The federal banking regulators issued a new proposal Friday asking for further public comment on changing the definition of a “high volatility commercial real estate exposure.”
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is planning on finalizing its proposed capital requirements for the government-sponsored enterprises this summer, the agency's acting director said Wednesday.
Community bankers and state regulators want the FDIC and other agencies to rethink their approach to a simplified capital ratio for smaller institutions.
The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to keep the countercyclical capital buffer at its current level of zero, ending some speculation that the board could be looking at a possible increase.
The proposal by Fannie and Freddie’s regulator to impose bank-like capital requirements would be relevant only if the companies leave conservatorship. But that hasn’t stopped lenders from requesting changes.
As regulators get set to unveil a new capital ratio for community banks, FDIC Chairman Jelena McWilliams said she wants to go even further to simplify the capital regime.
Policymakers should spend more time focused on limiting risky activity through measures like the Volcker Rule than on demanding ever-higher levels of bank capital.
