Regulators Ponder Boost in Capital Requirements for Banks
By John Riley
The word on the street has been confirmed: FDIC regulators are considering an increase in the capital reserve requirements for banks. No effective date has been set yet.
Currently, the reserve requirement is 12%. If the new regulations go into effect, the reserve requirement would move up to 12% and then a year or so later, it would go to 14%.
Following the financial crisis of the past year or so, federal regulators seem intent on taking steps to tighten financial controls on banks. While the increase in the capital reserve requirement would normally seem appropriate, these are not normal times and such a move can be a serious impediment to the economy’s recovery. Banks will need to take more of their money that would normally go for loans and investments and set it aside in their reserve fund.
