In a letter to Federal Reserve Board ("FRB") Chair Jerome Powell, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) raised questions about the FRB's approval process for bank mergers and acquisitions ("M&A"). Ms. Warren first wrote to the FRB about its review of bank mergers in April 2018.
Ms. Warren voiced concern about FRB's high rates of M&A application approvals. She also expressed concern about the FRB's practice of allowing consultations between FRB staff and M&A applicants, which raise "questions about transparency and fairness."
Ms. Warren's letter was released after SunTrust Banks, Inc. and BB&T Corporation announced an agreement to merge, which would create the sixth-largest U.S. bank. Ms. Warren stated that the FRB's record of "summarily" approving all M&A requests could have substantial impacts on consumer choice and competition.
Ms. Warren requested answers to her questions on the factors underlying increased bank M&A activity by February 21, 2019.
Commentary
Senator Warren's concerns as to the percentage of bank merger applications that are approved totally misses the point, at least if the point is good financial regulation. If the regulators are (i) transparent as to what the standards are and (ii) consistent in the application of those standards, then it follows that a very high percentage of applications will be approved. Market participants know what the rules are. Conversely, if the regulators are opaque as to the standards, and if application of those standards is inconsistent (in other words, if the regulatory system is not working well), the percentage of applications approved may be much lower because the regulators are being more arbitrary in their exercise of power.
Senator Warren should focus on the standards by which approvals are granted and not on the percentage of applications granted.
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