The Federal Reserve’s new top regulatory official, Michelle Bowman, has outlined an ambitious agenda to review and ease numerous bank rules and oversight policies, which she believes have become burdensome and unnecessary.
Bowman’s Agenda for Change
Michelle Bowman, who was confirmed as the Fed’s Vice Chair for Supervision on Wednesday, emphasized the need to revisit how the Fed writes and enforces rules for some of the nation’s largest and most complex banks. In her prepared remarks, she argued that the influx of regulations following the 2008 financial crisis now warrants reconsideration.
Objective: Making Banks Safe to Fail
Bowman stated, “Our goal should not be to prevent banks from failing or even eliminate the risk that they will. Our goal should be to make banks safe to fail, meaning that they can be allowed to fail without threatening to destabilize the rest of the banking system.” This statement reflects her perspective that excessive regulatory measures may hinder the natural risk management process in the banking sector.
Bowman’s Longstanding Critique
Since joining the Fed as a governor in 2018, Bowman has been critical of the heavy-handed regulatory approach. Now, as the top regulatory official, she has called for a reevaluation of these measures. She mentioned that the Fed will soon launch several projects to streamline oversight, aiming to reduce some of the regulatory burden on banks.
Upcoming Changes in Bank Oversight
One of the initiatives Bowman highlighted includes revising the way the Fed supervises large banks. There will also be efforts to make certain bank rules less restrictive, and the Fed will explore changes aimed at easing the bank merger process. These proposed changes are seen as efforts to balance financial stability with a more flexible and business-friendly regulatory environment.
Conclusion
Michelle Bowman’s confirmation and her subsequent remarks indicate a shift in regulatory philosophy at the Federal Reserve. By reconsidering post-crisis regulations, the Fed seeks to ensure that while banks remain stable, they also have the necessary flexibility to thrive without undue constraints.
