A senior JPMorganChase executive has warned that proposed federal bank capital rules, known as Basel III Endgame, could reduce access to credit for small businesses across the United States. Stevie Baron, chief executive of Chase Business Bank, raised the concerns in an internal memo obtained by Fox News Digital, arguing that the regulatory framework as currently drafted risks unintended consequences for Main Street lending, even though it is aimed at strengthening the wider banking system.

Basel III Endgame is one of the most significant global financial regulatory standards under consideration, and regulators are working to finalise it. Baron's memo suggests that stricter capital requirements on banks could translate into tighter lending conditions, potentially squeezing credit for millions of small businesses that rely on bank financing to operate and grow. The warning comes as JPMorgan Chase, including chief executive Jamie Dimon, has been vocal in public discussions about the rules' potential economic impact.