The regulatory environment is changing daily. Proposed rules are often stalled and no longer move forward to finalization. Even when rules are finalized, they may be rescinded shortly after. This constant back and forth makes it hard to know which rules to follow. At ICBA we work diligently to ensure that our training is up to date with the current requirements.

While it will possibly take months and even the rest of the year to see the full shakeout, April 2025 was a laboratory for market efficiency. Some might contend there was an element of ruthlessness in the activity. Starting even before the Trump administration’s trade policy tariffs went into effect on April 2, the “Bond Vigilantes,” a nebulous gang of institutional debt investors, started shooting up the place.

As the economic landscape continues to shift rapidly, the ability to navigate unforeseen macroeconomic changes is essential for a bank’s long-term success and the preservation of franchise value.