President Donald Trump called on Congress to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for one year, aiming to help Americans save for homes. Bank shares rose following his comments, with the KBW Bank index climbing 2.2%. Legislation to limit rates at 10% for five years has been stalled in Congress.
Analysts doubt bipartisan support for a card bill, with Republican lawmakers expressing caution on card price controls. Trump’s attempt to push banks to voluntarily lower rates may show limits to his influence. Banks fear unintended consequences of a rate cap, including account cancellations for many customers.
Large credit card lenders contacted by CNBC stated they had not changed interest rates in response to Trump’s request. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon suggested testing the rate cap in just two states, Vermont and Massachusetts, to demonstrate the potential negative impact. Dimon warned of an economic disaster and drastic reduction in credit card business for 80% of Americans.
Read more at CNBC: Trump urges Congress to enact 10% credit card interest rate cap
