The U.S. banking system is strong and reliable. The industry is well regulated, and one of the results of the FDIC insurance program is that retail depositors should never have to wonder about the financial strength of their chosen bank. The FDIC insurance limit is currently $250,000 per covered account.…

Bank stocks have taken a beating lately, especially those in the regional banking category. The effects of the Fed’s raising of interest rates and the failure of Silicon Valley Bank are rocking the industry. Many names in the sector are trading at much lower valuations than at the beginning of…

With the growing likelihood that the earth’s temperature will warm beyond the four-alarm fire level of 1.5C, we have arrived at a make-or-break moment. What keeps me up at night is that despite the progress we’re making by investing in solutions designed to create a circular economy for plastics that…

The Federal Reserve faces many distractions right now, from curbing inflation to keeping a vulnerable mid-size banking sector from roiling the financial system. But there’s one threat on the horizon that dwarfs them all. That’s the threat of a future quantum computer attack on our financial sector. It’s a threat…

I had the honor of appearing at a May 2023 congressional hearing with Chair Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Member John Kennedy, and distinguished members of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy. My testimony was based on three decades of experience consulting and training professionals at banks…

Commercial real estate loans outstanding have grown slightly over 100% in a decade. CRE borrowers took advantage of the incredibly low interest rates, an economy recovering from the Global Financial Crisis, and banks that in too many cases were less than diligent in underwriting loans. Presently, the amount of commercial…

Last year, India was battered by heat. Temperatures soared above 49°C (120.2°F) in some parts, setting records for March and April. This kind of blistering heat is almost unliveable. “Our heads feel like they will explode,” Hema, a landfill worker outside Delhi, told The New Yorker. Climate change made the…

Small businesses are known to drive the U.S. economy and according to the Small Business Association, make up 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. As Small Business Month comes to a close, it’s more important than ever to recognize the headwinds they face in today’s economic environment, especially when it pertains…

The year 2023 has been a tough one on the banking sector. First, Silicon Valley Bank failed in March 2023, only to be followed in due course by Signature Bank SBNY and the seizure of First Republic Bank FRC in May 2023. For the majority of depositors, whose deposits are…