Skip to main content

level the playing field between unregulated fintechs and credit unions.

WASHINGTON–With both credit union trade groups pressing Congress to bring fintechs under the same regulatory umbrella as other financial institutions, one of the key questions to be asking is what happens when things go wrong, according to NAFCU.

Credit union trade groups have called on Congress to ensure a “level playing field” between unregulated fintechs and credit unions. A number of fintechs have in the last year seen strong user growth into the millions of customers. Congress held a hearing on the issue last week.

“What we saw from the hearing is there are still a lot of questions,” said NAFCU EVP and General Counsel Carrie Hunt. “We are going to see more hearings on this issue. I think, ultimately, there is going to be a lot of disagreement as to what that regulation should look like. There is agreement that traditional financial providers can find value in partners, including fintechs, which can innovate quickly. It’s when they go one step further that begs the question around safety and soundness. We think credit unions provide the best option for consumers cradle to grave. These apps to move cash around quickly have a very finite purpose. The consumer really likes them until there is a problem, such as fraud, and then they end up going back to their credit unions. This is about a fair playing field.”

Regulatory Rollbacks’

Separately, the Biden Administration continues to roll back a number of Trump Administration rules and regulations, most recently around fair housing

Hunt said NAFCU is watching the moves being made by the Biden Administration, as it strongly supports a “deregulatory agenda.”

“If there is re-regulation, we want it to be necessary regulation,” said Hunt. “That’s how we view these rollbacks. We strongly support fair housing. Generally, it’s not the intent of regulation we have an issue with, its regulatory burden and whether it’s necessary to achieve those goals. Generally, there are other ways to achieve those goals.”

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Dolphin Debit, Enters into Partnership With CUSI

 HOUSTON–  Dolphin Debit , a full-service ATM management company, said it has entered into a strategic partnership with Credit Union Services, Inc. (CUSI), the Service Corporation of the MD|DC Credit Union Association. “Through the strategic partnership, CUSI adds a budget-ready, industry-leading ATM management program to its portfolio of solutions for credit unions in the Maryland and D.C. region,” Dolphin Debit said. According to Dolphin Debit, its ATM outsourcing service includes purchase and deployment of new ATMs, purchase of the financial institution’s existing ATMs, terminal driving, transaction processing, ATM maintenance, armored car service, communications, monitoring and dispatch, and cash management. “We welcome this oppor...

Liquidity Resources

Liquidity Resources Liquidity is a credit union’s capacity to meet its cash and collateral obligations at a reasonable cost. Adequate liquidity is necessary to efficiently meet both expected and unexpected cash flows and collateral needs without compromising the credit union’s daily operations or financial condition. Effective credit union management identifies, measures, monitors, and controls exposure to liquidity risk. Primary Risks In managing expected cash flows, a credit union may experience situations that increase its liquidity risk. These situations include mismatches between sources and uses of funds, market constraints on the ability to convert assets into cash or to access sources of funds (market liquidity), and contingent liquidity events. Changes in economic conditions or exposure to credit, market, operational, legal, and also can affect an institution’s liquidity risk profile. None of these risks are mutually exclusive, and interrelated risks may contribute to increase...

Not Your Mother’s Credit Union

“Stablecoins aren’t a speculative play. They’re the next evolution of payments — and a chance for credit unions to lead, not lag. It starts with connecting members to DLT rails - the digital wallet. Without that, nothing else can happen. It’s just a new payment rail - embrace it or lose the relationship. It’s that simple.” While ‘ stablecoins ’ were the prevailing buzzword across Money20/20 this year, the credit union industry had a significant presence. Small financial institutions have staked a place in the future of payments. Credit unions  received a significant boost this summer with the enactment of the stablecoin bill into law. The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act authorizes subsidiaries of federally insured credit unions, such as credit union service organizations, to become issuers. Not Your Mother’s Credit Union A Money20/20  fireside chat  with the regulator for credit unions that I moderated focused on the rulemaking task a...

CFPB Issues Final Rule on Remittance Transfers; Proposes Changes As Well

On January 20, 2012, the CFPB adopted a final rule amending Regulation E (Electronic Fund Transfers) to include consumer protections for various types of remittance transfers. The rule was originally proposed by the Federal Reserve Board last May; however, authority to finalize the rule-making transferred to the CFPB on July 21, 2011  ****More At;  CFPB Issues Final Rule on Remittance Transfers; Proposes Changes As Well : Written by Bernadette Clair, Regulatory Compliance Counsel   

Interest-bearing stablecoins could siphon deposits from community banks and credit unions

  WASHINGTON — Warning that interest-bearing stablecoins could siphon deposits from community banks and other traditional financial institutions, the American Bankers Association joined 52 state bankers associations from across the country in submitting a   letter   to the U.S. Department of the Treasury urging strong implementation of the GENIUS Act’s prohibition on interest for payment stablecoins. The letter, which responds to Treasury’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding implementation of the GENIUS Act, emphasizes the need to preserve the law’s core intent: ensuring stablecoins serve as payment tools, not investment vehicles. iStock-Gri-spb “The GENIUS Act’s prohibition on a payment stablecoin issuer paying interest or yield on payment stablecoins reflects Congress’s intent for payment stablecoins to be used for transactions and not as investment vehicles,” the associations wrote. “Treasury must reinforce this intent.” The associations warn that wit...

How to Prepare for a Recession

  By Ray Birch IRVINE, Calif.—There’s little chance the Federal Reserve will steer the U.S. away from a recession in the next 12-18 months, says one economist, who adds delinquencies among the nation’s lenders could become an issue in the near future. Elliot Eisenberg, chief economist for economic consultancy GraphsandLaughs, said during a recent Origence webcast he does not think the recession will be deep. But he also urged credit unions to revisit loan loss reserves built during the pandemic and to shore those up again. What the growth of inflation will come down to, explained Eisenberg, is whether the Federal Reserve, as it adjusts rates upward to curb inflation, will be able to engineer a “soft landing” for the econo...

Senate, 51-47, has confirmed John Crews to the NCUA board

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate, 51-47, has confirmed John Crews to the NCUA board, clearing the way for him to succeed Kyle Hauptman and return the agency to a single-member board following the Trump Administration's removal of Democratic board members Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka earlier this year. Maintaining the foundational stability of the credit union system Supporting efficient, risk-based regulation that accounts for institutional size and operational differences Preparing for technological advancement while safeguarding member assets Encouraging the growth of new credit unions to serve underbanked and military communities Preserving an open, accessible, and collaborative dialogue between the NCUA and the credit union movement Crews, who most recently served in the Treasury Department, has said his priorities include reducing regulatory burden for smaller credit unions, encouraging innovation and supporting the chartering of new credit unions, while maintaining the safety and s...

Become your kid's mortgage lender

Between slumping prices and low mortgage rates, it's a good time to look for real estate bargains. But thanks to tightened lending standards, legions of young would-be homebuyers aren't exactly in a position to take advantage of the opportunity. That's where their parents come in: One in three first-time buyers received either a gift or a loan from their families to help buy a home in 2011, according to the National Association of Realtors. **** More At; Become your kid's mortgage lender :

Fed Governor Warns ‘Global Stablecoin Glut’ Could Reshape Monetary Policy

  NEW YORK—Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran believes the rapid rise of stablecoins could become a major force shaping U.S. monetary policy. Once seen as a niche digital tool for crypto traders, stablecoins have evolved into a global conduit for dollar-denominated transactions, enabling users worldwide to store value and move capital more efficiently. Their growing prominence, Miran noted during his speech at the BCVC Summit 2025 at the Harvard Club, reflects continued demand for dollars—and with the GENIUS Act now providing a clear regulatory framework for U.S.-issued stablecoins, the sector is poised for broader adoption across payment systems. Stephen Miran Stablecoins’ link to the U.S. dollar is reinforcing the currency’s global dominance while simultaneously creating new implications for monetary policy. Miran argued that stablecoins are already increasing demand for U.S. Treasury bills and other dollar-based assets, especially from investors outside the United States. Th...