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Housing finance reform
Slideshow

'It’s hard to fix something that’s not really broken': Comments of the week

By Victoria Finkle
March 21, 2019 9:21 PM

Readers debate the odds of legislative reform to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, consider the growing problem of "friendly fraud," weigh ways to avoid reputation problems and more.

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On the Credit Union National Association's Ryan Donovan arguing that policymakers must consider smaller financial institutions as part of any mortgage finance reform package:

"Preach it, Brother Ryan!!! Hope those boys and girls on the Hill--everyone one of whom has some small banks and lenders in their states or congressional districts--hear what you say and understand why you mean. It's easy to get blinded by all of those big bank campaign contributions, i.e. the interests behind most of the neutralize Fannie and Freddie proposals."

Related: Don’t leave community lenders behind on GSE reform
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Businessman on blurred background using hotline customer assistance 3D rendering
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On an argument that banks have to be more proactive in managing internal problems to avoid lingering reputation issues:

"Any financial institution that doesn't have a well run and well (internally) publicized whistle blower line / process has missed the first and single most effective conduct risk management procedure that there is."

Related: Banks have even less room for error with bad behavior
Fannie Mae building
The sign outside Fannie Mae headquarters stands in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, March 14, 2011. Fannie Mae and McLean, Virginia-based Freddie Mac were seized and placed under U.S. control in 2008 as losses on soured loans pushed them to the brink of insolvency. The two government-sponsored enterprises have been sustained by more than $150 billion in U.S. aid. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
On a look at potential efforts to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac via legislation, despite a lack of strong political will for overhauling the system:

"It’s hard to fix something that’s not really broken."

Related: The inconvenient truth for GSE reform planshttps://www.americanbanker.com/news/the-inconvenient-truth-for-gse-reform-plans
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business and office concept - businessman and businesswoman trying to connect puzzle pieces in office
lev dolgachov/Syda Productions - stock.adobe.com
On a look at whether banks will start buying credit unions, in response to a rise in the number of CUs buying banks:

"Mergers of two credit unions can create economic value for members by eliminating redundant expenses and capturing other scale economies, the same way that bank mergers create value. And if there are no branch closures or staff layoffs, as suggested, how does a bank create value by acquiring a credit union?"

Related: Will banks turn the tables and buy credit unions?
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Many of the banks that had data compromised did not use MoveIt file-transfer software themselves, but were affected through a tech partner.
Adobe Stock
On a look at the responsibilities banks face in what's known as "friendly fraud," or cases where victims know the perpetrators:

"The serious impediment to the resolution to certain fraud cases is the fundamental conflict between the concept of non repudiation of approved card transactions and regulatory mandates. Regulations by government and payment networks mandate that the consumer be made whole when fraud is claimed. That leaves card issuers and merchant acquirers playing a "charge-back game" in order to determine which of the two is to bear the loss."

Related: 'Friendly fraud' is on the rise. Are banks complicit?
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A customer uses a Lloyds Bank Visa Inc. debit card to make a contactless payment on a Verifone Systems Inc. payment device in London, U.K., on Friday, May 22, 2015. Credit and debit cards that can be used by tapping the reader are gaining users, and mobile apps are set to further boost the popularity of contactless paying. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
Another reader weighs in on how banks should respond to the growing problem of friendly fraud:

"How about amending Regulation E to start? Negligence is simply not a factor in determining customer liability for unauthorized EFTs under Regulation E. If I write my PIN on my debit card and I leave my card at a restaurant, the bank's liable for the unauthorized charges? Crazy."

Related: 'Friendly fraud' is on the rise. Are banks complicit?
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Pneumatic weapon hangs on the wall in military shop
Iakov Filimonov (JackF)/JackF - stock.adobe.com
On Republican legislation that would prevent banks with more than $10 billion of assets from severing ties with gun dealers or gunmakers:

"It’s a sad day when it’s necessary to pass legislation to ensure protection for businesses that are protected by the Constitution."

Related: Financial firms could not cut ties to firearms clients under GOP bill
Victoria Finkle
BankThink Editor , American Banker
Housing finance reform GSE reform Fintech regulations Whistleblower Payment fraud
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