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American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and our social media platforms.
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On how expectations of regulatory relief help drive bankers’ positive view of President Trump (via <a href="https://twitter.com/RAlexJimenez/status/836581811232763906" target="_blank">Twitter</a>):

“Deregulation done poorly will cause a crisis in the industry. Not a positive at all.”

Related article: Bankers bullish on Trump, upbeat on reg relief, poll finds
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Another reader warns against being too exuberant about the administration’s deregulatory agenda:

“Bankers should tread lightly. By publicly embracing President Trump’s policies (as reported above — 67% positive and only 13% negative), banks risk driving a further wedge between themselves and the customers they serve. The POTUS’s current approval rating shows that circa 55% of the population disapprove of his performance. There is a big difference between 13% and 55%. Remember, financial policy is one thing, but customer perception is everything.”

Related article: Bankers bullish on Trump, upbeat on reg relief, poll finds
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On the complex issue of how consumers and third-party providers access customer financial data often held by banks:

“We also should not ignore the cost that banks incur to curate, protect, display and distribute consumer transaction data, all in a fashion that complies with the demanding requirements of the law. There is a decent argument that banks should be paid to release that data.”

Related article: There are no heroes or villains in data access debate
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On securing data before allowing it to be used outside a bank:

“Many people don't understand that the most valuable asset that a bank possesses is the data they own. It would be folly to compromise that data for the sake of the newest gadget or software program.”

Related article: There are no heroes or villains in data access debate
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On how anti-money-laundering rules force banks to end customer relationships rather than face added compliance:

“Yes to all of this. Another victim of increased compliance costs leading to derisking is nonprofit organizations. Those doing work in foreign countries, almost half in humanitarian aid work, are having significant difficulties getting funds to these overseas programs, meaning that children are not fed, hospitals cannot operate, girls don't go to school, and in the worst cases, people die.”

Related article: Time to bring BSA into this century
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On the effects of the Durbin amendment capping debit card interchange fees:

"The bottom line is that the government should never be in the business of setting prices within a market. Ever."

Related article: Did Durbin amendment lead to unintended credit card splurge?
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Disagreeing with an op-ed author who said banks should be mindful of a public backlash to unwinding Dodd-Frank:

"No central body of human bureaucrats can plan better than the natural laws that operate within the marketplace. Pendleton basically advocates that since socialists will continue to impugn the reputation of banking, it's better to compromise with them and throw them a bone so that things won't be made worse. The flaw here is that these are not rational people that we're dealing with."

Related article: Banks must weigh inevitable backlash to Dodd-Frank rollback
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