Four Takeaways for Banks from Obama's Budget

American Banker
Tuesday, March 4, 2014

President Obama's latest budget contains a few surprises for bankers. First, the budget predicts that the Federal Housing Administration, which announced in September it would need a $1.7 billion bailout, will have a positive year-end capital reserve of $7.8 billion and require no more transfers from Treasury. The proposal also includes new funds for housing, with $1 billion in spending to capitalize the National Housing Trust Fund. The affordable rental and housing program has been in turmoil due to the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This $1 billion allocation would "jumpstart" the fund. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission also saw a bump in funding. But perhaps most controversial is the administration's call for a new "financial crisis responsibility fee" on the biggest banks to help pay down the Troubled Asset Relief Program.