The U.S. Federal Reserve has proposed easing regulations for banks with less than 700 billion dollars in assets.
Under the proposal, banks that are big, but not as big as Wall Street mega-banks, would enjoy reduced liquidity and compliance requirements.
Smaller banks would get even easier treatment and face fewer stress tests of their capital plans than the annual exam the Fed now conducts.
Wednesday's proposal is the latest move by federal regulators to relax government oversight of financial firms in line with President Donald Trump's objectives.
One Fed governor, Lael Brainard, voted against the proposal, arguing it would raise the risk of another taxpayer bailout of big banks.