The Federal Reserve and two other US regulators are reportedly considering a new plan to reduce a nearly 20% mandated increase in capital for the country's largest banks.
According to the Wall Street Journal, it comes after the intensive lobbying of industry leaders such as JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon.
Hike in Capital Requirements
On average, the required increase for lenders would reportedly be pushed to be reduced by about half as initially suggested.
The revision aims to ensure banks like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs maintain adequate buffers to absorb potential losses. The proposed rules recalibrate how banks calculate how much money they must set aside to cover risks.
Top officials from the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the three agencies involved in the pending capital rules, are still discussing the details.
WSJ reported that there is no guarantee that an agreement will be reached, or it could be later this year before any plan is ready.
Read also: Federal Reserve Poised to Cut Interest Rates 6 Times in 2024 as US Economy Slows Down: ING
The Basel Proposal
In July last year, the three regulatory bodies proposed an overhaul for banks with assets exceeding $100 billion. This Basel proposal seeks to enhance banks' resilience against potential losses, thereby reducing the risk of failure or the need for bailouts.
However, banks argue that they are sufficiently capitalized and that the proposed changes are unnecessary. Major US banks have actively opposed the Basel proposal, claiming it would necessitate significant alterations or the discontinuation of certain products and services.
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