FDIC

After much anticipation, the Federal Reserve last year finally joined the Network for Greening the Financial System, which develops regulatory best practices for combating climate risks. But all U.S. banking regulators must participate for the effort to succeed, some observers argue.

The agency issued a request for information to gather feedback about how institutions facilitate use of cryptocurrencies and other kinds of assets, and what factors regulators should weigh as they develop supervisory policies.

Financial institutions said they needed more time to weigh in on issues such as how they use artificial intelligence for fraud prevention and underwriting.

In letters to regulators and lawmakers, bankers and their trade groups argued that deals like Vystar Credit Union's proposed acquisition of a small Georgia bank could result in less community development lending and declines in federal tax receipts.

Chairman Jelena McWilliams said the agency will issue a request for information "to learn more about what banks are doing, what banks are considering doing and what, if anything, the FDIC should be doing in this space.”

The FDIC said Financial Pacific Leasing, a subsidiary of the Oregon bank, charged undisclosed fees to borrowers, made excessive collection calls and disclosed information about customer debts to third parties.

The industry has raised concerns about nontraditional bank owners, and some lawmakers have backed limits for industrial loan companies and cryptocurrency firms. But members of the House and Senate have been unable to reach a consensus on legislation.

The FDIC issued a prohibition order against Mark Wong, who was ordered to pay nearly $220,000 in restitution as part of a guilty plea in January.

In a speech, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chair Jelena McWilliams zeroed in on the potential for outdated technology to impede the banking industry and even threaten the sector’s resilience.

The agency has stepped up efforts to encourage those lacking banking relationships to choose an affordable account option for their pandemic relief funds. It will have to overcome distrust of financial institutions in communities of color.