The FED announced that it will no longer take into account the “reputational risk” criterion in bank inspections. In a statement made minutes ago today, it was stated that references to reputational risk in audit materials have begun to be reviewed and that these statements will be replaced with more concrete financial risk assessments where deemed appropriate. The Fed stated that this change does not change the expectation that banks implement strong risk management, and said, “This change does not eliminate the Fed's expectation that banks maintain strong risk management practices to ensure the safety and soundness of banks.” Fed Chairman Jerome Powell promised in February that he would remove language that would allow regulators to monitor banks for “controversial comments or activities.” You can access the FED's official press release here. Related News: Cold Wallet Users Beware: Important Security Warning Issued The move may be welcomed by some industry representatives and Republican politicians who have long opposed the practice, which has been seen as an “overly broad” and “unfair” regulatory criterion, arguing that it has led regulators to crack down on banks that do business with politically sensitive clients or cryptocurrency companies, even when those clients do not pose a direct threat to the bank’s security. Similarly, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said in a letter to Congress in March that it planned to “eliminate” reputational risk entirely from its regulatory approach. Another regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), said earlier this year that it would remove the term from its supervisory guidance. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: Everyone Focused on the US and Iran, but the Fed Quietly Implemented a Bullish Development for Cryptocurrencies