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FinCEN Advisory on Chinese Money Laundering Networks

FinCEN issued an advisory detailing the use of Chinese money laundering networks by Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations to launder illicit proceeds. The advisory highlights typologies and red flags to assist financial institutions in identifying and reporting suspicious activity.

FinCEN Alert: $300M Fraud in Minnesota Nutrition Programs

FinCEN issued an alert regarding at least $300 million in fraud targeting Federal child nutrition programs in Minnesota. Financial institutions are urged to identify and report suspicious activity related to these fraud rings, referencing a specific key term in their Suspicious Activity Reports.

Mortgage Applications Hit Three-Year High, Spreads Compressed

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that mortgage applications have reached a three-year high, with spreads between mortgages and Treasuries compressing. This news release highlights positive trends in the U.S. housing market and mortgage rates.

FHFA House Price Index Report - October Data

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported that U.S. house prices increased by 0.4% in October, with an annual rise of 1.7%. The September data was revised to a 0.1% decline. This notice provides the latest monthly and annual house price index data.

FHFA House Price Index: November Data

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported that U.S. house prices increased by 0.6% in November and 1.9% annually. This notice provides the latest data from the FHFA House Price Index (HPI) and details on its methodology and future release schedule.

FHFA House Price Index Report - Q4 2025

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported that U.S. house prices increased by 1.8 percent year-over-year and 0.8 percent quarter-over-quarter in Q4 2025. The report details price changes across states, metropolitan areas, and census divisions, noting positive annual appreciation for most regions.

OFR Brief: Private Credit Exposures to Banks

The Office of Financial Research (OFR) published a brief on March 12, 2026, analyzing counterparty exposures between banks and private credit funds. The brief highlights that while the private credit sector's vulnerabilities appear contained, the linkages with traditional financial institutions through counterparty exposures are a key channel for risk transmission that warrants monitoring.

Hedge Fund Participation in Cleared Repo and SEC Rule Readiness

The Office of Financial Research published a brief examining hedge fund participation in the cleared repo market and their readiness for the SEC Treasury clearing rule. The brief indicates hedge funds are largely operationally prepared, with balance sheet benefits for dealers being a key motivator for central clearing.

Cyber Outages Disrupt Repo Market, Costing $100B

A working paper published by the Office of Financial Research indicates that cyber-induced operational outages can disrupt the U.S. repurchase agreements (repo) market, potentially costing over $100 billion in funding and raising rates by over 50 basis points. The study highlights the importance of cybersecurity preparedness and institutional resilience.

Changes to Uniform Bank Performance Report Peer Group Definitions

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) announced changes to the Uniform Bank Performance Report (UBPR) commercial bank peer group definitions, effective shortly after February 26, 2026. These updates are part of an ongoing review of commercial bank peer groups initiated in 2025.