Bank CEOs Blistered by Senate’s Brown to Do More for Public
Brown Rips Bank CEOs for Putting Profits Before Helping Workers
(Bloomberg) -- Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown ripped Wall Street at a high-profile hearing featuring the top executives at the six largest U.S. banks, saying it’s “past time” for the industry to step up and help struggling workers.
Brown, a Ohio Democrat, opened the proceedings Wednesday with a blistering attack on how banks operate, arguing that their business model is “built on short-term profits at the expense of long-term growth for everyone.” He challenged the chief executive officers to “be as good to the American people as the nation has been to you,” noting that taxpayers spent billions to rescue banks during the 2008 financial crisis.
When employees get sick or lose their jobs, they “don’t get a taxpayer bailout.” Brown said. “And they all remember that Wall Street did.”
The remarks set the tone for what’s expected to be hours of tough questions over issues ranging from workforce diversity to minority lending and executive pay.
The hearing is the first time the CEOs have been called before the panel -- and, much to the chagrin of some in the industry, it may also not be the last. Brown’s title for the event: ”Annual Oversight of Wall Street Firms.”
Among the CEOS testifying is Citigroup Inc.’s Jane Fraser, the first women to lead one of the U.S.’s biggest banks. Appearing with her are JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Jamie Dimon, Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s David Solomon, Bank of America Corp.’s Brian Moynihan, Morgan Stanley’s James Gorman and Wells Fargo & Co.’s Charles Scharf.
In their opening statements, the executives pointed out the leading role that big banks played in getting out billions of dollars in government stimulus and assistance for businesses and homeowners jolted by coronavirus. As for their own firms, the leaders noted, they remain well-capitalized and didn’t struggle during the market turmoil caused by Covid-19.
U.S. banks have thrived during the pandemic, with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. putting out a report Wednesday that showed the industry made $76.8 billion in the first quarter, shattering all previous profit records. Much of the earnings came from lenders releasing reserves that were set aside last year for potential losses that never materialized.
Democrats weren’t the only lawmakers criticizing banks Wednesday, as Republicans pointedly questioned decisions to curtail lending to politically unpopular businesses such as gun manufactures and oil companies. Senator Pat Toomey, the top GOP member of the Banking Committee, said corporations shouldn’t pursue social agendas that risk hurting shareholder returns.
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