ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The Senate just quietly passed the biggest rollback of Wall Street regulations since the financial crisis

The Senate bill is designed to exclude many smaller banks from increased regulation, but it will also benefit larger regional banks and financial institutions.

  • The Senate passed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act on Wednesday.
  • The legislation, more commonly known as the Crapo bill, includes a rollback of many banking regulations.
  • While it is designed to ease the burden on small community banks, it will also benefit larger regional banks and credit-reporting agencies.

A major overhaul of the US financial system's regulatory structure passed the Senate on Wednesday in a move that could relax some of the most stringent post-financial-crisis regulations for dozens of banks.

Supporters of the legislation — officially known as the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act but more commonly referred to as the Crapo bill after its author, the Senate banking committee chair, Mike Crapo — said it will free up regional banks from burdensome regulations and give consumers easier access to credit.

Opponents, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, said the bill will increase risk in the financial system and possibly set the industry up for another devastating crisis.

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite pushback from Warren and other Democrats, the bill easily passed the Senate by a vote of 67 to 31.

A slew of moderate Democrats, particularly those running for reelection this year in states President Donald Trump won in 2016, jumped on board to get the measure through the chamber.

The bill's most consequential provision comes from an increase in the threshold for a financial institution to be designated a Systemically Important Financial Institution.

The move has long been favored by Republicans in Congress, the Trump administration, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and some Democrats.

ADVERTISEMENT

Banks with the SIFI designation must adhere to stricter rules and oversight because their failure is seen as a danger to the economy. For instance, SIFI institutions must produce "living wills" that lay out how a bank would sell off assets in the event of a bankruptcy without disturbing the broader financial system.

The increased threshold, to $250 billion in assets from $50 billion, would affect several large regional banks, including BB&T, Fifth Third Bank, and SunTrust, which would no longer be subject to the more stringent SIFI rules. The number of SIFI institutions would drop to 12 from 38.

Lawmakers who favor the bill say that the SIFI designation was never meant to apply to regional banks and that the regulation has made it difficult for them to operate and for consumers to access credit.

Opponents of the bill, however, note that some institutions that helped precipitate the financial crisis had a smaller asset pile than $250 billion. Warren pointed to Countrywide, a mortgage lender that helped contribute to the crisis while holding about $210 billion in assets.

"If this bill passes, the next Countrywide will be regulated as if it were some tiny, little community bank," Warren said. "That's staggeringly dangerous for the American economy."

ADVERTISEMENT

In addition to the SIFI adjustment, the Crapo bill includes several tweaks for smaller banks and other financial institutions. Most of those changes are designed to ease regulation and allow businesses to engage in different types of lending and investing.

Here's a rundown of some of the other major provisions. The bill will:

Crapo released some minor last-minute adjustments to more closely adhere to the House's conservative approach to deregulation, said Jaret Seiberg, a financial-services analyst at Cowen Washington Research Group. Moving it closer to the House's goals, he said, was an attempt to ease the bill's passage.

ADVERTISEMENT

"To us, this suggests that Senate GOP leaders want the House to simply approve the Senate bill as written rather than adopt changes that would require a conference," Seiberg wrote in a note to clients on Monday. "A conference could push enactment of the bill to fall and even put enactment at risk as it is hard to see the Senate accepting any other changes."

It is unclear when the House will take up the bill or whether there could be any changes that necessitate a conference committee.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Here are common things people rarely dream about

Here are common things people rarely dream about

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT