Banking with Interest

Aaron Klein, the policy director at the Center on Regulation and Markets at the Brookings Institute, talks about why the U.S. has lagged behind other countries when it comes to real-time payments. He discusses how banks can speed up the adoption of real-time payments and why it would be helpful during the COVID crisis. He argues real-time payment adoption might mean more for unbanked consumers than postal banking, of which he remains skeptical.

Rob Nichols, the president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, talks about whether another financial crisis is in the offing, how Washington could help banks now, and the impact of the election on the banking industry. Oh, and he also reveals what U2’s Bono is like in person.

Misha Esipov, the founder and CEO of Nova Credit, discusses how he helped to build the world’s first cross-border consumer credit reporting agency, why immigrants are critical to economic growth in the U.S., and how credit history is key to addressing economic disparities. 

Matt Anderson, managing director with Trepp, answers critical questions about the future of commercial real estate, including how deep the losses may be, what institutions are most vulnerable, and what banks should be doing to prepare for the potential damage.

Jeff Plagge, the Iowa Superintendent of Banking, talks about the growing tensions between the OCC, which wants to offer a national charter for payments companies, and state regulators, who believe it would be systemically risky to do so. Plagge also discusses the potential credit impact of COVID-19 on commercial real estate and agricultural lending.

Craig Scheef, the founder, chairman and CEO of Texas Security Bank in Dallas, talks about his bank’s unique approach to small business lending, how the institution successfully doubled its asset size thanks to the PPP program, and why he believes policymakers underestimate the value of a free enterprise system.

Malia Lazu, the chief experience and culture officer at $13.1 billion-asset Berkshire Bank in Boston, talks about why banks often fail to reach millennial and minority customers, the challenges facing community banks, and the future of the branch.  

Richard Hunt, the head of the Consumer Bankers Association, talks about the impact of a recent Supreme Court decision that said the CFPB’s leadership structure was unconstitutional, and why he fears it will inhibit banks from offering small-dollar loans. He also discusses the OCC’s final CRA reform rule, why there’s a coin shortage in the U.S. and the future of banking and branches after COVID-19.

It’s been nearly 12 years since Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were seized by the government, with Congress unable or unwilling to resolve the future of the two government-sponsored enterprises. But there are signs GSE reform may happen soon, with or without Congress.

Patrick Sells, the chief innovation officer at Quontic Bank and American Banker’s Digital Banker of the Year, pushes back on the perception that banks aren’t innovative. He explains how to get bank employees on board with a digital overhaul and the biggest obstacles to ingenuity in banking.