Politics, Legal & Regulation

March 21, 2023 @ 9:13 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

There’s new regulation requiring individuals using digital payment apps to report their earnings – over $600 – directly to the IRS. This change significantly impacts business owners, side hustlers, and gig economy workers. These individuals must file Form 1099-K, creating an extra step during tax… Read More

March 21, 2023 @ 2:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee has scheduled its “first” hearing on the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The hearing will be held at 10:00 AM ET on March 29, 2023, and is said to be the first of multiple hearings the Committee… Read More

March 21, 2023 @ 11:03 am By JD Alois  |  

US Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, addressed the American Bankers Association today, tackling the topic on everyone’s mind. The precarious financial services industry and the possibility for contagion. The collapse of multiple banks in the US has now spread to Europe. This past week,… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 10:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) recently said that Singapore’s banking system “remains sound and resilient amid heightened volatility in global financial markets following the recent closure of banks in the US.” The Singapore Dollar money market and foreign exchange market “continue to function well.”… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 8:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

President Joe Biden executed the first veto of his administration, axing a bill that garnered bipartisan support in making its way to the President’s desk. Biden tweeted out his action while blaming “Maga House Republicans.” Peter Schiff, a well-known investor and advisor summarized the President’s… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 7:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee is demanding answers on how regulators failed in their oversight of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Chair of the Committee, Patrick McHenry, has been joined by the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Tim Scott, are requesting… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 6:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will hold the 42nd Annual Small Business Forum as a virtual event. The event is hosted by the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation. During the tenure of Jay Clayton, the Forum was held at various… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 4:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

As part of the deal to save Credit Suisse from a potential collapse, the agreement that was cut for UBS to take over the bank included a write-down to zero of AT1 (Tier 1) bonds. This means holders will receive nothing for the securities. Following… Read More

March 19, 2023 @ 4:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

Several government entities have commented on UBS’s recently announced takeover of Credit Suisse. The acquisition was supported by the Swiss government. Credit Suisse faced a crisis of confidence this past week, which could have spilled over into this coming week. Swiss government officials worked to… Read More

March 19, 2023 @ 3:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA has approved the acquisition of Credit Suisse by competitor UBS. The move was announced earlier today as Credit Suisse had endured a difficult week after rumblings of financial challenges at the bank. On March 15, FINMA issued a… Read More

March 17, 2023 @ 9:11 am By JD Alois  |  

Representative Patrick McHenry, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has issued a statement on the move by big banks to assist First Republic Bank. Yesterday, the largest banks in the US as well as two investment banks, announced $30 billion in deposits for First… Read More

March 16, 2023 @ 7:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

FedNow, the US Federal Reserves – a near real-time transfers platform that will soon be made available to all banks in the United States, will enable individuals and businesses to move their money in a frictionless manner. In development for years, FedNow is currently scheduled… Read More

March 16, 2023 @ 9:22 am By JD Alois  |  

Pointing at persistent inflation, the European Central Bank (ECB) has increased benchmark rates by 50 BPS. The Governing Council of the ECB said it decided to raise the three key interest rates by 50 basis points. Accordingly, the interest rate on the main refinancing operations… Read More

March 16, 2023 @ 8:54 am By JD Alois  |  

The FedNow Service will commence operations this coming July, according to a statement by the US Federal Reserve. FedNow is an effort to facilitate instant payment services by financial institutions 24/7/365. Currently, most transactions provided by legacy financial institutions can take days. Both businesses and… Read More

March 15, 2023 @ 3:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) have issued a joint statement on “market uncertainty.” The statement follows the rapid decline in the share value of Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS). The global bank is viewed as the worst home in… Read More

March 15, 2023 @ 12:06 pm By JD Alois  |  

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered the Spring Statement today, making several big announcements, including a huge change in retirement planning. Hunt said that the Conservative government’s approach to the economy is “on the right track” while noting they “remain vigilant” and will take… Read More

March 14, 2023 @ 11:41 am By JD Alois  |  

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have launched investigations into Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) failure. Last Friday, federal regulators took over the bank as customers rushed to pull money out of the bank due to concerns about its… Read More

March 13, 2023 @ 4:53 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with the company’s acquisition of Boa Vista Serviços, which is reportedly the second-largest credit bureau in Brazil. Equifax and Boa Vista Serviços “entered into a Merger… Read More

March 13, 2023 @ 4:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Federal Reserve Board has announced that Vice Chair for Supervision Michael S. Barr will be leading a review of the supervision and regulation of Silicon Valley Bank, in light of its failure. The Fed said the review would be publicly released by May 1,… Read More

March 13, 2023 @ 11:54 am By JD Alois  |  

Earlier today, HSBC announced that it had acquired Silicon Valley Bank UK for £1 in a transaction approved by UK banking regulators. SVB has been a top banking firm for venture-backed firms around the world, and its UK operation is perhaps the most prominent. As… Read More