Proposed Regulations for Regional Banks

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is planning to introduce new regulations for regional banks following recent failures, including Silicon Valley Bank. These regulations aim to ensure the stability and resilience of such banks in the future.

Emphasis on Stable Funding Sources

Under the proposed rules, banks with assets exceeding $100 billion would be required to rely more on long-term debt as a funding source instead of consumer deposits or short-term debt. This shift towards long-term debt is expected to provide a more stable and less volatile source of funding.

Failure Preparedness

Additionally, banks with assets over $50 billion would need to periodically submit plans that would serve as guidelines for federal agencies in the event of a failure. These plans are crucial for effective risk management and ensuring that appropriate measures can be taken promptly.

Differentiating Capital Requirements

It is important to note that the long-term debt rule would not impose the same level of strictness as the capital requirements placed on the eight largest U.S. institutions known as "globally systemic banks" or G-SIBSs. The regulations aim to strike a balance between ensuring stability and avoiding unnecessary restrictions for smaller regional banks.

Key Requirements for Large Banks

For banks with assets exceeding $100 billion (excluding G-SIBSs), the new rules would require the maintenance of a minimum amount of eligible long-term debt. This minimum amount would be calculated based on a combination of factors such as risk-weighted assets, average total consolidated assets, and total leverage exposure under the supplementary leverage ratio for banks subject to it.

These proposed regulations seek to enhance the financial strength and resilience of regional banks. By prioritizing stable funding sources and establishing comprehensive failure plans, the aim is to mitigate risks and ensure a more secure banking system overall.

Proposed Regulations Aim to Prevent Bank Failures

Regulators are taking steps to prevent rushed and potentially damaging weekend bank sales, according to Ian Katz, a financial industry analyst at Capital Alpha Partners. The goal is to avoid situations that could deplete the FDIC's deposit insurance fund or force banks to sell to larger institutions.

These proposed regulations align with the recommendations made by FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg in a recent speech at the Brookings Institution. Gruenberg emphasized the risks that large regional banks can pose, as demonstrated by the failures of SVB and Signature Bank of New York. He believes that federal regulators need to take action to address the vulnerabilities that lead to such failures.

Although regional bank stocks have shown some signs of recovery in recent months, they remain significantly undervalued. The SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF KRE has experienced a decline of nearly 30% year-to-date, according to FactSet data. This ongoing stress in the regional bank sector highlights the urgency for regulatory intervention.

Overall, these proposed regulations aim to mitigate risks and ensure the stability of the banking industry. Regulatory agencies are working towards addressing vulnerabilities and preventing future failures in the regional bank sector.