The OCC’s Michael Hsu on the Big Risks Facing Banking Businesses Right Now
Nov 9, 2023
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Michael Hsu, the Acting Comptroller of the OCC, brings his extensive expertise to discuss the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Silvergate Bank. He delves into the challenges posed by new technologies like crypto and banking-as-a-service, highlighting significant regulatory concerns. Hsu emphasizes the importance of adapting regulations to ensure the safety and accountability of banking partnerships. The conversation also tackles the future of lending and the balance between centralized and community-focused banking in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Banks outsourcing functions like payments to third-party vendors presents new problems, risks, and opportunities that require safe and fair due diligence in managing third-party relationships.
Tokenization in the banking system, focusing on improving settlement processes by collapsing messaging and settlement into a single process, can reduce frictions and costs associated with multiple handoffs and risk transformations.
Deep dives
The risks and opportunities of banking and technology intersection
The podcast episode features a conversation with Michael Sue, the acting comptroller of the currency, who discusses the intersection between banking and technology. He highlights the trend of banks outsourcing functions like payments to third-party vendors and the new problems, risks, and opportunities this presents. Sue emphasizes the importance of ensuring that these outsourcing arrangements are safe, sound, and fair, and that banks do their due diligence in managing the risks associated with third-party relationships.
Tokenization and the potential to streamline settlement processes
Sue also delves into the concept of tokenization and its potential to improve settlement processes in the banking system. He explains that tokenization involves collapsing messaging and settlement into a single process, reducing frictions and costs associated with multiple handoffs and risk transformations. Sue clarifies that this innovation in tokenization should not be confused with the hype around blockchain, as tokenization is specifically focused on solving settlement problems and improving efficiency in areas like securities settlement.
The cautious approach to stablecoins and potential risks
The podcast episode highlights the cautious approach taken by regulatory authorities, including the OCC, towards stablecoins. Sue explains that there has been a discrepancy between the talk and the reality of stablecoins, with new problems emerging. He raises concerns about the lack of backing for most cryptocurrencies and the risks and complexities associated with stablecoins. Sue emphasizes the importance of banks engaging in safe, sound, and fair practices when dealing with cryptocurrencies and urges banks to properly assess and manage the risks involved.
The importance of a diverse banking system tailored to different communities
The podcast explores the question of what the US banking system should look like in the future. Sue argues that as long as the US economy remains diverse, the banking system should also be diverse to serve the needs of different communities and regions. He rejects the idea of striving for a Canadian-style system with a few mega banks and emphasizes the importance of focusing on empowering various communities through a banking system that is safe, sound, and fair. Sue also discusses the ongoing considerations regarding merger policy to ensure the system can evolve in a healthy and supportive manner.
Earlier this year, we saw the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Silvergate Bank following a run on deposits and big losses on their portfolios of bonds. Since then, regulators have been discussing changes to existing bank regulation, prompting existential questions about the future of the US lending landscape. But there are other risks lurking in the banking system too — including those created by new technology and changing business models. In this episode, recorded live at Money 20/20 in Las Vegas, we speak with Michael Hsu, the acting comptroller of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. He talks about banking regulation, crypto contagion, the rise of banking-as-a-service (BaaS) and the supply chain of payments.