Several major U.S. banks are reportedly exploring a potential strategy to circumvent regulations that limit debit-card transaction fees, according to recent reports. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and PNC Financial Services have been involved in preliminary discussions about acquiring a payment network owned by fintech firm Fiserv.

The discussions come in the context of a regulatory framework established by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, specifically the Durbin amendment, which caps the fees that banks can charge merchants for debit-card transactions processed through third-party networks. Banks that own the payment networks they use are exempt from these fee caps, providing a financial incentive to control the routing of these transactions.

Acquiring Fiserv’s network could allow the banks to bypass current fee limits by bringing the transaction processing in-house. However, sources familiar with the talks indicated that not all the banks are likely to pursue the deal. Some are reportedly hesitant due to potential regulatory scrutiny and possible backlash from merchants who would be affected by increased fees.

The talks also reflect broader industry trends following Capital One Financial’s acquisition of Discover Financial last year for $50.6 billion. That deal enabled Capital One to secure its own payment network, granting it greater leverage in setting debit-card fees and negotiating directly with merchants, a model attracting interest among other large banks.

While the discussions remain tentative, they highlight ongoing tensions between large financial institutions and regulatory measures designed to protect merchants from rising transaction costs. Whether any formal acquisition bid will materialize remains uncertain as the banks weigh the regulatory, political, and commercial implications of such a move.