PayThink

U.S. financial markets are stronger and more resilient because of the contributions of international banks. But many aspects of the U.S. Basel III endgame proposal threaten to tilt the playing field against them.

The Federal Reserve has engaged in a yearslong series of "Fed Listens" events to sharpen their understanding of the intricacies of the modern economy. Those with the maneuverability to help struggling industries should do some listening of their own.

Banks, especially big ones, have become too dependent on hidden-fee income. As the consumer credit market evolves toward greater transparency, the CFPB's rules will be the least of their problems.

Specialized large language models should be harnessed to help financial institutions identify and halt fraudulent activity. The best model would involve regulator-approved pooling of anonymized customer data.

Financial services companies must incorporate digital, technical and cognitive empathy into the way they think about delivering their products in a digitized future.

The questions about whether the Home Loan banks receive a public subsidy has been settled. All that remains is for lawmakers to take steps to redirect that subsidy toward public benefits rather than corporate profits.

In the wake of multiple successes in 2023, the labor movement in the U.S. is continuing its efforts to expand. Recent successful union elections at Wells Fargo branches should be a wake-up call to the industry.

Judicial review of bad rulemaking is a right that all regulated industries enjoy. But some industries avail themselves more than others, and the ones that rely on it the most tend to get worse policies. Banks should take notice.

Credit card late fees are annoying, but that's why they work as a disincentive to prevent late payments. By making them much smaller, the CFPB will actually be working against the interests of low-income consumers.

Increased federalization of the U.S. banking industry would be a disservice to consumers and the economy. The court must act to protect the vibrancy of the dual-banking system.