American Banker Magazine - March 2021

Ticking into the future

As government debt swells, the outer limits of what the U.S. can safely borrow are becoming less and less clear.

Already contending with stressed retail, hotel and restaurant loans, bankers are beginning to view office lending — historically a safe bet — as increasingly risky as companies of all types rethink their space needs.

If policymakers are serious about revitalizing low-income communities, they should require all fintechs and other nonchartered lenders to adhere to the Community Reinvestment Act.

Lost in the debate about whether to make fintechs comply with the Community Reinvestment Act is that many of them already partner with banks to make loans in low-income neighborhoods.