Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Yellen Says Bank Situation 'Stabilizing,' System Is 'Sound'
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 2 years ago on
March 21, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is trying project calm after regional bank failures, saying the U.S. banking system is “sound” but additional rescue arrangements “could be warranted” if any new failures at smaller institutions pose a risk to financial stability.

Yellen, in an excerpt of remarks prepared for delivery to the American Bankers Association on Tuesday, says that overall “the situation is stabilizing.”

“And the U.S. banking system remains sound,” Yellen says.

Yellen’s remarks come after a series of troubling bank developments this month.

Silicon Valley Bank, based in Santa Clara, California, failed on March 10 after depositors rushed to withdraw money amid anxiety over the bank’s health. It was the second-largest bank collapse in U.S. history. Regulators convened over the following weekend and announced that New York-based Signature Bank also had failed. They said that all depositors at both banks, including those holding uninsured funds, those exceeding $250,000, would be protected by federal deposit insurance.

And last week a third bank, San Francisco-based First Republic Bank, was fortified by $30 billion in funds raised by 11 of the biggest U.S. banks in an attempt to prevent it from collapsing.

The government is now determined to restore public confidence in the banking system and to prevent any more turmoil. The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission have launched investigations into the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, and President Joe Biden has called on Congress to strengthen rules on regional banks and to impose tougher penalties on executives of failed banks.

Yellen, in her prepared remarks, says the government’s intervention was necessary to “protect the broader banking system” and more rescue efforts could be necessary.

“Similar actions could be warranted if smaller institutions suffer deposit runs that pose the risk of contagion,” she says.

Yellen faced the Senate Finance Committee last week and offered upbeat reassurances to rattled bank depositors and investors that the U.S. banking system “remains sound” and Americans “can feel confident” about the safety of their deposits.

She will appear in front of congressional panels twice more this week, in the Senate and the House, and will inevitably face more questions about the nature of the bank failures and the government’s effort to quell them.

“Let me be clear: The government’s recent actions have demonstrated our resolute commitment to take the necessary steps to ensure that depositors’ savings and the banking system remain safe,” she said.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Musk Relationship Over, Warns of ‘Serious Consequences’ if He Funds Democrats

DON'T MISS

Iran Says It Obtained Sensitive Israeli Nuclear Documents

DON'T MISS

Trump Has Options to Punish Musk Even if His Federal Contracts Continue

DON'T MISS

Ukrainian Attack Damaged 10% of Russia’s Strategic Bombers, Germany Says

DON'T MISS

Riot Police, Anti-ICE Protesters Square Off in Los Angeles After Raids

DON'T MISS

Why Reforming California’s Bedrock Environmental Law Is Good for the Environment

DON'T MISS

Sinner Bids for His First French Open Title Against Defending Champion Alcaraz

DON'T MISS

Coco Gauff Defeats Top-Ranked Aryna Sabalenka in 3 Sets to Win Her First French Open Title

DON'T MISS

Texas Beats Texas Tech in 3rd Game of WCWS to Win Its 1st National Championship

DON'T MISS

Conforto Comes Through, Dodgers Rally in 8th for Victory Abetted by Mets Mishap

UP NEXT

Trump Has Options to Punish Musk Even if His Federal Contracts Continue

UP NEXT

Why Reforming California’s Bedrock Environmental Law Is Good for the Environment

UP NEXT

Trans Troops, Facing a Deadline, Opt to Stay and Fight the Ban

UP NEXT

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

UP NEXT

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

UP NEXT

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

UP NEXT

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

UP NEXT

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

UP NEXT

Documentary Series Goes Inside Trump’s Bubble

UP NEXT

Fresno Downtown Parking Costs Taxpayers an Extra $4 Million

Trump Has Options to Punish Musk Even if His Federal Contracts Continue

8 hours ago

Ukrainian Attack Damaged 10% of Russia’s Strategic Bombers, Germany Says

8 hours ago

Riot Police, Anti-ICE Protesters Square Off in Los Angeles After Raids

8 hours ago

Why Reforming California’s Bedrock Environmental Law Is Good for the Environment

13 hours ago

Sinner Bids for His First French Open Title Against Defending Champion Alcaraz

14 hours ago

Coco Gauff Defeats Top-Ranked Aryna Sabalenka in 3 Sets to Win Her First French Open Title

14 hours ago

Texas Beats Texas Tech in 3rd Game of WCWS to Win Its 1st National Championship

14 hours ago

Conforto Comes Through, Dodgers Rally in 8th for Victory Abetted by Mets Mishap

15 hours ago

Giants Beat the Slumping Braves in 10 Innings on a Wild Pitch

15 hours ago

Trans Troops, Facing a Deadline, Opt to Stay and Fight the Ban

16 hours ago

Sights & Sounds: The 2025 Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade and Festival

The 35th Annual Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade and Festival brought vibrant sights, sounds, and unity to the Tower District and Fresno City Col...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

Sights & Sounds: The 2025 Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade and Festival

7 hours ago

Trump Says Musk Relationship Over, Warns of ‘Serious Consequences’ if He Funds Democrats

8 hours ago

Iran Says It Obtained Sensitive Israeli Nuclear Documents

8 hours ago

Trump Has Options to Punish Musk Even if His Federal Contracts Continue

8 hours ago

Ukrainian Attack Damaged 10% of Russia’s Strategic Bombers, Germany Says

8 hours ago

Riot Police, Anti-ICE Protesters Square Off in Los Angeles After Raids

14 hours ago

Why Reforming California’s Bedrock Environmental Law Is Good for the Environment

14 hours ago

Sinner Bids for His First French Open Title Against Defending Champion Alcaraz

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend