Building on Finextra’s US Regulation Survey 2025: Compliance at a Crossroads, our 2026 version, capturing and exploring ongoing priorities within US regulation, is now available to download.
Editorial
This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community.
Our 2026 US Regulation Pulse Check survey report reveals that the US financial services industry – in navigating a landscape that is swept up in deregulation and for the most part, not left stagnant – is embracing a new version of optimism for the year ahead. Banks, credit unions, fintech firms and technology providers are confident to move forward, but are also grounded enough to recognise the responsibilities that come with being afforded greater flexibility.
Surveying 201 US-based financial service professionals in Q4 2025, the report revealed key insights to help navigate this complex landscape, and how your organisation can lead the way.
While 51% of firms see deregulation as positive, only 8% view it as risk free, highlighting growing responsibilities in governance and consumer protection. Overall confidence in meeting regulatory requirements remains high, though fewer feel ‘very confident’ compared to 2025, reflecting a more measured outlook in the face of regulatory upheaval.
Madhvi Sonia, vice president – content, Finextra Research commented: “With regulatory unpredictability increasing, potential vulnerabilities can only be expected to track the same way. As also seen in the 2025 report, technology is no longer a-nice-to-have or an aspiration: we are in the era of the upgrade and therefore, as changes in products and services permeate, structural weaknesses must be addressed in lockstep before it is too late.”
Sonia added: “Strategies around deregulation, technology adoption, and shifting regulatory expectations should be intertwined and as the financial services sector leans into flexibility, we must remain vigilant, while also maintaining optimism, pragmatism and determination to scale resilience. In 2026, those that understand that reduced regulatory pressure does not mean reduced responsibility will win.”
Download the full report here, to discover the insights financial leaders are already using to shape their compliance strategies.
