José Fernández on monetary policy
From EP. #9 La Fórmula con José Rafael Fernández: Una mirada a la economía · · Oriental Bank
“This public confrontation is crazy. As a banker, I think the Federal Reserve's independence is crucial.”
On , José Fernández, President, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman at OFG BANCORP, spoke about monetary policy during EP. #9 La Fórmula con José Rafael Fernández: Una mirada a la economía on Oriental Bank.
About José Fernández
José Fernández, president, CEO and chairman of OFG Bancorp, said in a January 2026 podcast that the world is "possibly in the most vulnerable and uncertain moment it has experienced in the last 60 years." He described public confrontation over economic policy as "crazy" and argued that the Federal Reserve's independence is crucial. Fernández stated that Puerto Rico's economy relies too heavily on federal funds and needs to develop a new formula for sustainable growth, adding that the private sector should be more vocal in providing constructive advice to government leaders. He also said that Puerto Rico has opportunities to expand pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing due to global tariffs and onshoring trends. In earlier appearances, Fernández discussed OFG Bancorp's growth from the ninth-largest bank in Puerto Rico in 2004 to the third-largest, attributing the rise to three acquisitions and organic growth after Hurricane Maria and the COVID-19 pandemic. He described the bank's "Digital First" strategy as focused on moving routine interactions to digital platforms so bankers can spend more time advising clients. Fernández also participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014, calling on other executives to join the fundraising effort. He has stated that Puerto Rico's economy is "thriving" with low unemployment, but noted that the Electric Power Authority needs restructuring and that electricity reliability remains a key issue for businesses.