Banking with Interest

Jaret Seiberg, managing director at TD Cowen, talks about how the uncertain economic environment—and changing policies regarding tariffs—are impacting banks large and small. He also tackles Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s bank regulatory agenda, whether the Trump administration can successfully accomplish GSE reform and the significant risks to banks from stablecoin legislation.

Brandon Milhorn, the CEO of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, details his concerns about bills fast-tracked in Congress that would give regulatory guardrails for stablecoins. The state regulators he represents say it would open the door to mixing banking and commerce, disintermediate banks and give too much power to the federal government.

Katy O’Donnell, the financial services reporter for Politico, dives into a series of surprising moves by new FHFA Director Bill Pulte, including firing the CEO of Freddie Mac, appointing himself chair of both GSEs, and cutting programs.

The Trump administration unexpectedly targeted the Community Development Financial Institution Fund, touching off concern among bankers and their representatives that the bipartisan program could be eliminated. Ryan Tracy, who covers financial regulation and banking for Capitol Account, explains what happened, why, and the future of CDFIs. We also discuss the latest legal maneuvers surrounding the CFPB, what Fed Gov. Michelle Bowman’s nomination as vice chair for banking supervision means for community banks and more.

Not that long ago, the Treasury secretary mostly took a back seat to the banking agencies in crafting policy, stepping in only during times of crisis. Not anymore. Karen Shaw Petrou, managing partner of Federal Financial Analytics, discusses Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s expansive view of his own role, why he’s taking charge, and what it means for banks.

Cam Fowler, the CEO of Zelle parent company Early Warning Services, talks about the peer-to-peer payment system’s rapid growth, the furor around fraud, and its new digital wallet, Paze. Fowler explains how the company is working to make the platform safer for consumers and why he believes shared accountability is the best approach to stopping criminals.

Rep. Frank Lucas, the chair of a newly created Congressional task force on monetary policy, discusses the panel's agenda and upcoming hearings, the first of which takes place this week. The Oklahoma Republican grapples with two separate questions: should the Fed be independent and should it have a direct role in banking supervision? 

Evan Weinberger, a banking correspondent at Bloomberg Law, dives into the controversial plan to merge the FDIC's oversight into the OCC without Congress's green light. He discusses the potential fallout for community banks and the evolving dynamics within these regulatory bodies. Weinberger highlights concerns about transparency, the historical trust in the FDIC, and the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch. He also shares insights on ongoing lawsuits affecting federal employees and the political landscape surrounding banking regulations.

Victoria Guida, an Economics correspondent at Politico, and Brendan Pedersen, a Financial services reporter at Punchbowl News, dive into the shifting landscape of banking regulation under the Trump administration. They discuss the fate of the CFPB and what it means for consumer protection. The conversation touches on the recent meeting of major bank CEOs with the Senate Banking Committee and the implications of potential changes in oversight roles among regulatory bodies. Plus, they delve into intriguing questions about federal payment security and the evolving role of data in the financial sector.

Greg Baer, the CEO of the Bank Policy Institute, argues that bank supervision has gone off course, focusing on the wrong areas and making the system less safe.  He outlines how he and big banks would recommend fixing it. He also discusses stress test and AML reform, new liquidity rules, Basel III, CFPB and more.