Winners and losers of Senate reg relief bill
November 14, 2017 8:00 AM
Zach Gibson/Bloomberg
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo cut a deal with moderate Democrats on Monday to amend the Dodd-Frank Act, the most significant change to the 2010 law since its passage.
With nine Democrats, including Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Mark Warner of Virginia, and nine Republicans as co-sponsors, it likely has enough support to pass the Senate.
But the GOP are still hard at work trying to pass a tax reform bill and it’s unclear how quickly Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will want to bring the legislation up for a vote.
The broad bipartisan support comes at a cost to financial institutions. The overall bill is modest, mostly benefiting community banks and credit unions, and it doesn't make any changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's structure or powers, as many banks and credit unions have sought. But it does include a number of narrower proposals that have received bipartisan support and taken together could be beneficial to many institutions.
Since its passage in 2010 Dodd-Frank has remained largely unchanged and regulators have spent the majority of the last seven years implementing the financial reform law. The deal reached on Monday will take steps to roll back parts of the law, which is now possible because President Trump will sign bills that ease regulation.
Despite passing a much further-reaching proposal to overhaul Dodd-Frank earlier this year, the House is likely to agree to the Senate deal. Because of filibuster rules and a narrow majority in the Senate, any changes to Dodd-Frank will need Democratic support.
Details of the billcan be found here , but arguably its biggest feature is that it would raise the systemic threshold to $250 billion of assets from its current $50 billion level. That will benefit dozens of banks - but leaves others out in the cold.
Following is a guide to who wins - and who loses - under the plan:
With nine Democrats, including Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Mark Warner of Virginia, and nine Republicans as co-sponsors, it likely has enough support to pass the Senate.
But the GOP are still hard at work trying to pass a tax reform bill and it’s unclear how quickly Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will want to bring the legislation up for a vote.
The broad bipartisan support comes at a cost to financial institutions. The overall bill is modest, mostly benefiting community banks and credit unions, and it doesn't make any changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's structure or powers, as many banks and credit unions have sought. But it does include a number of narrower proposals that have received bipartisan support and taken together could be beneficial to many institutions.
Since its passage in 2010 Dodd-Frank has remained largely unchanged and regulators have spent the majority of the last seven years implementing the financial reform law. The deal reached on Monday will take steps to roll back parts of the law, which is now possible because President Trump will sign bills that ease regulation.
Despite passing a much further-reaching proposal to overhaul Dodd-Frank earlier this year, the House is likely to agree to the Senate deal. Because of filibuster rules and a narrow majority in the Senate, any changes to Dodd-Frank will need Democratic support.
Details of the bill
Following is a guide to who wins - and who loses - under the plan:
Zach Gibson/Bloomberg
Winner: Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo
The Idaho Republican has been pushing for a regulatory relief bill since taking the gavel at the Senate Banking Committee this year.
Crapo was negotiating with the panels’ top Democrat, Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, but those discussions broke down in recent weeks. However, moderate Democrats on the panel who have been negotiating with Republicans for three years on amending Dodd-Frank wanted to get a deal done to help community and regional banks.
For Crapo, the deal shows that he can work with Democrats in a bipartisan fashion while Congress largely remains as divided as ever. The effort could bode well for future legislation such as housing finance reform, which will be another massive undertaking for the committee.
“The bipartisan proposals on which we have agreed will significantly improve our financial regulatory framework and foster economic growth by right-sizing regulation, particularly for smaller financial institutions and community banks,” Crapo said in a press release.
Crapo was negotiating with the panels’ top Democrat, Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, but those discussions broke down in recent weeks. However, moderate Democrats on the panel who have been negotiating with Republicans for three years on amending Dodd-Frank wanted to get a deal done to help community and regional banks.
For Crapo, the deal shows that he can work with Democrats in a bipartisan fashion while Congress largely remains as divided as ever. The effort could bode well for future legislation such as housing finance reform, which will be another massive undertaking for the committee.
“The bipartisan proposals on which we have agreed will significantly improve our financial regulatory framework and foster economic growth by right-sizing regulation, particularly for smaller financial institutions and community banks,” Crapo said in a press release.
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Loser: Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio
Brown has said for several years that he would support a modest regulatory relief effort. It's hard to imagine one more modest than what was released by Crapo. The bill would raise the limit for systemically important banks, but it stays away from more radical measures, including changing the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Brown said Monday that he couldn't support a giveaway to banks.
"I understand my colleagues’ interest in agreeing to this legislation, but disagree on the wisdom of rolling back so many of Dodd-Frank’s protections with almost no gains for working families,” he said in a press release.“Banks made record profits last year and it looks like executives will get bigger bonuses this year. Hourly wages have stagnated for 40 years, and too many Americans are still feeling the impact of the 2008 financial crisis. Who needs help the most?”
Still, Brown had a chance to cut a bipartisan deal and walked away from this one. It's unclear exactly why, particularly when nine other Democrats are already willing to sign on (and more may ultimately join).
One potential reason is that Brown is a progressive, and it's likely this bill, no matter how measured, would have drawn ire from that side of the Democratic Party. Some have also floated Brown's name as a possible presidential candidate in 2020. If so, this bill would not help him, and could be detrimental.
Brown said Monday that he couldn't support a giveaway to banks.
"I understand my colleagues’ interest in agreeing to this legislation, but disagree on the wisdom of rolling back so many of Dodd-Frank’s protections with almost no gains for working families,” he said in a press release.“Banks made record profits last year and it looks like executives will get bigger bonuses this year. Hourly wages have stagnated for 40 years, and too many Americans are still feeling the impact of the 2008 financial crisis. Who needs help the most?”
Still, Brown had a chance to cut a bipartisan deal and walked away from this one. It's unclear exactly why, particularly when nine other Democrats are already willing to sign on (and more may ultimately join).
One potential reason is that Brown is a progressive, and it's likely this bill, no matter how measured, would have drawn ire from that side of the Democratic Party. Some have also floated Brown's name as a possible presidential candidate in 2020. If so, this bill would not help him, and could be detrimental.
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Winner: Banks between $50 billion and $250 billion
By far the most significant change in the bill is raising the systemic threshold to $250 billion.
Policymakers on both sides of the aisle, including top regulators, have agreed that the current $50 billion threshold is too low. But they've struggled to identify what the limit should be. National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn predicted last month that the ultimate deal would be $250 billion, rather than what banks had sought, which is an indicator test.
Under the bill, the 28 bank holding companies with assets of $50 billion to $250 billion would likely not have to face the tougher standards outlined by the Federal Reserve for banks considered systemically important. The legislation would give wiggle room, however, to the Fed to target companies below the $250 billion threshold if it considers them a risk.
Still, most institutions in that category, particularly those with assets below $100 billion, would escape Fed-run annual stress tests, higher capital and leverage requirements, and other tougher standards. Winners include Zions Bancorp., with $65.4 billion of assets, and the $63 billion-asset CIT Group.
Other beneficiaries include: BBVA Compass, Huntington Bancshares, M&T Corp., Regions Financial, BMO Financial, KeyCorp, Santander Holdings, Fifth Third Bancorp, Citizens Financial Group, American Express, Ally Financial, SunTrust, BB&T and State Street.
Policymakers on both sides of the aisle, including top regulators, have agreed that the current $50 billion threshold is too low. But they've struggled to identify what the limit should be. National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn predicted last month that the ultimate deal would be $250 billion, rather than what banks had sought, which is an indicator test.
Under the bill, the 28 bank holding companies with assets of $50 billion to $250 billion would likely not have to face the tougher standards outlined by the Federal Reserve for banks considered systemically important. The legislation would give wiggle room, however, to the Fed to target companies below the $250 billion threshold if it considers them a risk.
Still, most institutions in that category, particularly those with assets below $100 billion, would escape Fed-run annual stress tests, higher capital and leverage requirements, and other tougher standards. Winners include Zions Bancorp., with $65.4 billion of assets, and the $63 billion-asset CIT Group.
Other beneficiaries include: BBVA Compass, Huntington Bancshares, M&T Corp., Regions Financial, BMO Financial, KeyCorp, Santander Holdings, Fifth Third Bancorp, Citizens Financial Group, American Express, Ally Financial, SunTrust, BB&T and State Street.
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Losers: Regional banks above $250 billion of assets
Regional banks with more than $250 billion of assets have been pushing hard for the Senate deal to include an indicator test rather than a strict size limit. That's because many argue that though they are large in size, they essentially have the business model of community banks.
As a result, institutions above that $250 billion threshold — banks like U.S. Bank, PNC Bank, TD Bank and Capital One — will miss out of the most significant piece of the regulatory reform bill.
As a result, institutions above that $250 billion threshold — banks like U.S. Bank, PNC Bank, TD Bank and Capital One — will miss out of the most significant piece of the regulatory reform bill.
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Winner: Banks below $10 billion of assets
Though modest, the deal would give small banks with less than $10 billion of assets significant exemptions.
That includes one from the Volcker Rule, which bans proprietary trading, and relief from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's "qualified mortgage" rule if the loan is held in portfolio.
The plan would also exempt banks from complicated capital and liquidity rules as long as they held a leverage ratio of 8% to 10%.
Banks below $5 billion of assets would be allowed to file shorter call reports, while the bill also triples the threshold for a longer exam cycle to $3 billion of assets.
It may not be everything small banks wanted, but it's something.
“ICBA strongly supports the bipartisan regulatory relief package announced today by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo,” said Camden Fine, president of the Independent Community Bankers of America.
That includes one from the Volcker Rule, which bans proprietary trading, and relief from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's "qualified mortgage" rule if the loan is held in portfolio.
The plan would also exempt banks from complicated capital and liquidity rules as long as they held a leverage ratio of 8% to 10%.
Banks below $5 billion of assets would be allowed to file shorter call reports, while the bill also triples the threshold for a longer exam cycle to $3 billion of assets.
It may not be everything small banks wanted, but it's something.
“ICBA strongly supports the bipartisan regulatory relief package announced today by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo,” said Camden Fine, president of the Independent Community Bankers of America.
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Loser: Midsize banks
Banks just above $10 billion in assets missed out on many of the targeted benefits the proposal has to offer and didn’t get some of the more sought after proposals, such as rolling back the so-called Durbin amendment, which caps debit card swipe fees, and lifting the threshold for Consumer Financial Protection Bureau oversight.
About the only thing they do receive, however, is at least knowing that if the bill passes, the $50 billion threshold is not a reason to stop growing.
“The biggest winners, depending on the final details of the tentative deal, would be banks that have not yet crossed the $50 billion threshold and not yet incurred the additional compliance costs that accompany that threshold,” said Brian Gardner, an analyst at KBW.
About the only thing they do receive, however, is at least knowing that if the bill passes, the $50 billion threshold is not a reason to stop growing.
“The biggest winners, depending on the final details of the tentative deal, would be banks that have not yet crossed the $50 billion threshold and not yet incurred the additional compliance costs that accompany that threshold,” said Brian Gardner, an analyst at KBW.
Dennis Brack/Bloomberg News
Winner: Credit unions
Credit unions get relief from a number of changes to housing regulations that community banks will also benefit from, but the proposal released Monday also included additional help for credit unions such as exempting loans for one-to-four-unit, non-owner-occupied homes from the member business lending cap.
“This bill includes credit union-specific provisions that provide meaningful regulatory relief, a sign that policymakers are paying close attention to the needs of credit union members,” said Jim Nussle, president and CEO of the Credit Union National Association.
Dan Berger, president and CEO of the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions, said “we look forward to working with members of the Senate Banking Committee, their staff and other senators as this package moves through the legislative process.”
“This bill includes credit union-specific provisions that provide meaningful regulatory relief, a sign that policymakers are paying close attention to the needs of credit union members,” said Jim Nussle, president and CEO of the Credit Union National Association.
Dan Berger, president and CEO of the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions, said “we look forward to working with members of the Senate Banking Committee, their staff and other senators as this package moves through the legislative process.”
Winner: Trust banks
The deal includes a provision that would clarify that trust and custody banks' deposits held at the Federal Reserve should not be included in the calculation of the supplementary reserve ratio. This benefits certain trust banks such as State Street.
Trust banks would finally get relief from the supplemental leverage ratio," wrote Jaret Seiberg, an analyst at Cowen & Co. "The bill would exempt for custodial banks deposits held at the central bank from the calculation of the supplemental leverage ratio. This does not mean that State Street and Bank of New York Mellon would escape their G-SIB designation. It would, however, make it easier for them to pass the CCAR stress test."
Trust banks would finally get relief from the supplemental leverage ratio," wrote Jaret Seiberg, an analyst at Cowen & Co. "The bill would exempt for custodial banks deposits held at the central bank from the calculation of the supplemental leverage ratio. This does not mean that State Street and Bank of New York Mellon would escape their G-SIB designation. It would, however, make it easier for them to pass the CCAR stress test."
Drew Angerer/Bloomberg
Winner: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Senate deal doesn't touch the CFPB — and that can be considered a win for the agency.
Under the House bill being pushed by Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, the CFPB would be effectively gutted. Its funding would be subject to congressional appropriations, while many of its powers would go back to the banking regulators.
There's nothing like that in the Senate bill. This is probably necessary in order to gain Democrats' support. But it still counts as a victory for the CFPB.
Under the House bill being pushed by Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, the CFPB would be effectively gutted. Its funding would be subject to congressional appropriations, while many of its powers would go back to the banking regulators.
There's nothing like that in the Senate bill. This is probably necessary in order to gain Democrats' support. But it still counts as a victory for the CFPB.
Winner and loser: Jeb Hensarling
On the one hand, the Senate deal falls well short of House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling's vision of reform. That tackled a host of issues, including CFPB reform, that the Senate version doesn't touch. While any bill that emerges from the Senate must be conferenced or agreed to by the House, which theoretically gives Hensarling room to maneuver, he doesn't have much. If he pushes his version of reform, the Senate deal with Democrats is liable to fall apart.
That said, it's hard to argue that Hensarling completely loses here, either. Hensarling has made it clear he's open to a Senate deal and even tried to make it easier for that to happen by passing multiple individual relief bills. So any bill that can get approved ultimately helps get him closer to his goal.
That said, it's hard to argue that Hensarling completely loses here, either. Hensarling has made it clear he's open to a Senate deal and even tried to make it easier for that to happen by passing multiple individual relief bills. So any bill that can get approved ultimately helps get him closer to his goal.
