Proposed Changes to the State Banking Commission

On p. 47 of the budget bill, House and Senate leaders have proposed changes to the structure of the State Banking Commission. Specifically, they would shift how Commission members are appointed.

With regard to the 12 appointments currently that are made by the Governor, the bill reduces the number to 2, grants 6 appointments to the State Treasurer, and increases the number of appointments by the Senate President Pro Tem and the Speaker of the House from 1 each to 3 each. 

NC Digital Asset and Stablecoin Act

The NCBA has submitted suggested edits to House and Senate leadership for H 1029 (NC Digital Asset and Stablecoin Act). We offered specific refinements to the bill to try to ensure that its scope does not limit banks’ ability to explore innovations like deposit and loan tokenization. We have also focused on issues such as harmonizing with federal law and reevaluating the approach in the bill to unclaimed digital assets.

Sneak Peek: A Lo2026 NCBA/OBL Annual Convention

NCBA members gathered this week for the 2026 Convention, and we wanted to share a few early highlights from a memorable few days of connection, conversation and fellowship. Enjoy this sneak peek from the week, and be sure to tune in to next week’s Bulletin for the full Convention recap!

NCBA Celebrates Completion of First Raleigh BankWork$ Cohort

The North Carolina Bankers Association celebrated a special milestone last week as 15 participants completed NCBA’s first BankWork$ cohort and received their certificates of completion.

Over the course of eight weeks, the graduates worked hard to build their knowledge of banking while also growing personally and professionally. Their graduation marked not only the completion of the program, but also the beginning of new opportunities as they prepare to take the next step in their careers.

Following the ceremony, the BankWork$ cohort participated in a career fair with NCBA member banks, giving them the opportunity to connect directly with potential employers and learn more about career paths in the banking industry.

With the first cohort complete, NCBA’s work continues. The association will remain engaged with graduates as they pursue placement with member banks, helping connect their new skills and experience with opportunities across the industry! At the same time, we are already looking ahead to the program’s second cohort and the continued growth of BankWork$ as a meaningful pathway into banking careers in North Carolina.

F.N.B. Recognized Among “America’s High Growth Companies”

F.N.B. Corporation was named to Business Insider’s inaugural “America’s High Growth Companies” list, which recognizes companies for sustainable growth and financial performance. F.N.B. has a significant North Carolina presence, with markets including Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad, and reported nearly $51 billion in assets.

"FNB's strong performance, innovation and scale enable us to deliver value for our shareholders and exceptional experiences for our clients, employees and communities," said Vincent Delie, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of F.N.B. Corporation and First National Bank. "This recognition reflects our team's dedication to excellence and their success executing a business model that has positioned us to grow and thrive throughout a broad range of economic cycles."

IOLTA Program Changes

On p. 435 of S 257, legislators would create a new structure for appointing the Board of Trustees for the North Carolina Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program. IOLTA uses revenue generated from lawyers’ trust accounts at financial institutions to award millions of dollars in grants annually to select nonprofit organizations and other justice-related programs.

The current Board is appointed by the NC State Bar. The General Assembly had placed a funding freeze last summer on the program as it sought to evaluate how funds were being allocated and if some recipients engaged in political advocacy. The new 9-member Board would be comprised of 3 persons appointed by the Council of the North Carolina State Bar, 2 appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, 2 appointed upon the recommendation of the Senate President Pro Tem, and 2 appointed upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House.

Crypto ATMs

The Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Rules Committee quickly cleared H 920 (Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Prot. Act), a bill that had crossed from the House. The bill seeks to cap the fees that may be charged by crypto ATMs and enact consumer protections. The principal sponsors of the bill are Representatives Neal Jackson, Stephen Ross, and Brian Biggs.

Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair Tom McInnis presented the bill when it was before the Senate Finance Committee and offered an amendment to lower the fee cap from 14% as proposed in the version that crossed from the House to 12%. The Senate Finance Committee adopted the amendment, and the bill received a favorable report from the committee on a strong bipartisan vote. It then passed the Senate Rules Committee, preparing the way for a future floor vote on the bill. 

Sharing Confidential Supervisory Information

The FDIC is seeking comment on a proposal to clarify its regulations regarding the disclosure of confidential information by the FDIC and other parties. Under the FDIC’s current regulations, insured depository institutions must seek the prior approval of the FDIC in order to disclose confidential FDIC information to third parties, including their attorneys, accountants, auditors, and other partners.

Fed Stress Test Results

Large banks are well positioned to weather a severe recession and would be able to continue to lend to households and businesses, according to the results of the Federal Reserve’s annual stress tests. 

President Declines to Sign Bipartisan Housing Bill

Last week, President Donald Trump canceled plans to sign a bipartisan housing bill into law, saying lawmakers should first pass an unrelated elections bill. 

Resolution Planning Requirements

The FDIC has announced efforts to reduce the amount of information that large banks must share in their insured depository institution resolution plans. FDIC would also raise the minimum asset size for requiring resolution submissions. 

FDIC Assessment Schedules

The FDIC has proposed updates to the definitions of small and large institutions that determine which methodology is applied to calculate an institution’s deposit insurance assessment rate, and revising the deposit insurance rate schedules for all institutions. 

CFPB Consumer Complaint Portal

The CFPB has announced actions it says will increase the effectiveness of its complaint system. 

Appraisal Form Transition

FHA has posted an implementation guide for the upcoming transition to the UAD 3.6 Uniform Residential Appraisal Report, which is a single form that will replace the current Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac appraisal forms for all residential property types. 

OFAC Sanctions Reconsideration 

OFAC has launched a new online reconsideration portal for the submission of requests to be removed from an OFAC sanctions list. It also released FAQs on delisting. 

U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Protecting Fed Independence

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Fed Governor Lisa Cook can remain on the Fed board while a lawsuit challenging her removal by President Trump plays out in the courts.

“Acceptance of the government’s position would in effect transform the Federal Reserve’s for-cause protection into at-will employment – an interpretive leap out of step with the statute Congress enacted and our nation’s tradition of central banking protected from political interference,” said Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority.

Need Credits? Earn CRCM, CPE, SHRM and More!

Looking to skill up? North Carolina Bankers Association is making it easier than ever to invest in your professional growth. Sign up for one of the upcoming webinars from our partnered providers:

Live Oak Bank Appoints Matthew Diffley as Chief Accounting Officer

Wilmington-based Live Oak Bank announced that Matthew S. Diffley has joined the bank as chief accounting officer. Diffley will lead financial reporting, accounting policy, general ledger operations and SOX compliance. He brings more than 20 years of banking finance and accounting leadership experience to the role.

"The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order."

- Alfred North Whitehead