lead growth; full-year 2026 outlook stays robust.

Zacks Investment Research • Apr 30, 2026

Is Goldman Sachs Reheating Financial ETFs After Earnings Beat?

The first quarter of 2026 ended with a downpour of volatility as the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) rose 69%. Nonetheless, Goldman Sachs (GS) reported first-quarter 2026 earnings that outpaced Wall Street expectations though a thick fog of uncertainty still lingers in Q2.

ETF Trends • Apr 13, 2026

XLF: Strong Buy For U.S. Financials During A Multi-Year Earnings Reset

State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF is rated a strong buy, offering targeted exposure to large-cap U.S. financials with three concurrent growth drivers. XLF benefits from investment banking fee resurgence, Wells Fargo's regulatory release, and a softer regulatory environment, all supporting robust sector growth into 2026-2027. Over half of XLF's portfolio is levered to fee-based models and capital market cycles, reducing rate sensitivity and sidestepping regional bank and CRE risks.

Seeking Alpha • Apr 10, 2026

How Will Bank ETFs Perform in Light of Q1 Earnings?

Big banks will start releasing their quarterly numbers from next week. Let's delve into the earnings potential of the big six banking companies, which could drive the performance of the sector ahead.

Zacks Investment Research • Apr 10, 2026