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Speeches & Testimony
Statement from FDIC
Vice Chairman Hoenig
On
Congressional moves to repeal
swaps push-out requirements
December 10, 2014

In 2008 we learned the economic consequences of conducting derivatives trading in
taxpayer-insured banks. Section 716 of Dodd-Frank is an important step in pushing the
trading activity out to where it should be conducted: in the open market, outside of
taxpayer-backed commercial banks. It is illogical to repeal the 716 push out
requirement. In fact, under 716, most derivatives -- almost 95% -- would not be pushed
out of the bank. That is because interest rate swaps, foreign exchange and cleared
credit derivatives can remain within the bank. In addition, derivatives that are used for
hedging can remain in the bank. The main items that must be pushed out under 716 are
uncleared credit default swaps (CDS), equity derivatives and commodities derivatives.
These are, in relative terms, much smaller and where the greater risks and capital
subsidy is most useful to these banking firms.
Derivatives that are pushed out by 716 are only removed from the taxpayer support and
the accompanying subsidy of insured deposit funding -- they will continue to exist and to
serve end users. In fact, most of these firms have broker-dealer affiliates where they
can place these activities, but these affiliates are not as richly subsidized, which helps
explain these firms' resistance to 716 push out.
Last Updated 12/10/2014