As we set out to forecast this year’s compliance priorities, we characterized 2026 as the most unpredictable year in our experience...At midyear, our assessment is holding. The year remains volatile. Pressure is shifting - often unevenly - across jurisdictions, risk domains and supervisory philosophies. What may appear, on the surface, as regulatory easing in some areas often masks a more complex reality: Expectations are being recalibrated, but exactly how and for how long is not always clear. Against this backdrop, financial institution leadership must look beyond headlines and signals of “lighter touch” supervision to understand which risks are being de-emphasized and which are actually building - whether or not regulators currently are focused on them. Just as importantly, leaders can’t lose sight of the fact that compliance decisions made today can have a bearing on regulatory examinations conducted years from now.

Members can view the entire issue, and past issues, in our FORUM Archive.