In a move that highlights the deepening friction between the burgeoning fintech sector and traditional banking regulators, Enova International officially withdrew its applications to the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) this week. The decision marks the termination of a $369 million deal to acquire Grasshopper Bancorp, an acquisition…
WASHINGTON — The daily average interest rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped below the critical 7% threshold on Tuesday morning, settling at 6.97% APR, according to data provided to financial analysts by Zillow. While a sub-7% average may catch the eye of prospective homebuyers and those eyeing a refinance, financial experts emphasize that…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 15, 2026 — In a significant victory for consumer advocacy groups and state regulators, Enova International—a major player in the online non-bank lending sector—has officially withdrawn its controversial application to acquire Grasshopper Bank. The move effectively halts a high-stakes bid that critics argued would have served as a "Trojan horse," allowing…
By Global Technology Desk Published September 2026 Main Facts In a significant policy shift from one of the tech industry’s most influential leaders, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly urged artificial intelligence developers to embrace slower, more deliberate development cycles. Writing in a series of posts on social media platform X, Altman emphasized that the…
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump forcefully entered the escalating debate over artificial intelligence governance this week, declaring that his administration provides all the necessary "guardrails" for the booming sector. In a series of sharp social media posts, Trump attacked Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, alleged a coordinated conspiracy against AI infrastructure, and warned that regulatory overreach…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a move that signals a burgeoning confrontation between the legislative branch and the executive’s financial regulators, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has formally requested a federal investigation into the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The request, directed to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), alleges that a "precipitous drop" in enforcement activity and…
By PYMNTS July 22, 2026 Stripe, the global financial infrastructure giant, is aggressively repositioning itself to become the central nervous system of the artificial intelligence (AI) economy. Fresh off a fiscal year that saw its revenue climb by a third to $6.8 billion, the company is leveraging its unique position at the intersection of high-growth…
By PYMNTS July 22, 2026 Amazon, the e-commerce and cloud computing titan, confirmed on Wednesday (July 22) that it has implemented a new round of job cuts within its Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) division. The decision marks the latest step in a protracted period of organizational restructuring as the company seeks to focus its resources…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a move that underscores the Federal Reserve’s intensifying scrutiny of internal controls within community banking, the Board of Governors has officially prohibited James Burns, the former Chief Lending Officer of Heritage State Bank, from participating in the banking industry for life. The enforcement action, announced on July 21, 2026, follows a…
By PYMNTS | July 20, 2026 In a development that has sent ripples through the corridors of Washington’s technology policy circles, Chris Fall, the head of the U.S. Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI), has resigned from his post. The departure comes just three months into his tenure, leaving the federal government’s primary agency…
