Federal Reserve · Thursday, October 1, 2026
Fed finalizes stress-test transparency rules
The File desk · Oct 1, 2026, 10:13 AM UTC
Status
Confirmed (Federal Reserve Board press release, Sept. 30, 2026, 9:00 a.m. Eastern)
On Sept. 30, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, the Federal Reserve Board finished two rules that make yearly stress tests of big banks more public and less jumpy from year to year. The public will get a say each year on scenarios and major model changes. Starting in 2028, capital buffers will average two years of test results. The Board says the changes should cut year-over-year swings in capital requirements by about half and should not materially change overall capital levels.
On Sept. 30, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, the Federal Reserve Board finished two final rules on stress tests of big banks.
The Board says the rules make the yearly tests more public and less jumpy from year to year.
One rule is the Legal instrument Starting in 2028, the capital buffer from the yearly big-bank stress test averages two years of results. The Federal Reserve says that should cut year-to-year swings in capital requirements by about half without a material change in overall capital levels.Capital Plan and Stress Capital Buffer final rule
Starting in 2028, capital buffers will average two years of test results.
The other rule is the Legal instrument Gives the public a yearly chance to comment on the stress-test scenarios and on major changes to the models before those tests are run.Enhanced Transparency of stress-test models and scenarios
The public will get a say each year on the scenarios and on major model changes.
The Board says the changes should cut year-over-year swings in capital requirements by about half.
The Board says the changes should not materially change overall capital levels.
What is still unknown or disputed
- Federal Register document numbers were not in the desk notes. The Board’s press release is the source for what was finished.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Federal Reserve Board finalizes rules to enhance the transparency of its stress tests
Federal Reserve Board · September 30, 2026
Sept. 30, 2026, 9:00 a.m. Eastern. Two final rules. Public comment each year on scenarios and major model changes. Starting in 2028, capital buffers average two years of results. The Board says year-over-year swings in capital requirements should fall by about half, without a material change in overall capital levels.
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20260930a.htm