#ICBA – Federal Financial Analytics

21 11, 2023

Daily112123

Arezou Rafikian2023-11-21T16:48:20-05:00November 21st, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

BIS Study: Low-Profit GSIBs are High-Risk GSIBs

A new BIS paper assesses the systemic consequences of GSIBs with low market capitalization, an issue with immediate relevance given investor concerns about the long-term earnings impact of numerous pending rules. The methodology leads the authors to focus on price-to-book ratios (PTBRs) which are found to be directly linked to investor-predicted return on equity. Although GSIB capital requirements dramatically increased over the course of the study, there is said to be no significant impact on franchise value.

CFTC Realigns Client-Fund Segregation Standards

The CFTC today proposed to make significant changes to client-fund segregation rules governing futures commission merchants and derivatives clearing organizations covering both how FCMs and DCOs handle client funds and the manner in which they may be deposited with banks. The proposal redefines permissible investments that must still be housed at a bank or similar entity, adding foreign sovereigns, limiting MMFs to government funds, and removing certain corporate bonds and similar instruments.

Basel Points to Problematic Climate-Risk Implementation

The Basel Committee today issued a “newsletter” addressing issues raised since it finalized global climate-risk management principles (see Client Report CLIMATE14), now codified for large U.S. banking organizations (see Client Report CLIMATE17).

FDIC Sets Up Special Committee to Address Widespread Concerns

In a major concession surely necessary to appease at least some in Congress and ensure continuing agency function, the FDIC board today announced formation of a special committee to be chaired by Acting Comptroller Michael Hsu and Director …

16 05, 2023

DAILY051623

Eliza Allen2023-05-16T17:44:43-04:00May 16th, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

Hsu Presses Reg Harmonization, Resolution Reform, Merger-Policy Rewrite

We now add our assessment of Acting Comptroller’s Hsu’s testimony to our analyses of those from Messrs. Barr and Gruenberg ahead of HFSC’s hearing later this morning.

Yellen Says White House Supports Community-Bank Exemptions

Speaking today to the ICBA, Secretary Yellen today joined the parade of policy-makers affirming the national importance of community banks.

JEC GOP Counter FRB on SVB Causality

JEC Republican staff today released a memo finding that tailored liquidity rules did not contribute to SVB’s failure, a contrast to the FRB’s SVB report (see Client Report REFORM221).

LLPAs Set for GOP Frying Pan

The majority-staff memo for tomorrow’s Housing Subcommittee hearing makes it clear that, as anticipated, the sole topic will be FHFA’s controversial LLPAs and related GSE pricing.

Senate Banking: Tough Grilling For Failed-Bank CEOs, Growing Consensus For Clawback Bill/Tough Rules

As predicted, today’s Senate Banking hearing with the CEOs of SVB and SBNY was a feisty session in which Democrats built their case for executive clawback legislation and the failed bank executives defended management while repeatedly placing blame on what they called an “unprecedented series of events.”

Daily051623.pdf…

21 03, 2023

DAILY032123

Eliza Allen2023-03-21T17:00:01-04:00March 21st, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

US Races to Calm Depositors, Bankers

In a concerted effort to quell depositor fear, the White House has told Bloomberg that it will not allow community banks to experience a panic and Secretary Yellen is said shortly to assure bankers that smaller banks will not be allowed to experience a concerted run.

Treasury Stands Behind Small Banks In Systemic Situations

In her formal remarks today, Treasury Secretary Yellen confirmed press reports that the U.S. would contemplate interventions similar to those for SVB and SBNY should a smaller bank suffer a deposit run posing contagion risk.

CFPB Adds to Credit-Card Competition Interventions

Continuing its campaign against large credit-card companies (see FSM Report CREDITCARD36), the CFPB today launched an expanded credit card issuer survey to post new information on smaller companies the agency thinks beneficial to increase competition in this sector.

Adeyemo Reiterates US Backstop

In addition to Secretary Yellen’s comments today, Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo not only praised his agency’s response, but also reaffirmed that the government is prepared to back smaller banks.

Daily032123.pdf…

15 03, 2023

FedFin Assessment: Post-SVB Deposit Insurance Reform

Arezou Rafikian2023-03-15T16:58:47-04:00March 15th, 2023|The Vault|

Cementing prior denouncements of 2018 Dodd-Frank “rollbacks” into legislative action, 17 Democratic senators and 31 House Members today took direct aim at Trump-era banking policy by introducing legislation that would repeal Title IV of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. But, while this initiative is gaining considerable attention, its legislative prospects are dim – indeed, even Senate Banking Committee Chairman Brown (D-OH) suggested as much…

The full report is available to retainer clients. To find out how you can sign up for the service, click here and here.

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15 03, 2023

DEPOSITINSURANCE118

Eliza Allen2023-03-15T12:48:33-04:00March 15th, 2023|5- Client Report|

FedFin Assessment: Post-SVB Deposit Insurance Reform

As promised in our first post-SVB impact assessment (see Client Report RESOLVE49), this report begins a series of analyses of specific policy issues. We start here with possible changes to FDIC insurance based on comments from Reps. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), and other arguing either that the $250,000 limit for FDIC coverage needs to be eliminated or sharply increased. We also analyze the prospects for shifting the burden of higher DIF premiums to large banks as recommended by the ICBA, ending the FHLB’s super-lien due to the resulting, significant increase in FDIC resolution costs in recent failures, changes to the treatment of brokered deposits, and revisions to the FDIC’s overall risk-based assessment system (see FSM Report DEPOSITINSURANCE96). Other resolution issues – e.g., the future of proposed regional-bank standards (see FSM Report RESOLVE48) and bank merger policy will be covered in future reports along with the prospects for significant changes in bank capital, liquidity, and other prudential standards.

DEPOSITINSURANCE118.pdf…

28 02, 2023

DAILY022823

Eliza Allen2023-02-28T17:16:34-05:00February 28th, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

CFPB Treads Gingerly on Mortgage-Disclosure Exceptions

In a notice emphasizing the CFPB’s distaste for allowing regulatory exceptions, the Bureau asks for comment on an application for one to which it seems a bit more sympathetic.

FDIC Sees Sunny Side of Bank Earnings Data

In its review of banking-industry fourth-quarter results, the FDIC today notes a sharp increase in the gap between bank loan yield and deposit interest costs.

Basel Forecasts End-Game Capital Shortfalls

The Basel Committee today issued its latest monitoring report, finding that large global banks saw capital decreases to pre-pandemic levels even as liquidity ratios continued to improve.

Bipartisan China Bills Fly Through HFSC Markup

As anticipated, HFSC today reported five bills to censure China and protect Taiwan, along with bills addressing drug-trafficking financing, biomedical security and bank service company examinations.

Democrats Stand Firm versus Privacy Preemption

Following an orderly and bipartisan start to today’s HFSC markup, Democrats and Republicans today came to verbal blows over the Chairman’s data privacy bill.

Daily022823.pdf…