Michael Barr, The Federal Reserve's vice-chair for supervision, discusses real-time payments and the Basel 'endgame' proposal. They talk about the development and future of real-time payments, exploring new paradigms of money and payments. They also explore the impacts of industry group actions and capital requirements, and discuss potential lending costs, compliance costs on smaller banks, and the risks associated with the nonbank sector.
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Quick takeaways
Building infrastructure for real-time payments is crucial, and banks need to innovate on top of the system to meet customer needs.
Costly bank capital rules could hinder access to loans and disrupt small businesses, highlighting the importance of balancing regulations and economic growth.
Effective supervision and risk management, along with robust prevention and recovery systems, are vital for maintaining a resilient banking sector.
Deep dives
FedNow and the Future of Real-Time Payments
The podcast episode discussed the progress and potential of FedNow, the new real-time payments clearing system launched by the Federal Reserve. The speaker highlighted that while the adoption of real-time payments takes time, building the necessary infrastructure is a crucial first step. They emphasized that banks need to innovate on top of the system and determine the services that their customers want. The speaker also addressed concerns about the potential fragmentation of payment systems and stated that both private and public rails can be complementary, allowing banks to choose which rail to send individual payments. Overall, the discussion highlighted the importance of a strong and resilient banking system and the need for clear regulations and oversight in the rapidly evolving financial landscape.
The Impact of Costly Bank Capital Rules
The episode emphasized the potentially negative consequences of costly bank capital rules on working families and small businesses. The speaker argued that these rules, if implemented, could lead to higher costs and reduced access to loans, hindering dreams of homeownership and disrupting small businesses. They urged Congress to take action to prevent these rules, referred to as Basel Endgame, from becoming a drag on the economy. The speaker highlighted the need to balance the resilience of the banking system with the potential economic consequences of increased capital requirements. Overall, the discussion underscored the significance of finding a suitable balance between regulations and economic growth.
The Importance of Supervision and Risk Management
The episode touched upon the importance of effective supervision and risk management in the banking system. The speaker acknowledged the role of regulators and supervisors in identifying and addressing risks in financial institutions. They emphasized the need for a supportive and empowering environment for examiners to take timely action when risks are identified. The episode also addressed the need for sound risk management practices and compensation structures aligned with long-term risk considerations. The speaker highlighted the importance of balancing monetary policy goals with financial stability concerns. Overall, the discussion emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance supervision and risk management in the banking sector.
Examining the Future of Treasury Markets
The episode delved into the examination of Treasury markets and the potential risks associated with them. The speaker expressed the need for a reliable and resilient Treasury market, considering its critical role in the financial system. The importance of innovation within clear guardrails was emphasized. The discussion highlighted the focus on cyber risk and the need to ensure banks and other market participants have robust prevention and recovery systems in place. The potential impact of cyber attacks on systemic disruptions was explored, underscoring the need for strong oversight and regulation. Overall, the episode shed light on ongoing efforts to maintain a resilient Treasury market.
Navigating Risks in the Evolving Crypto Space
The episode touched on the risks associated with cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. The speaker emphasized the need for strong federal oversight of stablecoins, highlighting the potential for private money to become explosive without proper regulation. They acknowledged the importance of enabling innovation while ensuring compliance with consumer protection laws and preventing risks related to illicit finance and money laundering. The speaker emphasized the focused supervision of banks engaging in crypto-related activities through a novel activities supervisory program. The discussion underscored the need for clear regulatory frameworks and guardrails in the rapidly evolving crypto space.
Michael Barr is a busy man these days. As the Federal Reserve's vice-chair for supervision, he's looking at ways of making the financial system safer through the next-generation of US banking regulation, known as the Basel "endgame" proposal. In July, he also unveiled the central bank's new real-time payment settlement system for banks, called FedNow, after years of development. Of course, all of this is happening at an interesting time for banking. This year saw the collapse of three banks following deposit runs. There have been big losses on bond portfolios as interest rates rise, a cyberattack that briefly unsettled the US Treasury market, and there's still a lot of general uncertainty over the direction of the US economy. In this episode, which was recorded live onstage at The Clearing House annual conference in New York, we speak to Barr about how he's thinking about the payments space, big changes to bank regulation, and the macro outlook.