2026 banking regulatory outlook
Message from the Deloitte Center for Regulatory Strategy
2026 is poised to be a watershed year for banking regulations in the United States. The leaders of the federal banking regulatory agencies are reshaping their approach to regulation, supervisory, priorities, and internal agency supervisory processes. The industry is preparing for potentially the most significant changes to the capital framework in more than a decade, including a significant recalibration of regulatory thresholds. In addition, a general decrease in the issuance of new regulations and regulatory requirements is playing out, and a shift in supervisory approaches is anticipated to result in fewer agency supervisory actions and remediation items.
These changes reflect an explicitly commercial and innovation-friendly approach from new agency leaders and could significantly alter compliance requirements, industry competition and peer groups, and bank strategy. Our 2026 banking regulatory outlook explores the measures underway, the strategic risks and opportunities they present, and why 2026 may redefine how banks set out their strategic goals and interact with their regulators. In this context, we’ll explore key developments affecting the industry:
- New leaders reshaping bank supervision
- Preparing for the next wave of capital rulemaking
- Reassessing regulatory thresholds and tailoring
- New commercial emphasis among regulators
- Accommodating innovation while managing risk
We hope you find our outlook to be a helpful guide on how these banking regulatory changes and challenges might affect your financial institution. As always, we’re here to help you chart the course.
