ILCs

Jelena McWilliams's term as FDIC chair expires in 2023, and she cannot be removed by an incoming president. But if Joe Biden prevails, he may ask her to stay — and if she does, governing a Democratic-majority board would be a very different proposition.

For too long, nonbanks have been allowed to form industrial loan companies to operate as banks without Fed oversight. This regulatory pass should not be given during a crisis.

Two trade organizations and a consumer group urged lawmakers to establish a three-year moratorium to block the charter bids of companies that they said were attempting to skirt regulatory requirements.

New president of Promontory Interfinancial Network says recession will cause "hundreds" of nonbank disruptors to fail; lenders face dilemma over offering Main Street loans to noncustomers; PNC Financial expands, diversifies executive leadership team; and more from this week’s most-read stories.

If it’s approved, the charter is expected to lower the fintech’s cost of funds and allow for more product offerings. It comes nearly three years after SoFi pulled the plug on an earlier effort to open an industrial bank.

Small banks have long led the campaign against industrial loan companies, arguing they can be used to violate the separation of banking and commerce. But now the industry’s heavyweights are also taking a hard line in response to an FDIC proposal that would give tech companies a smoother path into the lending business.

The investment firm is the latest nonbank to try to enter banking through a Utah-based ILC.

Three banking trade associations told the FDIC that Rakuten Bank America, even after revisions to its earlier application to the agency, would still violate the separation of banking and commerce as well as present consumer privacy concerns.

Recent steps that would help nonbank lenders enter the traditional banking system, like a proposal clarifying the industrial loan company charter, are needed but face strong opposition.

Recent steps that would help nonbank lenders enter the traditional banking system, like a proposal clarifying the industrial loan company charter, are needed but face strong opposition.