#Gruenberg

11 04, 2024

RESOLVE51

2024-04-11T14:22:52-04:00April 11th, 2024|5- Client Report|

FedFin Assessment: FDIC Plan to Resolve GSIBs Fails to Answer Many Key Questions

In its first public statement since 2013 about how it would execute an SPOE resolution (see FSM Report RESOLVE23), the FDIC yesterday released a report Chair Gruenberg described as demonstrating the FDIC’s readiness to resolve a U.S. GSIB and the process it has developed for doing so under the orderly liquidation authority (OLA) provided in the Dodd-Frank Act (see FSM Report SYSTEMIC30).  As detailed in this FedFin report, the FDIC’s goal is to set stakeholder expectations regarding what to expect in an OLA resolution of a U.S. GSIB, but much reiterates current law and prior actions such as GSIB filings related to their resolution plans and the FRB’s TLAC standards (see FSM Report TLAC6).  Although perhaps released by the Chairman at least in part to assert FDIC capabilities at a time of internal stress and Congressional criticism, it remains unclear the extent to which the FDIC is ready and able to execute the protocols it describes.  The paper principally addresses only SPOE resolutions, which it states are best suited to OLA without making clear what it would do if a GSIB chose MPOE (none have so far although this is permitted under the living-will rules), a regional bank found to be systemic used MPOE (as several do), or if resolution involves a nonbank, where MPOE might well be preferable.

RESOLVE51.pdf

10 04, 2024

DAILY041024

2024-04-10T17:24:00-04:00April 10th, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

OCC Merger Deadline Extended, De Facto Policy Remains

Responding to industry requests, the OCC today extended the comment deadline on its merger proposal (see FSM Report MERGER14) until June 15 from April 15.

Gruenberg Defends FDIC GSIB-Resolution Readiness

Rejecting criticism from its own inspector-general and others including Karen Petrou, FDIC Chair Gruenberg today stated that the agency is indeed ready to resolve a U.S. GSIB and that any such resolution will exert market discipline on shareholders and BHC counterparties.

Hsu Presses Banks to Expand Account Access for Immigrants

Focusing on increasing banking access for immigrants, Acting Comptroller Hsu today told banks to consider risk-based adjustments to their account screening processes to accept more forms of identification for account openings such as municipal IDs and consular ID cards.

Daily041024.pdf

9 04, 2024

Daily040924

2024-04-10T10:52:27-04:00April 9th, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

Senate GOP Tackles Card Fees

Joined by GOP Senators from credit-card domiciles, Senate Banking Ranking Member Scott (R-SC) yesterday led the expected Republican resolution overturning the CFPB’s credit-card late fee rule (see FSM Report CREDITCARD37).  It joins like-kind resolutions from Rep. Barr (R-KY) and Ogles (R-TN), with Mr. Barr’s resolution the one likely to move to the House floor.

Warren Starts Bargaining for Crypto-AML Standards

Throwing another wrinkle into the careworn face of efforts to pass stablecoin legislation, Sen. Warren (D-MA) yesterday sent a letter to Reps. McHenry (R-NC) and Waters (D-CA) arguing that their ongoing and apparently-hopeful efforts to craft stablecoin legislation may inadvertently amplify risk.

Daily040924.pdf

4 04, 2024

Daily040424

2024-04-04T17:00:02-04:00April 4th, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

Hsu, Gruenberg Skirt CRA Legal Battle

The CRA-related remarks today from Acting Comptroller Hsu and Chair Gruenberg were considerably more muted than those yesterday from Vice Chair Barr, although Mr. Gruenberg expressly defends the new rule despite the pending legal challenge.

FRB-NY: Life, P&C Insurance Poses Climate Risk to Financial Markets

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York yesterday posted a brief focusing on financial-market risk due to climate change, concluding that there is some of potentially systemic magnitude.  This finding is based on a nine-month-old staff report focusing specifically on the insurance sector.

FDIC Presses Banks to do More in LMI Communities

Previewed in remarks by Chair Gruenberg this morning, the FDIC today released its economic inclusion strategic plan calling on banks to invest in LMI and underbanked communities.

Daily040425.pdf

21 03, 2024

DAILY032124

2024-03-21T17:00:13-04:00March 21st, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

FDIC Plans Merger Squelch

Both the policy and politics of the FDIC’s proposed merger policy follow that of its 2022 RFI (see FSM Report MERGER9), a very stringent approach to bank-merger review that split the FDIC 3-2 on party lines.  We will shortly provide clients with an in-depth analysis of the proposed approach, approved on a 3-2 vote.  It tracks much in the OCC’s proposal (see FSM Report MERGER14) but is still more stringent in several key areas.  Notably, it does not rely on qualitative financial-stability considerations, instead setting a $100 billion threshold for additional scrutiny.

Chopra Wants Far Tougher Bank-Merger Policy

CFPB Director Chopra elaborated today on his comments at the FDIC meeting, saying that he thinks the proposal is fine as far as it goes but that federal policy should go considerably further to curtail bank consolidation.  Actions he advocates include hard caps on bank growth and size (presumably meaning a limit on organic growth as well as via acquisition) and a roll-back of the systemic exemption in failing-bank acquisitions to block any future JPM/FRC-style transactions.

Daily032124.pdf

15 03, 2024

Al031824

2024-03-15T17:23:21-04:00March 15th, 2024|3- This Week|

Answered Prayers?

Banks have been asking regulators for years – decades? – to update 1995 merger guidance.  So the banking agencies are beginning to do, but not exactly as banks would have liked to see it done.  Although Sen. Warren (D-MA) thinks the OCC’s proposed merger policy is too soft, our analysis (see FSM Report MERGER14) and that of many others finds it a formidable barrier to all but the simplest, smallest transactions.  Now comes the FDIC.  As the schedule below makes clear, it plans on Thursday to issue a proposal based on its 2021 RFI (see FSM Report MERGER9).  We doubt any bank-merger policy influenced as strongly by CFPB Director Chopra will be a bank merger policy banks will like any better than the OCC’s, although some compromises may have to be made if Republican members of the FDIC board are willing to contemplate at least some of what Mr. Chopra, surely seconded by Chair Gruenberg, wants done.

Al031824.pdf

14 03, 2024

DAILY031424

2024-03-14T16:33:10-04:00March 14th, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

Bipartisan Senators See More ILC Charters

Led by Sen. Romney (R-UT), bipartisan senators generally from states with large ILC presence or interest urged the agency to advance pending ILC charters and consider new ones.  The Senators oppose regulatory actions that may “target” ILC charter applications, expressing concerns about delays in the FDIC’s decision process.

Global Supervisors Target Mortgages, BNPL, Fintech as Top NBFI Systemic Priorities

An FSI report today recommends a holistic approach to regulating NBFI retail lenders, urging a policy mix increasing NBFI oversight.  This may well be right, but it will take statutory change in nations such as the U.S. to achieve it.

New Open-Standard-Setting for Open-Banking Set for Stringent Eligibility Standards

CFPB Director Chopra now states that the open-banking regulation regarding consumer data rights (see FSM Report DATA4) will be finalized in the fall, with proposed new standards for standard-setters released ahead of time so that the final rule addresses both issues.  Mr. Chopra is concerned that some forms of standard-setting organizations “weaponize” data to enhance their competitive position.

Daily031424.pdf

11 03, 2024

DAILY031124

2024-03-11T17:15:23-04:00March 11th, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

Hagerty Demands Signature-Asset Sale Answers ASAP

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) yesterday sent a letter to Chair Gruenberg questioning the FDIC’s adherence to requirements in its auction process during the sale of Signature Bank’s loan portfolio, accusing the FDIC of making political choices inconsistent with its least-cost mandate.

Scott Again Calls for Gruenberg Resignation

Adding to GOP pressure on FDIC Chair Gruenberg, Senate Banking Ranking Member Scott (R-SC) yesterday sent a letter reiterating his demand that Mr. Gruenberg step down.

BTFP Demise if FHLB Opportunity

As anticipated, the BTFP window closed today.

FDIC’s Hill Wants New Blockchain, Liquidity Standards

FDIC Vice Chair Hill today said there are “significant downsides” to the agency’s current approach to blockchain, describing its message and that of the inter-agency policy (see Client Report CRYPTO32) as “don’t bother trying.”

Warren Tries to Divide Powell from Other Regulators to Conquer Capital Regs

Following her grilling of Chair Powell last week regarding his decision to intervene in setting the new capital rules, Sen. Warren (D-MA) yesterday sent a letter to Vice Chair Barr, Chair Gruenberg, and Acting Comptroller Hsu asking them if pressure from big banks has “weakened your resolve.”

GAO Wants FinCEN to Move Better, Faster

Reinforcing longstanding bank complaints about the current AML regime, GAO today published a report finding that FinCEN needs to improve transparency surrounding its progress implementing the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (see FSM Report AML132).

Biden Presses for Statutory Change Boosting FHLB Affordable-Housing Contributions

President Biden’s FY25 …

7 03, 2024

DAILY030724

2024-03-07T16:51:03-05:00March 7th, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

HFSC GOP Press Discount-Window Reform, Slow-Go on Liquidity Risk

Building on questioning at a recent HFSC hearing (see Client Report LIQUIDITY34), Financial Institutions Subcommittee Chair Barr (R-KY) led all Republican members of his subcommittee in a letter to Chair Powell, Chair Gruenberg, and Acting Comptroller Hsu urging them to address stigma and operational issues associated with the discount window.

Powell Reiterates: Capital Rules Will Change

Today’s Senate Banking hearing with Chair Powell covered much of the same ground as the Chair’s appearance before HFSC (see Client Report FEDERALRESERVE75) with Democrats focusing on housing affordability and Republicans expressing their satisfaction with Mr. Powell’s statement that the Basel III proposal may have to be withdrawn and re-proposed.

House Judiciary Now Says 12 Large Banks Colluded with FinCEN

Prior to the House Judiciary’s Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government hearing today on large bank “collusion,” the subcommittee yesterday published a report finding that FinCEN and the FBI engaged in backchannel discussions with large financial institutions to gather private financial data.

BCBS Proposes GSIB Window-Dressing Revisions

As anticipated, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision today released a consultation on revisions to the GSIB assessment framework concerning window dressing.

House Republican Targets Interest on Reserves

Following up on yesterday’s HFSC hearing (see Client Report FEDERALRESERVE75), Rep. Davidson (R-OH) has introduced legislation (H.R. 7562) to prevent Federal Reserve Banks from paying interest on excess reserves.

Daily030724.pdf

2 02, 2024

DAILY020224

2024-02-02T16:21:33-05:00February 2nd, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

Powell, Hsu Add to Pressure on SEC Crypto-Custody Standards

As we noted yesterday, Congressional Republicans are now mounting a Congressional Review Act effort to repeal the SEC’s staff accounting bulletin (see FSM Report CUSTODY5) requiring balance-sheet recognition of crypto-custody deposits at considerable cost to banking institutions.

Trump to Dump Powell

As we expected, Donald Trump today said that, if elected, he will not reappoint Jerome Powell.  This decision will not present itself to the next president until Mr. Powell’s term ends in January of 2026, but we do not think either of the candidates is likely to reappoint Mr. Powell should he seek a third term.

GOP Bill Challenges Capital Proposal

Echoing long-held concerns of other HFSC Republicans, Rep. Ogles (R-TN) along with Rep. Donalds (R-FL) have introduced legislation (H.R. 7143) forcing regulators to withdraw the capital proposal (see FSM Report CAPITAL230).

Senate Presses for Anti-Hungary Sanctions

In a statement that may lead financial institutions to review their exposures, Senate Foreign Relations Chair Cardin (D-MD) called on the Biden Administration to consider sanctions against Hungary due to its government’s refusal until late yesterday to support EU efforts for Ukraine and its broadly anti-democratic program in general and with specific regard to pressuring the U.S. and its ambassador to Hungary.

HFSC Republicans Take Another Shot at FDIC

Continuing their campaign against FDIC Chair Gruenberg, HFSC Chair McHenry (R-NC) along with Subcommittee Chairs Barr (R-KY) and Hill (R-AR) sent a letter today to the FDIC questioning …

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