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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 millennial employees urging companies to allow a more open exchange of sensitive political opinions at the office:

“Not talking politics at work is not a sign of oppression. It's a sign of respect. Professional people realize that people have different opinions about things. Not forcing others to constantly explain and defend their personal opinions while at work is actually the best way to show respect to everyone. You don't like a law? Fine. Write or call your congressperson. Leave poor Marge over in bookkeeping out of it, you coddled millennial.”

Related article: At B of A, talking politics in the workplace no longer taboo
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Weighing in on an op-ed that highlights how differences between banks and fintech firms raises doubts about both sectors being under the same regulatory umbrella:

“If I take ‘bank’ out of my name, wear jeans and flip flops to work, and declare that I'm a fintech, can I have all of the powers of a chartered bank without any of the obligations? Sign me up."

Related article: Why squeeze fintech into a bank regulatory box?
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On the limitations of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s fintech charter:

“The OCC venture is well intended but ill thought out and a confusion of mission.”

Related article: Why squeeze fintech into a bank regulatory box?
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On a Yodlee executive calling for easier sharing of consumer financial data between banks and third-party apps:

“What a bunch of BS! The Fintech Yokels want banks to foot the bill and provide them private data so they can make money off it. What a bunch of hypocrites.”

Related article: Consumers will suffer without rights to their data
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On the potential of Brave, a blockchain-based web browser that allows users to earn digital currency by viewing ads (via <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/comments/612sj4/ambanker_brendan_eich_cofounder_of_mozilla_is/" target="_blank">Reddit</a>):

“It could be game changer, if you could earn points by just regular browsing, and then spend them on premium website content. This would allow for nice coexistance of popular sites with large ad revenue, with small specialised ones that relay more on micropayments for content.”

Related article: Web pioneer plans blockchain-based digital ad platform
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Questioning the ad potential of the Brave browser (via <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/comments/612sj4/ambanker_brendan_eich_cofounder_of_mozilla_is/" target="_blank">Reddit</a>):

“People who get paid to watch / participate in ads are not doing it because they're interested in new products & services — they're doing it to get paid. It's that simple. There is no value in this for advertisers.”

Related article: Web pioneer plans blockchain-based digital ad platform
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On putting consumer needs first regardless of technology advancements:

“In today's world where there is so much focus on the ‘next big thing.’ It's nice to be reminded that no matter what the next big this, if it is not user friendly and solves and existing problem it probably won't be that big of a deal.”

Related article: Banks in the digital age: It’s still about humans
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On raising a proposed asset threshold for giving small institutions a carve-out from the Dodd-Frank Act:

“A small-bank exemption from Dodd-Frank is a very good idea. I would raise the small-bank exemption to $25 billion instead of the $10 billion suggested. A $25 billion banking company is clearly a community bank in today's world. If Congress cannot see its way to a $25 billion exemption at this time, at the very least we should index the $10 billion exemption.”

Related article: Lawmakers consider broad Dodd-Frank carve-out for small institutions
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