(Reuters) -U.S. Federal Reserve is reconsidering its regulations regarding midsize banks which could potentially mean expansion of existing restrictions that currently only affect larger Wall Street firms, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
The Fed is reviewing a set of more stringent regulations related to capital and liquidity requirements, the report said, adding that it may consider measures to beef up annual "stress tests."
The report comes as policymakers grapple with the fallout from the crisis in Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank (NASDAQ:SBNY) and the contagion fears that gripped the banking system.
Regulators were forced to announce relief measures on Sunday, reassuring customers that all the deposits from both the banks would be covered. The Fed also announced a new facility to give banks access to emergency funds, in a bid to calm broader fears in the market.
According to the newspaper, the revised rules could target firms with between $100 billion to $250 billion in assets. Currently, these companies are not subject to some of the most toughest requirements.
The Federal Reserve did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.
