FDIC Chair on Policy Actions to Better Address Need of Community Banks
At the Community Development Bankers Association Peer Forum and Membership Meeting, the FDIC Chair Jelena McWilliams outlined the decisions taken as a result of the feedback by bankers that will help focus FDIC efforts to better address their needs. She has been meeting with local bankers, state supervisors, and consumer groups to obtain feedback on many important topics, including the needs of their local communities, the regulatory approach of FDIC, and ideas to promote economic inclusion.
As a result of her meetings, the FDIC Chair has directed staff to increase efforts to:
- Actively seek ways to reduce regulatory burden on community banks
- Encourage community banking, including the establishment of de novo banks in communities of all sizes
- Promote and preserve the Minority Depository Institutions of the nation
- Modernize the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) framework and provide clarity to institutions on their CRA obligations
- Ensure that the regulatory framework encourages banks to offer products and services to low- and moderate-income households
She added that technology is another area that can help FDIC and financial institutions meet consumers where they are. Although fintech firms have developed new approaches to reach consumers, improve the customer experience, lower transaction costs, and increase credit availability, she wants to see more banks leveraging technology to do the same. Last fall, it was announced that FDIC is establishing a new internal office to promote innovation in the industry. FDIC has already begun partnering with banks to understand how they are innovating and promoting technological development at community banks, which may have limited funding for research and development. FDIC is also looking at what policy changes are needed to encourage innovation, while maintaining safe and secure financial services and institutions. This is especially important because technology offers a tremendous opportunity to expand access to the banking system, said Ms. McWilliams.
As of March 31, United States has 4,930 insured community banks and FDIC is the primary federal supervisor for many of these institutions. She highlighted that the latest FDIC survey shows that more than 8 million households do not have any relationship with the banking system while another 24.2 million households are underbanked. Millions of Americans are missing out on the important benefits banks provide, including wealth-building opportunities and the protection provided by deposit insurance. Innovation and technology have the potential to provide important inroads to reach these consumers. According to the FDIC Chair, "Supporting this segment of the banking system is paramount. Community banks in the U.S. are intertwined in a symbiotic relationship with their communities: if those communities do not do well, neither will their community banks."
Related Links
Keywords: Americas, US, Banking, Community Banks, Fintech, Proportionality, Regulatory Approach, FDIC
Next Article
SRB Updates MREL Policy to Reflect Changes in CRR 2Related Articles
BIS and Central Banks Experiment with GenAI to Assess Climate Risks
A recent report from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub details Project Gaia, a collaboration between the BIS Innovation Hub Eurosystem Center and certain central banks in Europe
Nearly 25% G-SIBs Commit to Adopting TNFD Nature-Related Disclosures
Nature-related risks are increasing in severity and frequency, affecting businesses, capital providers, financial systems, and economies.
Singapore to Mandate Climate Disclosures from FY2025
Singapore recently took a significant step toward turning climate ambition into action, with the introduction of mandatory climate-related disclosures for listed and large non-listed companies
SEC Finalizes Climate-Related Disclosures Rule
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finalized the long-awaited rule that mandates climate-related disclosures for domestic and foreign publicly listed companies in the U.S.
EBA Proposes Standards Related to Standardized Credit Risk Approach
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has been taking significant steps toward implementing the Basel III framework and strengthening the regulatory framework for credit institutions in the EU
US Regulators Release Stress Test Scenarios for Banks
The U.S. regulators recently released baseline and severely adverse scenarios, along with other details, for stress testing the banks in 2024. The relevant U.S. banking regulators are the Federal Reserve Bank (FED), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Asian Governments Aim for Interoperability in AI Governance Frameworks
The regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence (AI), including the generative kind, is evolving rapidly, with governments and regulators aiming to address the challenges and opportunities presented by this transformative technology.
EBA Proposes Operational Risk Standards Under Final Basel III Package
The European Union (EU) has been working on the final elements of Basel III standards, with endorsement of the Banking Package and the publication of the European Banking Authority (EBA) roadmap on Basel III implementation in December 2023.
EFRAG Proposes XBRL Taxonomy and Standard for Listed SMEs Under ESRS
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), which plays a crucial role in shaping corporate reporting standards in European Union (EU), is seeking comments, until May 21, 2024, on the Exposure Draft ESRS for listed SMEs.
ECB to Expand Climate Change Work in 2024-2025
Banking regulators worldwide are increasingly focusing on addressing, monitoring, and supervising the institutions' exposure to climate and environmental risks.
