Finance
Fed minutes reveal lively September debate about whether first rate cut should be big or small
There was a divide within the Federal Reserve about whether its first interest rate cut in more than four years should be big or small, according to minutes from the central bank’s September meeting released Wednesday.
A “substantial majority” of Fed officials supported lowering rates by 50 basis points at the last meeting, but “some” would have preferred to have lowered by 25 basis points and “a few others indicated that they could have supported such a decision,” the minutes read.
Those who argued for a 25 basis point reduction noted that inflation was still somewhat elevated, while economic growth was strong and unemployment low.
Several said a smaller cut would line up more with a gradual reduction in the policy rate that would be more predictable and allow more time to assess any impacts on the economy.
Those who argued for a jumbo-sized cut said a 50 basis point move would help sustain strength in the economy and the job market while continuing to bring down inflation.
Some even said there had been a case for a 25 basis point rate cut at the previous meeting in July, and that recent data offered even more evidence that inflation continues to drop while the labor market cools.
Some of this internal division at the Fed was made public on Sept. 18 as the decision to cut by 50 basis points was announced, with Fed governor Michelle Bowman dissenting and saying she preferred 25 basis points.
No Fed official has voted against a policy decision in two years, matching one of the longest such streaks in the past half-century. Moreover, no Fed governor has dissented on a rate decision since 2005.
The Fed’s rate-setting committee was also almost evenly split on the number of additional rate cuts expected this year, with seven policymakers favoring one additional 25 basis point rate cut before year-end and nine members favoring 50 basis points of additional easing. Two policymakers expected no more rate cuts.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell, in a press conference with reporters last month, acknowledged the dissent but also said there was “broad support” for the cut and a “lot of common ground” among his fellow policymakers.
In the week since the decision, several policymakers have offered public support for a jumbo rate cut of 50 basis points, citing progress on inflation and a cooling job market.
Atlanta Fed president Raphael Bostic has said that residual concerns might have led him to trim by a smaller 25 basis points at the September policy meeting, but that would have ignored a recent cooling in the job market.
Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari said he voted in favor of cutting by 50 basis points because “the balance of risks has shifted away from higher inflation and toward the risk of a further weakening of the labor market, warranting a lower federal funds rate.”
Chicago Fed president Austan Goolsbee also said he was “comfortable” with a 50 basis point cut, viewing it “as a demarcation” that the central bank is now back to thinking as much about achieving maximum employment as it is price stability.
But a stronger-than-expected jobs report released last week now has analysts wondering whether the central bank will curtail rate cuts or if it moved too quickly with a 50 basis point reduction. There are also worries that inflation could be re-elevated as a concern.
Fed officials will get a fresh reading on inflation Thursday when the Consumer Price Index is due out. That measure is expected to keep in line with what officials want to see.
Economists expect core inflation — which eliminates volatile food and energy prices the Fed can’t control — held steady on an annual basis in September at 3.2% from the same level in August. Month over month, CPI is expected to have grown by 0.2%, compared with 0.3% in August.
Some Fed officials are urging a gradual path to cuts as they look to balance downside risks to unemployment with continuing to bring down inflation.
Dallas Fed president Lorie Logan became the latest official to voice that view on Wednesday, saying in a speech that “a more gradual path back to a normal policy stance will likely be appropriate from here to best balance the risks to our dual-mandate goals.”
Powell made it clear in remarks on Sept. 30 that the central bank isn’t in a “hurry” to bring interest rates down and would prefer smaller cuts.
He also reiterated that the consensus of Fed officials outlined at the September meeting was for two more 25 basis point rate cuts this year, saying, “it wouldn’t mean more fifties.”
Other officials, including New York Fed President John Williams, St. Louis Fed president Alberto Musalem, and Chicago Fed president Austan Goolsbee, all have said recently they favor bringing interest rates lower “over time.”
At the September meeting, according to the minutes, officials said it’s important to communicate that lowering rates should not be interpreted to mean the Fed believes the economic outlook has soured or that the Fed will lower rates more rapidly than the path laid out.
“Some participants emphasized that reducing policy restraint too late or too little could risk unduly weakening economic activity and employment. A few participants highlighted in particular the costs and challenges of addressing such a weakening once it is fully under way,” the minutes read.
Almost all participants saw upside risks to the inflation outlook as having diminished, while downside risks to employment were seen as having increased.
While Fed officials generally viewed the job market as solid, some said that the recent pace of job increases had fallen short of what was required to keep the unemployment rate stable on a sustained basis, assuming a constant labor force participation rate.
Many said that evaluating the job market had been challenging, with increased immigration, revisions to reported payroll data, and possible changes in the underlying growth rate of productivity.
Several participants emphasized the importance of continuing to use disaggregated data or information provided by business contacts as a check on readings on labor market conditions obtained from aggregate data.
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The Senate Finance Committee is set to hear from a panel of Treasury nominees that includes a pick Democrats said was unaware of economic fallout planning ahead of the Iran war and a former executive at Secretary Scott Bessent’s hedge fund.
The July 16 confirmation includes George McMaster, who was the trading chief at Key Square Group, a macro hedge fund run by Bessent, and Sriprakash Kothari, whose behind-the-scenes answers to the panel during the vetting process raised red flags for ranking member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) announced Thursday the panel will consider McMaster and Kothari …
 
Author: Leonardo Aguilera, CEO, Banreservas
Banreservas’ international expansion strategy is centred on strengthening economic ties with the Dominican diaspora as a strategic economic partner, rather than just operating as a full retail bank abroad, and the bank has successfully used mortgage fairs as part of this expansion strategy. These client-centric engagement events bring together diaspora clients, credible Dominican real estate developers, fiduciary-backed projects and bank representatives in one venue to help address key diaspora challenges such as distance and lack of trusted intermediaries, legal and documentation uncertainty, difficulty assessing projects remotely and limited access to tailored financing.
By simplifying the sending process from the US and Europe, reducing operational friction, and offering greater convenience and security, Banreservas has incentivised increased use of formal remittance channels. This strategy has had, and is expected to continue to have, a highly positive impact on remittance flows to the Dominican Republic, both in terms of volume and formalisation.
Reimagining the diaspora relationship
Banreservas’ model relies on representative offices set in strategic cities to provide advisory, pre-qualification and customer support services, while the financing and account opening itself is referred to Banreservas in the Dominican Republic, where they are operatively managed and booked.
The US (New York and Miami) and Spain (Madrid) were chosen as priority hubs to channel diaspora engagement and long-term investment because they are home to some of the largest and most economically active Dominican communities worldwide. By establishing representative offices in these strategic locations, Banreservas delivers tailored financial services to historically underserved expatriate communities, enabling them to invest, save, and build wealth in the Dominican Republic while contributing to national economic development, unlocking sustainable growth opportunities and deepening its role as a financial bridge between Dominicans abroad and their home country.
Banreservas uses mortgage fairs to compress what is traditionally a long, fragmented cross‑border process into a single, guided experience that combines education, advisory, and support. Diaspora clients can receive on-the-spot pre-qualification, explore real estate projects nationwide, and receive information and guidance about loan processes, although final approvals and disbursements are processed in the Dominican Republic.
The response in the US and Madrid has been characterised by sustained momentum and the diversity of participant profiles, from first-time buyers to repeat investors and returning nationals, which suggests that the fairs are resonating beyond a narrow segment of the diaspora. In US cities with long-established Dominican communities, the fairs have evolved into anticipated events rather than exploratory initiatives, with those in New York and Lawrence generating financing exceeding $49m. However, the initiative was newer in Europe, so the response in Madrid followed a slightly different trajectory, with early editions focusing heavily on education and orientation. That said, the first fair in Madrid attracted thousands of participants and closed with financing requests of more than $21m.
Risk mitigation is central to the model and projects are carefully vetted, many supported under a fiduciary account or an estate asset trust fund and backed by clear legal frameworks. Banreservas’ direct involvement is one of the defining features of its diaspora strategy to ensure transparency, regulatory compliance and investor protection throughout the process. By offering direct access to Banreservas’ experts, vetted developers, fiduciary-backed projects and consistent financing terms, these events are helping create a relationship-building platform that improves transparency, credibility and institutional confidence. Internal customer experience reports emphasise that word-of-mouth referrals, repeat attendance, and post-fair engagement are among the clearest indicators that trust has been established organically, particularly within close-knit diaspora communities. Banreservas’ role as the national leading institution further reassures clients investing from abroad.
Transaction to transformation
Rather than a single-product offering, Banreservas approaches diaspora customers with a portfolio mindset, providing a robust cross-border selection including mortgage loans, savings and checking accounts, remittance-linked products and investment solutions tied to real estate development.
Banreservas has deliberately adopted a scalable and selective expansion logic
Remittances are a core strategic pillar of Banreservas’ international expansion, and the creation of new digital channels and specialised financial products are helping transform remittances into a gateway for deepening financial inclusion. The Remesas Reservas app enables Dominicans abroad to send money from the US and Europe using international cards, with funds credited directly to bank accounts or debit cards in the Dominican Republic, eliminating the need for cash, queues, or physical travel. The app is complemented by the home delivery remittances service, which extends financial access to rural communities that were previously excluded from the formal financial system. Service performance data shows that 97 percent of remittances sent through the app complete the entire process digitally, while 94 percent are received directly in bank accounts, strengthening financial traceability. This supports the sustainability and potential growth of remittance inflows to the Dominican Republic that already exceeds $12bn annually, while also expanding the banked customer base and improving the overall efficiency of the national financial ecosystem.
The strategy is further strengthened by the introduction of remittance-based consumer and mortgage loans, specifically designed for remittance recipients. These products allow recurring remittance flows to be converted into formal financial history, facilitating access to credit, and reinforcing the ‘bankarisation’ process. As a result, remittances evolve from a basic transfer mechanism into a financial development tool, integrating beneficiaries into the banking system with solutions tailored to their real income patterns and needs.
Mortgage financing in the Dominican Republic is embedded within a broader set of banking solutions designed to support the full investment and ownership journey. At the core are residential mortgage products structured for non-resident clients looking to acquire property in the Dominican Republic. These are complemented by linked deposit and savings accounts, which allow clients to organise funds, manage payments and maintain an ongoing banking relationship once the purchase process begins. In parallel, Banreservas leverages its digital channels and remittance services to facilitate the movement of funds and day-to-day interaction with Banreservas, reinforcing continuity beyond the initial transaction.
For first-time diaspora investors, the emphasis is on financial orientation and readiness with solutions structured to simplify entry into the formal mortgage system in the Dominican Republic. For returning nationals, products and advisory conversations are typically aligned with reintegration objectives. In both cases, the underlying principle is adaptability within a controlled institutional framework, rather than bespoke products that introduce additional risk.
They have the support of President Luis Abinader, who has created the conditions for Dominicans in the diaspora take advantage of the macroeconomic stability, legal security, and full guarantees that receive all foreign investors who trust in the Dominican Republic to make their business.
Modernising remittance ecosystem
Modernising the remittance ecosystem combined with specialised financial products generates a direct multiplier effect on strategic sectors, strengthening the real economy and territorial development. In the construction sector, the remittance mortgage loan transforms recurring remittance flows into formal financing capacity for homeownership and has taken centre stage in Banreservas’ participation in international mortgage fairs. Diaspora demand supports property acquisition and upstream activities such as project development, construction services, materials supply, legal services and professional employment.
Equally important is the impact on financial deepening and formalisation. When diaspora investors enter the banking system through regulated mortgage channels, their participation strengthens the use of formal financial products, thereby expanding the reach and resilience of the financial system. This dynamic is a key contribution to economic maturity, as it encourages long-term financial relationships rather than one-time transactions.
From a tourism perspective, the strategy strengthens the economic and emotional ties between the diaspora and the country. Home purchases financed through mortgage loans paid via remittances promote more frequent visits, longer stays, and increased spending on tourism-related services, while also encouraging investment in vacation properties and second homes. Additionally, increased formal income and financial inclusion among remittance-receiving households boosts domestic consumption, benefiting transportation, commerce and service sectors closely linked to tourism.
The scalable model
Banreservas has deliberately adopted a scalable and selective expansion logic, prioritising model stabilisation in proven markets before extending to new ones. However, any future expansions are likely to be opportunity-driven and phased, to ensure that each new market sustains long-term client relationships. This strategy allows for progressive expansion, but only where three conditions converge: concentrated Dominican diaspora communities with sustained economic ties to the Dominican Republic, regulatory and operational feasibility, particularly the ability to support activity through representative offices or equivalent structures, and demonstrated demand signals.
The next three to five years points to a qualitative shift in diaspora investment behaviour. First, there is a clear movement from sentimental ownership to strategic investment. Second, diaspora investors are showing a stronger preference for formal, institutionally mediated channels. And finally, the younger diaspora segment tends to prioritise entry-level or future-orientated assets, while more established individuals focus on retirement, anchoring, or reintegration-linked purchases. This diversification of motivations is influencing how Banreservas structures advisory conversations and sequences client engagement over time.
With diaspora investment contributing to national economic development primarily by transforming external household income into structured, long-term domestic capital, Banreservas’ long-term objectives are driving financial inclusion, fostering foreign direct investment and supporting key productive sectors. By empowering confident diaspora investment, Banreservas reinforces its leadership role in national development while expanding its international footprint in a sustainable way by adopting a focused model that strengthens value creation in the Dominican Republic through targeted international interaction.
From a growth perspective, the expansion allows Banreservas to diversify its customer acquisition channels by engaging Dominican communities abroad at earlier stages of their financial decision-making. From an economic development standpoint, the strategy is goal orientated.
By facilitating diaspora investment in housing and related sectors in the Dominican Republic, Banreservas acts as a conduit that transforms external income flows into productive domestic investment.
TORONTO — Insurance provider Intact Financial Corp. says it had higher catastrophe losses and large losses in the second quarter than it initially expected.
Intact Financial reported that its combined catastrophe and large losses were $247 million above its expectations for the second quarter on a pre-tax and net of reinsurance basis.
The combined higher losses amount to $1.08 per diluted common share after tax.
Total catastrophe losses reached $416 million on a pre-tax basis during the second quarter and net of reinsurance.
The company says catastrophe losses in Canada were due to weather events, while commercial fires drove losses in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Intact Financial says the increase in large losses included higher-frequency fire claims as well as other property losses across different geographies.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2026.
Companies in this story: (TSX: IFC)
The Canadian Press
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