Fed's Bowman Calls for Modernizing Bank Regulation and Supervision
Governor Bowman addressed the 2026 Community Banking Research Conference, urging updates to the regulatory and supervisory framework governing U.S. banks.
Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman delivered remarks Thursday calling for a modernization of the regulatory and supervisory framework that governs U.S. banks, speaking before an audience of community banking researchers and policymakers in St. Louis, Missouri.
The speech was delivered at the 2026 Community Banking Research Conference, a joint event sponsored by the Federal Reserve System, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation — three of the central bodies overseeing the American banking sector.
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Bowman's address came at a moment of heightened scrutiny over whether existing regulatory structures are adequately calibrated for the current financial environment, particularly as community banks face mounting competitive pressures from larger institutions and nonbank financial firms. While the full text of her remarks was not made available in this summary, the framing around modernization signals continued internal debate within the Fed over how supervision should evolve.
Community banks, which typically serve smaller and rural markets, have long argued that regulatory burdens designed for large financial institutions fall disproportionately on them. Conferences of this kind are considered a key venue for regulators, academics, and bankers to exchange research findings that can shape future policy decisions.
Continue reading at FRB: Speeches.
