Although unintentional, missteps in communications by regulators can create headwinds for companies developing payments innovation.
For example, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. had to withdraw its list of high-risk merchants because the list, created to provide guidance, became conflated with the Justice Department's
But rather than settle the issue, the withdrawal has left bankers and technology companies that play in these market segments
Recently, technology companies have been looking at extending Check 21 to fully electronify checks, that is to create, deposit, and clear checks virtually (known as electronically created items, or ECIs). The industry pursued this with support from the Federal Reserves Retail Payments Office. When the Fed
Meanwhile, the ongoing dispute between the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve Board over
These and other instances stifle innovation in payments and other areas, and the U.S. could be left behind as a result.
For comparison, the U.K. government is aggressively partnering with industry, looking to turn the country into
Regulators can adapt by communicating better. Communications must be precise, telling bankers whats in and whats out. In this new environment, over-communicating what is not circumscribed by regulatory changes helps to create running room for innovators and gives banks assurance they will not run afoul of regulatory constraints.
The government should also let innovators innovate, let the market delineate. Regulators play a critical role in the ongoing development of the nations payment system. But they should refrain from steering on specific technologies and avoid communications that appear to prejudge potential innovations; good approaches will win out over bad ones when market forces are appliedas they always do.
The regulatory process is and must be deliberate. But banks and technology companies fill in the gray space created by pending changes with assumptions, extrapolations, and outright rumors. Industry liaisons should provide a clearinghouse functionaggressivelyto eliminate confusion and provide early guidance to technology innovators and their bank partners.
By recognizing banks heightened sensitivity to regulations and taking steps to improve communications, regulators can broaden the involvement of banks in bringing financial innovations to market. Greater involvement by more institutions would accelerate innovation, improve the efficiency of the payment system, and yield dividends for both bankers and consumers.
Glen Fossella is a technology industry executive with a background in payments and branch automation.