BankThink

The pandemic created a new expectation that banks should show empathy for customers in crisis. Let’s keep it that way.

Ensuring the safety and soundness of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan banks is the core responsibility of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. That shouldn't change now that the president has the authority to fire the FHFA's director at will.

The London interbank offered rate will phase out in a matter of months, and lawmakers have to step in to prevent a legal fiasco. They need to make Secured Overnight Financing Rate the sole fallback benchmark.

The London interbank offered rate was a flawed benchmark, but it was nonetheless a centerpiece of finance for decades. Congress should ensure it doesn't replace one interest rate monoculture with another as Libor winds down.

The Birmingham, Alabama, bank has developed artificial intelligence-based systems that can flag suspicious activity and guide customer service representatives. Amala Duggirala, the bank’s chief operations and technology officer, describes the AI work she and her team have been doing.

Employees often avoid sharing bad news with their bosses, assuming the problem will resolve itself. It rarely does, so senior leaders need to create a culture of constant communication with direct reports — and even lower layers of management — so that issues don’t fester.

Recent delays may be frustrating, but the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency isn't closing the door on financial technology companies. However, applicants will have to be patient, forthright about their business plans and willing to actively engage any state or federal regulatory agencies that the OCC consults.

Fiscal restraint, the reversal of enormous amounts of monetary stimulus, smarter regulation and job retraining are among the public policy steps that could interrupt the long U.S. tradition of boom-and-bust cycles.

Though the Paycheck Protection Program is winding down, the Small Business Administration has prolonged several other pandemic relief programs. Community banks can help local businesses sort through their options.

As attitudes about corporate responsibility evolve, regulators will expect banks to take a more proactive approach to environmental, social and governance issues. That means going beyond assessing climate-related risks to incorporate a focus on ethics, culture, inclusion and customer protection.