ABA today told the Financial Stability Board that additional regulation for the banking sector to address concerns regarding money market funds would be inappropriate and unnecessary, as banks have been a source of financial strength throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABA added that it appreciates that the FSB is focused on the feasible reforms to money market funds—which experienced market disruption during the early days of the pandemic—but that reforms “should balance the need for stability with preservation of prime and tax-exempt municipal MMFs.”
ABA also urged FSB to remove the tie between the weekly liquid asset threshold and the imposition of fees and gates, while also potentially increasing the weekly liquid asset threshold during normal times and lowering it during times of stress. Doing so would “balance the need for increased stability as well as the viability of these funds for the investing public,” ABA said.
