U.S. birth and marriage rates—and the life expectancy of its young people—are falling. How should banks respond to America’s demographic disaster? (ABA Banking Journal)

The U.S. economy grew 2.3 percent in 2019, according to the Commerce Department. That's a slowdown from the previous year, when the economy grew 2.9 percent. (NPR)

Recognizing the crucial role banks can play in combating human trafficking and human smuggling, ABA launched a new online course on ways bankers can spot the signs of illicit financial activity associated with these crimes. There are approximately 25 million victims of human trafficking around the world, including 403,000 in the United States alone. (ABA Banking Journal)

For a long time, AML, cybersecurity and fraud prevention were seen as have-to-dos and cost centers, says Juan C. Zarate in the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast. “Today, management of financial crime risk is now a fundamental part of banking.” (ABA Banking Journal)

Relationships fuel profitability, especially in a persistently difficult rate environment. (ABA Banking Journal)

The Federal Reserve has issued a final rule amending its existing rules for determining control of a company by another company under the Bank Holding Company Act and the Home Owners’ Loan Act. The final rule will provide greater transparency and clarity regarding the facts and circumstances the Fed considers most relevant when assessing controlling influence. (ABA Banking Journal)

The ABA has recommended several changes to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s interim final rule that would facilitate banks offering services to hemp growers and hemp-related businesses. The rule was issued in October to establish regulations and procedures for the legal production of industrial hemp, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill, which reclassified hemp as a legal agricultural commodity. (ABA Banking Journal)

The FDIC finalized amendments to its securitization safe harbor rule, which addresses circumstances that may arise if the FDIC is appointed receiver or conservator for an insured depository institution that has sponsored one or more securitization transactions. (ABA Banking Journal)

In a move aimed at loosening some of the reins put on Wall Street after the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve on Thursday eliminated a restriction on bank ownership of venture capital funds, as well as two other changes. (CNBC)

The House on Wednesday passed legislation aimed at overhauling consumer credit reporting and providing additional protections and opportunities to rebuild credit. The measure, which consisted of a package of six bills, passed along party lines. (The Hill)

In an op-ed this week, Colorado Bankers Association CEO Don Childears called a recent decision by the Colorado State Banking Board to deny the sale of a community bank to a credit union “good public policy,” noting that such a sale would have removed a taxpaying institution from the state tax rolls. The board earlier this month denied the sale of Greeley, Colorado-based Cache Bank and Trust to Elevations Credit Union, headquartered in Boulder. (ABA Banking Journal)