In this Issue. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve) announced the launch of its new payment system, FedNow®; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) issued a letter reminding insured depository institutions about reporting uninsured deposits; and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced that it will host risk governance and capital markets workshops. These and other developments are discussed in more detail below.
Regulatory Developments
Federal Reserve's New Instant Payment System FedNow® Service Goes Live
On July 20, the Federal Reserve launched FedNow®, its new system for instant payments. FedNow® permits banks and credit unions to instantly transfer their customers' money, improving the speed and convenience of digital payments. By using FedNow®, consumers can immediately pay bills and receive paychecks; companies can instantly access funds and more effectively manage cash flows without processing delays.
Thirty-five banks and credit unions, along with the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service, will adopt the service as part of the initial soft launch. Early adopters include JP Morgan Chase, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo. The Federal Reserve will work with other banks and credit unions to expand the availability of FedNow® for consumers over time.
"The Federal Reserve built the FedNow® Service
to help make everyday payments over the coming years faster and
more convenient. Over time, as more banks choose to use this new
tool, the benefits to individuals and businesses will include
enabling a person to immediately receive a paycheck, or a company
to instantly access funds when an invoice is
paid."
- Jerome H. Powell, Chair, Federal Reserve
FDIC Issues Reminder for Reporting Obligations for Uninsured Deposits
On July 24, the FDIC issued a letter to remind insured depository institutions (IDIs) of their obligation to properly report estimated uninsured deposits in accordance with the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report).
The FDIC reminded IDIs that if an IDI has deposit accounts with balances in excess of the federal deposit insurance limit that it has collateralized by pledging assets, then the IDI should make a reasonable estimate of the portion of the deposits that is uninsured using data available from its information systems.
Call Report forms and instructions can be accessed from the FDIC Call Reports webpage.
OCC Hosts Risk Governance and Capital Markets Workshops in Cincinnati
On July 20, the OCC announced that it is hosting two workshops on August 8 and 9 in Cincinnati, Ohio, for directors, senior management, and other key executives of national community banks and federal savings associations. The Risk Governance: Improving Effectiveness workshop on August 8 will combine "lectures, discussion, and exercises to provide practical information for participants to effectively identify, measure, monitor, and control risk," and the Capital Markets: Keeping Current workshop on August 9 "is designed to help bank leadership better understand balance sheet management risks such as interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and risks associated with the investment portfolio." These workshops will focus on the OCC's approach to risk-based supervision, major risks in the financial industry, and discuss the quantifying balance sheet risk related to assets and liabilities.
FCA Publishes Feedback Statement on Potential
Competition Impacts of Big Tech Entry and Expansion in Retail
Financial Services
On July 12, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
published Feedback Statement 23/4: The potential competition
impacts of Big Tech entry and expansion in retail financial
services (FS23/4). This summarized the feedback received in
relation to its October 2022 discussion paper (DP22/5) and sets out
the key actions it intends to take in response.
Fintech Flash – Generative AI and Financial
Services: A Recent View From the UK Regulator
In a recent speech, Nikhil Rathi, CEO of the UK FCA, set
out the FCA's latest views on the role of artificial
intelligence (AI) in financial services. The speech highlights many
benefits but also shines a light on the risks for the FCA and
builds on the points made in a joint paper published by the Bank of
England and FCA on AI.
Read more about this topic in a recent Fintech Flash.
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