Fed official warns banking crisis 'brings us closer' to recession (2024)

  • 'It definitely brings us closer right now,' Kashkari told CBS 'Face the Nation'
  • He said the banking crisis could lead to a credit crunch, or decrease in the amount of money banks have to lend
  • 'On one hand, such strains could then bring down inflation, so we have to do less work with the federal funds rate to bring the economy into balance,' he said

By Morgan Phillips, U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.Com

Published: | Updated:

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Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said that the recent banking crisis that led to the shuttering of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature 'definitely' edge the U.S. closer to a recession.

'It definitely brings us closer right now,' Kashkari told CBS 'Face the Nation' on Sunday.

He said the banking crisis could lead to a credit crunch, or decrease in the amount of money banks have to lend.

'What's unclear for us is how much of these banking stresses are leading to a widespread credit crunch. And then that credit crunch, just as you said, would then slow down the economy,' he said.

Kashkari said that Fed officials are monitoring the fallout from the crisis 'very, very closely' and it's too early to determine whether it will have any impact on inflation and the next Fed meeting.

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said that the recent banking crisis that led to the shuttering of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature 'definitely' edge the U.S. closer to a recession

The Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate a quarter point on Wednesday to 4.75-5 percent, the highest rate since 2007.

He said the banking crisis could actually draw down inflation and thus prevent the Fed from raising rates even higher.

'On one hand, such strains could then bring down inflation, so we have to do less work with the federal funds rate to bring the economy into balance,' he said.

Kashkari did say the banking system has the 'full support' of the Federal Reserve.

'The banking system has a strong capital position and a lot of liquidity and has the full support of the Federal Reserve and other regulators standing behind it,' he said. 'The U.S. banking system is resilient, and it's sound.'

Kashkari's words came after the Financial Stability Oversight Council held a closed meeting after Fed data showed customers withdrew $100 billion from banks in the week ending March 15.

But Kashkari noted that money movements from smaller banks to bigger institutions like JP Morgan have slowed in recent days, which he deemed a sign of restored faith.

'There are some concerning signs, the positive sign is deposit outflows seem to have slowed down. Some confidence is being restored among smaller and regional banks,' he said.

The frightening bank saga has transpired over the course of just two weeks, and has spurred the demise of now four major banks - Silvergate, Silicon Valley Bank, Signature, and, most recently, major global lender Credit Suisse.

Security guards let individuals enter the Silicon Valley Bank's headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. in March

The consecutive collapses have sent shockwaves throughout the sector, while leading to liquidity crunches for other regional banks such as First Republic, as concerned citizens continue flock to branches to withdraw from their accounts.

Experts are now expressing confidence that the banking sector can withstand the shocks - saying the recent volatility serves as misleading - while others have warned they may still trigger a global catastrophe.

The San Francisco lenders' shares, as have dozens of others', have taken a nosedive over the past ten days, putting pressure on the Fed to put a pause on a series of rate hikes to ensure financial stability.

Other 'emergency lifelines' offered by regulators have included a $54billion buyout of New York-based Suisse by the Swiss government, and a $30billion bailout for First Republic from a coalition of big banks including JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs.

Such measures, experts have maintained, have all but annihilated any risk of contagion within the banking industry, whose questionable risk management has been cited as one of the main contributors to the previous financial crisis.

The current crisis, however, comes as banks across the world are adjusting to a steep surge in interest rates leveled to address pronounced economic inflation seen since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Used to years of low-cost borrowing thanks to ultra-low interest rates maintained by central banks around the world, lenders like SVB and Credit Suisse have struggled to manage their portfolios.

Fed official warns banking crisis 'brings us closer' to recession (2)

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Fed official warns banking crisis 'brings us closer' to recession (2024)

FAQs

Does the Fed expect a recession because of the banking crisis? ›

“Given their assessment of the potential economic effects of the recent banking-sector developments, the staff's projection at the time of the March meeting included a mild recession starting later this year, with a recovery over the subsequent two years,” the meeting summary said.

What did the Fed say about recession? ›

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2024. America's central bank doesn't see any signs of a recession on the horizon. Not this year nor the year after.

Can the government take money from your bank account in a crisis? ›

The government can seize money from your checking account only in specific circ*mstances and with due process. The most common reason for the government to seize funds from your account is to collect unpaid taxes, such as federal taxes, state taxes, or child support payments.

How would the Fed likely respond to a recession? ›

In periods when the economy is slow or in a recession, the Fed tends to lower rates to try to stimulate economic activity and help the economy expand again.

Which bank caused the recession? ›

The collapse of Lehman Brothers is often cited as both the culmination of the subprime mortgage crisis, and the catalyst for the Great Recession in the United States.

What are the odds of the US having a recession? ›

The research of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, currently puts the probability of a U.S. recession before February 2025 at 58%, that's about as high as a forward-looking recession probability has been on this model since the 1980s.

Is the US in a recession in 2024? ›

20, 2024, at 10:36 a.m. The New York Stock exchange (NYSE) at Wall Street, Jan. 31, 2024, in New York. A forward-looking measure of the U.S. economy continued to decline in January but importantly it is no longer signaling a recession in 2024, reflecting an economy outperforming expectations.

Is the US in a recession now? ›

The US economy is nowhere near a recession, Goldman Sachs' top economist says. The soft landing that once looked nearly impossible for the Federal Reserve to pull off is still on track. That's the message from Jan Hatzius, the chief economist of Goldman Sachs.

Why would the Fed trigger a recession? ›

Based on their projections, the Fed assumes higher interest rates will result in higher unemployment, a relationship that has repeatedly played out time and time again, and the level at which the Fed expects unemployment to rise has always been accompanied by a recession.

Can banks seize your money if the economy fails? ›

Banking regulation has changed over the last 100 years to provide more protection to consumers. You can keep money in a bank account during a recession and it will be safe through FDIC and NCUA deposit insurance. Up to $250,000 is secure in individual bank accounts and $500,000 is safe in joint bank accounts.

Should I take my cash out of the bank? ›

You should only take your money out of the bank if you need the cash. In the bank, cash is less vulnerable to theft, loss and disaster. And depending on the bank account, you could be earning interest on your cash that you won't be earning if it stays under your mattress.

Should I take my money out of the bank before a recession? ›

Generally, money kept in a bank account is safe—even during a recession. However, depending on factors such as your balance amount and the type of account, your money might not be completely protected. For instance, Silicon Valley Bank likely had billions of dollars in uninsured deposits at the time of its collapse.

What stops a recession? ›

Without income supports, workers who lose their jobs also lose income. As a result, they cut back on spending, which means businesses in their communities lose revenue, which, in turn, may lead to further layoffs. Income support programs stop this vicious recessionary cycle.

Can the Fed trigger a recession? ›

The researchers reviewed 16 episodes since 1950 when a central bank like the Fed raised the cost of borrowing to fight inflation, in the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. In each case, a recession resulted.

Will high interest rates cause a recession? ›

Whenever the Federal Reserve lifts rates to battle high inflation, the risk of a recession increases, and the US economy has typically fallen into an economic downturn under the weight of rising borrowing costs.

What will happen to the economy if banks collapse? ›

The fallout from a bank collapse can be widespread, hurting the bank's customers, employees, creditors, and even the entire economy. The bank and its shareholders are not the only stakeholders who suffer in a banking crisis. The bank's customers and account holders can be hit hard too.

Do bank runs cause recession? ›

The resulting chain of bankruptcies can cause a long economic recession as domestic businesses and consumers are starved of capital as the domestic banking system shuts down.

Are banks predicting recession? ›

Big banks forecast the global economy slowing in 2023, with a likely U.S. recession. Even the most bullish forecasts had the S&P 500 (. SPX) , opens new tab rising about 9% in 2023. It has rallied 21% so far.

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