Business
JPMorgan Chase says banks could fight Trump credit card rate cap: ‘Everything’s on the table’
JPMorgan Chase CFO Jeremy Barnum hinted Tuesday the industry could fight President Donald Trump’s demand for credit card price controls, saying “everything’s on the table.”
“If you wind up with weakly supported directives to radically change our business that aren’t justified, you have to assume that everything’s on the table,” Barnum said on a call with reporters following JPMorgan’s fourth-quarter earnings report. “We owe that to shareholders.”
Barnum was responding to a question about whether banks would choose to litigate to block Trump’s demand, made late Friday, that card companies cap interest rates at 10% for a year. Last year, the industry successfully fought efforts by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to cap card late fees.
Banks and industry insiders say that an interest rate limit would result in fewer credit card accounts for Americans and a dip in spending for the U.S. economy, as companies would simply pull accounts rather than offer them at an unprofitable level.
The average credit card rate nationally is 19.7% as of this month, according to a weekly survey from Bankrate.com, while rates for subprime borrowers and store-specific cards are typically higher.
“Our belief is that actions like this will have the exact opposite consequence to what the administration wants for consumers,” Barnum said. “Instead of lowering the price of credit, we’ll simply reduce the supply of credit, and that will be bad for everyone: consumers, the wider economy, and yes, at the margin, for us.”
The CFO declined to directly answer a question on whether JPMorgan would comply with Trump’s demand, which has a proposed Jan. 20 start date. Banks that don’t follow the directive are “in violation of the law,” Trump told reporters Sunday.
Still, it’s unclear how Trump’s mandate would be enforced. There is no U.S. law capping card rates, though a bill was introduced last year from Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont that would limit card APRs at 10% for five years. That bill is stalled in Congress.
Other voices in the corporate and political realms began addressing the possible impact of Trump’s rate cap on Tuesday.
Beyond banks, airlines and retailers rely on revenue from card partnerships to bolster profit. For instance, Delta Air Lines said Tuesday that its American Express partnership produced $8.2 billion in revenue last year.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said on an earnings call that the cap would “upend the whole credit card industry … I don’t see any way we could even begin to contemplate how that would be implemented.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson struck a note of caution when asked about the issue at a news conference.
“We have a lot of work to go [on] consensus around it, but you got to be very careful as we go forward in that in our zeal to bring down costs — you don’t want to have negative secondary effects,” Johnson said.
— CNBC’s Emily Wilkins and Leslie Josephs contributed to this report.
Business
Ryanair flight from Milan to Manchester leaves passengers behind due to border delays
New European border rules have caused delays at airports across the continent, affecting flights.
Source link
Business
Rivian’s factory damaged by tornado amid crucial R2 EV launch
A view shows a second-generation R1S at electric auto maker Rivian’s manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, on June 21, 2024.
Joel Angel Juarez | Reuters
A tornado damaged part of Rivian Automotive‘s factory in central Illinois over the weekend, according to a message sent to employees Sunday night by CEO RJ Scaringe that was viewed by CNBC.
The tornado touched down on the plant, Scarigne said. That area was being used for parts storage and logistics for Rivian’s upcoming R2, which is a crucial product for the company that’s expected to be on sale this spring.
Scaringe said operations in the damaged area are expected to resume this week, while other major portions of the plant, such as its assembly lines, are operating as planned. No injuries have been reported as a result of the incident, according to a company spokeswoman.
“While Building 2 has sustained damage and is closed for the time being as we complete our assessments, I am incredibly relieved to share that there were no injuries at our plant,” Scaringe said in his message to employees.
Scaringe said the company would “share more information as it becomes available, but for now, our priority is ensuring our Normal [Illinois] team is safe and supported.”
Apparent photos posted online of the aftermath, which was first reported by TechCrunch, showed damage to the roof and at least one wall of the recently constructed building.
The National Weather Service reports the factory was hit amid a “significant tornado outbreak” that occurred Friday across the upper Midwest. Confirmed tornadoes near the factory Friday night were classified as EF1, with estimated peak winds of 100 mph, according to NWS.
Business
Trump tariff refunds begin but consumers likely to miss out
Businesses can apply online through a portal for refunds expected to total $160bn.
Source link
-
Fashion4 days agoFrance’s LVMH Q1 revenue falls 6%, shows resilience amid Iran war
-
Sports1 week agoThe case for Man United’s Fernandes as Premier League’s best
-
Entertainment1 week agoPalace left in shock as Prince William cancels grand ceremony
-
Business1 week agoUK could adopt EU single market rules under new legislation
-
Entertainment5 days agoIs Claude down? Here’s why users are seeing errors
-
Fashion1 week agoEnergy emerges as biggest cost driver in textile margins
-
Business1 week agoDelta Air Lines unveils first new Delta One suite in premium cabin arms race
-
Tech1 week agoA Lot of Shops Won’t Fix Electric Bikes. Here’s Why
