In its 2026 FINRA Annual Regulatory Oversight Report, FINRA highlighted areas of focus for the new year, reviewed recent compliance deficiencies and observations and offered guidance for member firms on their regulatory obligations.

In a Risk Alert, the SEC Division of Examinations ("Division") found that many investment advisers are still struggling with the practical application of the "Marketing Rule," particularly regarding testimonials, endorsements, and third-party ratings.

The SEC approved rule changes by the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation ("FICC") to address constraints that registered investment companies face in accessing the FICC's clearing services, including double margining issues, capital requirements associated with sponsoring member guarantees, and operational constraints on settlement payments.

In an amicus brief before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the OCC urged the full court to reconsider their decision to allow Colorado to impose an interest rate cap on an out-of-state bank making loans to in state residents. The OCC argued the decision undermines federal interest rate preemption for state-chartered banks.

The Federal Reserve (i) rescinded a 2023 policy statement on supervisory expectations related to “novel and unprecedented” activities, (ii) withdrew Supplementary Information on specific crypto-asset activities, and (iii) issued a new statement "designed to facilitate innovation by state member banks in a manner that is consistent with bank safety and soundness."