Federal backing is possible in a rescue of First Republic

Wall Street leaders and U.S. officials discussing an intervention at First Republic Bank are exploring the possibility of government backing to encourage a deal that would shore up the lender, people with knowledge of the situation said.

The group has floated a variety of measures to make the company more attractive to potential investors or a buyer, part of an effort to ensure there isn’t another U.S. bank failure, the people said, asking not to be named describing confidential talks.

Among options, the government could play a role in lifting assets out of First Republic that have eroded its balance sheet. Although investors have expressed interest in helping, the firm’s unrealized losses have been a sticking point.

Additional ideas have included offering liability protection, applying capital rules more flexibly or easing limits on ownership stakes, the people said.

The talks are continuing. A variety of issues remain unresolved and an agreement isn’t guaranteed, the people said. It’s unclear how the government would provide any financial support.

A White House spokesperson referred questions to banking regulators. Representatives for the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department and First Republic declined to comment, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. didn’t respond to requests for comment.

First Republic, a San Francisco-based lender known for catering to tech executives, has lost more than 80% of its stock market value this year as customers pulled out their money, pressuring the bank to sell assets that had declined in value amid interest rate hikes.

An attempt by 11 stronger banks to shore up the firm by depositing $30 billion last week gave the company and advisors including JPMorgan Chase & Co. more time to resolve the strains.

The FDIC already took over SVB Financial Group’s Silicon Valley Bank and New York-based Signature Bank, prompting regulators to take the unusual step of covering uninsured deposits after the banks failed.

Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said Tuesday that the U.S. could take more actions if other small lenders are threatened.

The government “is resolutely committed” to mitigating financial-stability risks where necessary, she said.