Fed Merger Reviews Slowing Down, Watchdog Finds

The Federal Reserve's internal watchdog has identified a slowdown in the approval process for bank mergers and acquisitions. This finding comes despite the central bank's efforts to implement reforms aimed at accelerating these reviews. The report highlights that the time taken for these decisions has increased compared to four years ago. This situation occurs amidst heightened scrutiny of regulatory processes within the banking sector, potentially adding further pressure on the Fed's efficiency and its approach to overseeing consolidation in the industry.