This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news for professionals in the financial industry, banking, credit unions, insurance, payment processing, fintech, credit card issuing, asset management, venture capital, private equity, and crypto-currencies. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track other GR news in adjacent industries? Don’t miss this week’s updates in ICT & Cybersecurity. Also consider subscribing to our Finance - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

Dates: 2026-02-15 to 2026-02-21

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• Senate Banking Hearing: Prudential Regulators and Regulation: The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on February 26 at 3:00 p.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 538, focusing on updates from Prudential regulators and rightsizing regulation to promote American opportunity.
• Senate Judiciary Business Meeting on ATM Violations and Child Protection Bills: The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet February 26 at 3:15 p.m. in Dirksen 106 to consider multiple bills, including S.3798 addressing ATM violation-related criminal offenses and the nomination of Gregory Gilmore as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois.
• House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee Markup on Housing Loans and Programs: The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity will hold a markup February 24 at 2:30 p.m. in Cannon 360 to discuss several bills, including H.R.7141, Affordable Housing Guarantee Act, and H.R.7150, requirements for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report on housing loans.

Federal Government News

OCC Information Collection Renewal on Interest Rate Risk Management

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is soliciting public comments regarding the renewal of its information collection for interest rate risk management policies applicable to Federal savings associations, under OMB Control No. 1557-0299. Institutions are required to maintain records to document interest rate risk management in compliance with OCC regulation 12 CFR 163.176. The 230 estimated respondents spend 40 hours annually, amounting to a total burden of 9,200 hours. The OCC previously published a 60-day notice and now submits for OMB review under the Paperwork Reduction Act, seeking feedback by March 23, 2026. Comments may be submitted electronically or via mail, courier, or fax.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

OCC Request for Comment: Recordkeeping Requirements for Securities Transactions

The OCC invites public comment on the renewal of its information collection titled "Recordkeeping Requirements for Securities Transactions" (OMB Control No. 1557-0142). National banks and Federal savings associations are required under 12 CFR parts 12 and 151 to maintain records for at least three years, provide written transaction notifications, adopt supervisory policies, and report employees' personal securities transactions. With an annual estimated burden of 1,497 hours across 306 respondents, the OCC seeks input on the practical utility, burden minimization, and accuracy of these requirements. The submission period runs through April 21, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

SEC Notice: Application for BDC Exemptions by CIFC Direct Lending Evergreen Fund LP

The SEC issued a notice for an application under section 6(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 filed by CIFC Direct Lending Evergreen Fund LP and CIFC Private Credit Management LLC. The applicants seek an exemption to permit certain closed-end investment companies operating as business development companies to issue multiple share classes with varying sales loads and asset-based distribution or service fees. Requests for a hearing must be submitted by March 16, 2026. The application is accessible via the SEC's EDGAR system.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FDIC Solicits Comment on Five Information Collections

The FDIC seeks comment on the renewal of five information collections under the Paperwork Reduction Act, covering Home Mortgage Disclosure Act reporting, Management Official Interlocks, Funding and Liquidity Risk Management, Appraisals for Higher-Priced Mortgage Loans, and Recordkeeping for Timely Deposit Insurance Determination. The annual burdens have decreased across most categories due to revised estimates and fewer respondents. Comments are due by March 19, 2026, and can be submitted via multiple channels.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House Research Assesses CFPB Consumer Costs

White House research from the Council of Economic Advisers estimates the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has imposed $237-$369 billion in consumer costs since 2011, with increased borrowing expenses for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards well above the $21 billion in consumer restitution. The reports attribute loan origination declines to CFPB policy, documenting economic efficiency losses between $1.5-$5.7 billion. Compliance burdens are detailed, including 29 million paperwork hours and $21 billion in business costs. The CFPB received $8.9 billion in Federal Reserve funds, prompting fiscal considerations exceeding $13 billion total.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Bankruptcy: Coverage on recent bankruptcy developments in transportation and logistics sectors.
• How Crypto’s Lobbying Muscle May Save a Big Bill: Explains the lobbying activity by cryptocurrency firms around pending legislative clarity.
• Lenders to Commercial Real Estate Owners: Pay Up Now: Explores demand by lenders for immediate repayment from commercial real estate borrowers.
• Over 65? Congratulations, You Own the Economy: Reviews demographic shifts and their influence on the U.S. economy.
• Opinion | End the SEC’s Access Rule, Don’t Mend It: Discusses arguments for eliminating the SEC’s access rule for shareholders.
• India's BSE, brokerage stocks slide as RBI tightens bank lending to capital markets: Reports decline in brokerage stocks related to central bank actions affecting capital markets.

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