JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has fired back at President Donald Trump's proposal to cap credit card interest rates, labeling it a "economic disaster" that could have far-reaching consequences for consumers and businesses alike.
In a surprising display of bipartisan support, Dimon's comments echo those made by progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has also expressed willingness to work with the administration on the issue. However, banking industry trade group The Electronic Payments Coalition warns that implementing such a cap could lead to widespread credit card closures, reduced rewards for low-credit-score borrowers, and even impact municipal payments.
Dimon's assertion that capping interest rates at 10 percent would remove credit from 80% of Americans has sparked concerns about the potential economic fallout. "It would be an economic disaster," he said in Davos, Switzerland, where the comments were made. The CEO also argued that imposing such a cap without concrete implementation details could have unintended consequences for businesses and consumers.
Critics argue that the proposal may not yield the promised savings of $100 billion per year, as claimed by Vanderbilt University research. Instead, experts suggest that credit card companies would need to reduce rewards for low-credit-score borrowers, while limiting lending to those with scores below 600.
The bill, which also has support from Senator Bernie Sanders' team, faces slim chances in Congress due to opposition from Republican lawmakers and concerns about the impact on small businesses. "It's an opportunity for President Trump to point fingers at Congress," said Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management.
As markets react to Dimon's comments, some credit card stocks have seen a drop in value, while bank stocks are trending upwards. The interest rate cap push also coincides with growing disapproval of the president's handling of the US economy, according to recent polls.
In a surprising display of bipartisan support, Dimon's comments echo those made by progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has also expressed willingness to work with the administration on the issue. However, banking industry trade group The Electronic Payments Coalition warns that implementing such a cap could lead to widespread credit card closures, reduced rewards for low-credit-score borrowers, and even impact municipal payments.
Dimon's assertion that capping interest rates at 10 percent would remove credit from 80% of Americans has sparked concerns about the potential economic fallout. "It would be an economic disaster," he said in Davos, Switzerland, where the comments were made. The CEO also argued that imposing such a cap without concrete implementation details could have unintended consequences for businesses and consumers.
Critics argue that the proposal may not yield the promised savings of $100 billion per year, as claimed by Vanderbilt University research. Instead, experts suggest that credit card companies would need to reduce rewards for low-credit-score borrowers, while limiting lending to those with scores below 600.
The bill, which also has support from Senator Bernie Sanders' team, faces slim chances in Congress due to opposition from Republican lawmakers and concerns about the impact on small businesses. "It's an opportunity for President Trump to point fingers at Congress," said Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management.
As markets react to Dimon's comments, some credit card stocks have seen a drop in value, while bank stocks are trending upwards. The interest rate cap push also coincides with growing disapproval of the president's handling of the US economy, according to recent polls.