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FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF CHICAGO

CHANGING FINANCIAL STRUCTURE AND ITS IMPLICATION


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Vanderbilt University
April 3, 1991

THE CHANGING FINANCIAL STRUCTURE


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Analyze banks' changing role
Examine why their role has changed
Discuss future changes
Reform regulation

THE CHANGING ROLE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
Assets

Liabilities

Cash

Deposits

Securities

Other borrowings

Loans

Capital

3

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

ASSET
HOUSEHOLDS

BUSINESSES

Deposits

Deposits

Mutual funds shares

Mutual funds shares

Life insurance reserves

Commercial paper

Pension funds reserves

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

Assets

Liabilities

Cash

Deposits

Securities

Other borrowings

Loans

Capital

4

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

ASSET
HOUSEHOLDS

BUSINESSES

Deposits

Deposits

Mutual funds shares

Mutual funds shares

Life insurance reserves

Commercial paper

Pension funds reserves

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

Assets

Liabilities

Cash

Deposits

Securities

Other borrowings

Loans

Capital

HOUSEHOLDS

BUSINESSES

Mortgage loans

Commercial loans

Auto loans

Commercial mortgages

Credit card loans

LIABILITY
5

TOP CONSUMER LENDERS: 1987


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$ Millions
GMAC

$55,050

Citicorp

44,399

Ford Credit

38,147

American Express

28,884

Sears

26,068

Chase Manhattan

16,752

Prudential

14,795

Chrysler

12,236

Manufacturers Hanover

11,652

Security Pacific

10,798
6

1

BANKS VS. NONBANKS IN CONSUMER LENDING


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Market share (percent)

70

60

58%
55%

20 bank
holding
companies

50

40

30

Nonbanks

20

10

o-1982

1988

7

CONSUMERS SAVE LESS AT BANKS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Percent
0.80

0.75

0.70

0.65

0.60

0.55

0.50
1976

'78

'80

'82

'84

'86

'88

'90

8

TOP COMMERCIAL LENDERS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$ Millions
Citicorp

$41,603

GE

$35,939

GMAC

$28,462

Manufacturers Hanover

$27,545

Chase Manhattan

$25,251

Prudential

$27,333

Aetna

$22,681

Security Pacific

$18,828

Chemical

$18,802

TIAA

$17,330
9

BANK LENDING TO CORPORATIONS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Percent
85

80

75

Banks' share of
intermediated debt
70

65

60
1976

'78

'80

'82

'84

'86

'88

COMMERCIAL PAPER VS. BANK LOANS FOR LARGE MANUFACTURING FIRMS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Percent
80

Commercial paper to
short-term debt

60

40

',

'-----"\

20

~- ...

~

~

, .... ...,4'
~---,
\
,
Bank loans to
,_ •
, , total short-term debt

0
1976

'78

'80

'82

'84

'86

'88

'90

11

INCREASED IMPORTANCE OF NONTRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Standby letters of credit
Loan commitments
Securitization
Loan sales

12

TRADITIONAL CREDIT PROCESS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Identify potential buyers
Make credit evaluation
Fund the loan with bank deposits
Service the loan

13

LOAN COMMITMENTS AND STANDBYS PERMIT NONBANKS TO


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Originate, fund and service loans
But bear only a portion of the risk

14

LOAN COMMITMENT


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Loan

Borrower

..-;;~=~l[l::=:=:YRL-:=:::w.-:-:::::=:'-:::❖:'-:-: : :=: : :=:=:❖- :=P.:

I

::::❖~

::::::::::~::::::-;:::«:x::x:::.::;::::x::x:;-;P""J.:::::;;~r:t::~--

Lender

___________.

.___

Repayment

Bank
(Issues commitment)

15

STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Loan

_ _A_c_c_o_un_t_p_a_rt_Y_~I

~=:; I____

Be_n_e_fi_c_ia_rY_ _

Repayment

~

1'

#"' • Repayment

l'

guarantee

#'

Bank
(Issues SLOG)

16

IMPACT OF OFF-BALANCE-SHEET GUARANTEES


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Percent
45

40

35

Traditional products only
30

25
1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

17

SECURITIZATION AND LOAN SALES PERMIT BANKS TO


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Originate and service loans
While others supply funds and bear some credit risk

18

SELLING LOANS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

COMMERCIAL
LOANS

.~.,/

/£.,,

With recourse
rt

Assets remain in
organization 's balance sheet

Without recourse
®

Assets move off of
organization's balance sheet

19

C&I LOANS SOLD TO NONBANKS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Billions of dollars
20

Loans sold to nonbanks
15

10

5

0
3/31/87

6/30/80

6/30/89

6/30/90

20

TURNING LOANS INTO SECURITIES


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

BUSINESSES

FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS
Loans are bundled
and sold as securities

Pay-throughs
,@

Securities are collateralized
debt obligations of issuers

® Assets remain on originator's

Asset-backed bonds
@

® Assets remain on originator's

balance sheet

m: Payments of principal and interest
passed through to investors

Securities are collateralized
debt obligations of issuers

Pass-th roughs
r.i Security represents ownership

in underlying asset pool
@

Assets removed from originator's
balance sheet

@

Payments of principal and
interest passed through to investors

balance sheet
@,

Payments of principal and interest
passed through to investors

21

ASSETS HELD AS ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Percent
40

37.0%

30

20

10

0.2%

0

Residential Credit card
mortgages receivables

Trade
credit

Auto
loans

Other
Business
consumer debt loans
22

THE CHANGING PROFITABILITY OF COMMERCIAL BANKS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

23

CHANGES IN PROFITABILITY - INDUSTRY AVERAGES
Return on assets (basis points)
80

69
65

Ii
Ii

60

40

55

~

20

0
1980-82

1987-89

All banks

!I
1980-82

1987-89

Ex energy states
24


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

I

CHANGES IN PROFITABILITY


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Return on assets
1.2

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0-9

10-24

25-49

50-99

100-300

3001,000
Asset size (millions of dollars}

1,00010,000

>10,000

25

WHY ARE THESE CHANGES OCCURRING?


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Burden of regulation
Declining capital of U.S. money center banks
Increased competition
Retail banking
Wholesale banking

26

REGULATION


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

i ~~p~;~\ti,~j,i ~

;: : :o,~8;~~il~tnd'~~i::;::;:

e~!~fµ~;r
,111Ei~~,1~~~Yiffi~~~:w1;; i:

\l;il!i!!l!Hll:I IIi /gij~:~~!Hs~

ill!fr~l~i!·•i:~e~;i:fu.1.r~•~:~·qt~··

1

!i:JIJ:i l ! iJl il!i! i :il!

·········•1•···•·

I

RESERVE REQUIREMENTS TAX
Basis points (per dollar of assets)
50

Burdensome in the 70s
Reduced between 1980
and 1986 by DIDMCA

40

Further reduced in 1990


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

30

20

10

0
1976

'78

'80

'82

'84

'86

'88

'90

28

CAPITAL REQUIREMENT TAX
Basis points (per dollar of assets)
30

Debt and equity treated
differently for tax purposes
25

Equity capital requirements
for low-risk loans higher
than without regulation


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Capital requirements tax
20

15

10

5

0
1976

'78

'80

'82

'84

'86

'88

'90

29

DEPOSIT INSURANCE PREMIUMS
Basis points (per dollar of assets)
50

Not risk-based
Reflects the health
of the FDIC


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

40

I

I

I
I
I
I
I

30

Deposit insurance
premiums

20

10

0

1976

'78

'80

'82

'84

'86

'88

'90 1/91 6/91 '92

30

THE BURDEN OF REGULATION


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Basis points (per dollar of assets)
70

60

Total regulatory taxes
50

' ------

40

30

''

''

20

'-... .._

',

Capital requirements tax

'

------- --, ,

10

______ __

Reserve requirement tax

0

'76

'78

'80

'82

'84

'86

'88

'90

31

PRESSURES ON CAPITAL DURING THE 80s


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Loan loss reserves as a percent of total loans
2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
1980

'81

'82

'83

'84

'85

'86

'87

'88

'89

'90

32

IMPLICATIONS OF POOR CAPITAL


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Growth slows
Risk increases
Borrowers seek alternatives
Uninsured depositors leave
Guarantees are less attractive
Ability to trade reduced

33

CAPITALIZATION OF MONEY CENTER BANKS AND COMPETITORS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Foreign
banks

Have nots

Haves

U.S. regional
banks

U.S. money
center banks

0

2

4

6
8
10
12
14
16
Market capitalization as a percent of assets

18

20

34

FOREIGN BRANCH SHARES OF SLOCS AND C&I LOANS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Percent
60

53.0%
50

40

30

20

10

0

1980

1984

1988

35

IMPACT OF MARKET CAPITALIZATION ON DOMESTIC BANKING


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Growth in assets (1980-89)

35

30

•

Regional banks

·@

Money center banks

•

•

•

25

•• • •
• • • •
••
•

20

15

10

5

0

-5
0

2

4

16
14
12
10
6
8
Market capitalization as a percent of assets

18

20

36

DECLINING UNDERWRITING COSTS PUT PRESSURE ON C&I LENDERS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Percent
5

4

Gross spread as a
percent of offer price
3

2

1

0
1980

'81

'82

'83

'84

'85

'86

'87

'88

'89

37

JAPANESE BANKS HAD A CAPITAL WINDFALL
Index, 1978=100
1,800

1,500

I

,
,
,,

Market capitalization I
of Japanese banks I

1,200

900

I

I

I

I

1

I

, .,,. ,

600

300

-----

I

I

I

,,'

I
Market capitalization
of U.S. banks

0
1979

'81

'83

'85

'87

'89

38


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

AS A RESULT, C&I LOAN SP~~DS DECLINEP


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

(Adjusted for regulatory taxes)
154

128

1984

1989

39

INCREASED COMPETITION IN RETAIL BANKING


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Alternative to banks
Technology
Deregulation

40

DEREGULATION OF RETAIL BANKING


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Elimination of Regulation Q
Easing of branching restrictions
Interstate banking

41

IMPACT OF DEREGULATION ON PROFITABILITY - EX ENERGY STATES


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Return on assets

1.2

1980-82
1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0-9

10-24

25-49

50-99

100-300

3001,000

1,00010,000

> 10,000

Asset size (millions of dollars)

42

SIZE AND COST CONTROL - THE KEYS TO EFFICIENCY
Average cost (percent)
5

3

2

•JJ!~

Average

1
0-10

10-25

25-50

50-100

100-300

300-1 bil.

Asset size (millions of dollars)
43


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

COST-CARELESS BANKS SUFFER


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Percent

300

Cost-conscious
250

Stock price 200
performance

I

,"~

I

,J

•

150

, 1-..
~

\
'

\

I''

1

"

,_.,

Cost-careless I

100

1984

1985

i

,, ' ·-

,

,,

,.I;

I

45% price
difference

I,..-\

1986

1987

1988

44

CHANGES IN THE 90s


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

45

STILL TOO MANY SMALL BANKS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Asset size
$0-"1 0 million

Actual

Baseline

624

77

$"10-25

2,4"15

378

$25-50

2,5"19

903

$50-"100

2,"102

"1 ,057

Total

7,660

2,4"15

46

SMALL BANKS - A VANISHING BREED


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Number of banking organizations
13,000

12,385

11 ,000

9,640

9,000

7,000

4,600 (upper limit)

5,000

3,000
1980

'81

'82

'83

'84

'85

'86

'87

'88

'89

47

I

MONEY CENTERS - VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCE


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

(Basis points)

$129

79

(Billions of dollars)

1988
1992
HLTs
down

1988
1992
Commercial
construction down

1988
1992
Regulatory
taxes up

48

SAVINGS FROM BRANCH CONSOLIDATION


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

(Number of branches)
1,364

1,270

Wells-Crocker merger reflected
a broader trend

1987
1989
Los Angeles county

664

660

No broad trend
in New York
1987
1989
Manhattan

1987
1989
Westchester

49

I

RESTRICTIONS ON BANKS LIKELY TO EASE


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Investment banking
Insurance
Combinations with commercial firms

50

HIGH FAILURE RATE FOR ACQUISITIONS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

75%

50%

Related fields

Unrelated fields

51

WHY ACQUISITIONS SUCCEED

52


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

RETAIL FINANCIAL SERVICES


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Conducive to long run profitability, but. ..
ingredients for success differ

Banking - convenience and economies of scale
Brokerage - personal service and customer identification
Individual insurance - screening customers and hard sell

53

MARKETING SYNERGIES LIMITED


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

(Percent of households)

69%
~;::{iW'.WTI1f(:

ii

37%

Trust
4%
services t-d wf:-=-n

Banking

Mortgage
origination

t

62%

60%

Brokerage
Securities
services

Individual
insurance

8%
-Annuities

Life
insurance

Property
insurance

54

IMPLICATIONS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Financial supermarkets overrated
Cross-industry combinations unlikely to succeed
Need to consider other alternatives
Internal growth
Information sharing
Taking a pass

55

THE RETAIL TRACK RECORD


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Many experiments have failed
American Express
Sears Financial Centers
Discount brokerage

56

THE RETAIL TRACK RECORD


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

A few successes
Merrill Lynch 's CMA
Insurance I mortgage banking

57

WHOLESALE SERVICES


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Commercial banking
Underwriting
Trading

58

UNDERWRITING IS COMPETITIVE


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Expertise and customers are footloose
Leaders are losing share
Profitability has declined

59

BUT BANKS HAVE CERTAIN ADVANTAGES
'


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Unique information
Experience in underwriting debt

(i()

TRADING SECURITIES


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

No barriers to entry
Hard to use inside information

61

THE WHOLESALE TRACK RECORD


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Acquisitions have been costly
Prudential - Bache
GE - Kidder Peabody
Citicorp - Scrimgeor Vickers
The Big Bang

62

THE WHOLESALE TRACK RECORD


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Success through internal growth
J.P Morgan
Bankers Trust
Private placement

63

IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE STRUCTURE


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Biggest successes on the wholesale side
Internal expansion the best bet
Other countries no guide

64

REGULATORY REFORM


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

65

BANKING REGULATION IN THE LATE l 980s


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Glass-Steagall restrictions eased
Risk-based capital guidelines
FIRREA

66

MISPRICED GOVERNMENT SAFEGUARDS

Unwarranted advantage in raising funds
Greater bank risk
Increased cost of providing safeguards
Adverse economic effects

67


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

SAFETY NET


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Federal deposit insurance
Discount window
Guaranteed payments system

68

A BAD DECADE FOR DEPOSIT INSURANCE


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Thrifts bounced a $200 billion check
BIF is bust - or at least illiquid

69

LOSSES RIVAL DEPRESSION LEVELS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Losses as a percent of all deposits
2.4

1978-'89
1.8

•

I
I
1.2

,,

0.6

I
I
I

,,
'
4

0.0
1922
1978

'23
'79

'24
'80

'25
'81

'26
'82

'27
'83

---

'28
'84

'29
'85

922-'33
'30
'86

'31
'87

'32
'88

'33
'89
70

APPROPRIATENESS OF CURRENT SAFETY NET


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Enabled U.S. banking system to function smoothly
Minor low-cost modifications would increase efficiency

71

FLAT-RATE DEPOSIT INSURANCE


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Moral hazard problem on part of bankers
Depositors have no incentive to monitor banks
Banks given comparative advantage in market
for high-risk assets

72

RELAXATION OF RESTRICTIONS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Insurance fund's exposure expanded
Nonbanks subject to unfair competition
Extension of safety net inconsistent with
free market economy

73

BANKS' ROLE IN ECONOMY


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Who decides?
Preserve "traditional" role?
Ensure safety?
Separate commerce and banking?

74

NEW REGULATORY STRUCTURE


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Comprehensive understanding of banking industry
Limit distortions caused by regulation
Piecemeal approach inefficient

75

PRINCIPLES FOR REGULATORY REFORM
'


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Accomodate expanded range of activities for banking firms
Foster fair competition between bank and nonbank
financial services providers
Endeavor for system stability, not survival of individual firms
Price safety net appropriately
Supervision necessary but not a substitute for regulation
Better failure resolutions to limit excessive risk-taking
Corporate separateness necessary but not sufficient to
limit risk exposure of banks

76

ROLE OF FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Ultimately responsible for financial system
Needs ready access to information
Needs on-going supervisory role

77

A COMPARISON OF MAJOR PROPOSALS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Riegle
Proposal

Gonzalez
Proposal

Treasury
Proposal

FDIC
Proposal

BenstonKaufman
Proposal

None

None

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

No

?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Banks

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

Subsidiaries of banks

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Affiliates of banks

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Holding company a
source of strength

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

?

Consolidated
oversight

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

Restrict coverage

Yes

No

No

No

?

No

Early intervention

Yes

Yes

Encouraged

No

Yes

No

Risk-based premiums

Yes

Yes

Maybe

No

No

No

New financial
powers granted
Commingling of banking
and commerce

Narrow
Bank
Proposal

New powers for

78

CHICAGO PROPOSAL


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Implement a comprehensive risk-based capital plan
Require banks to maintain subordinated
debt-to-assets and equity-to-assets
ratios of at least 4 percent
Impose restriction on bank risk-taking

79

RISK-BASED CAPITAL


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Sets minimum capital levels commensurate with
riskiness of banking firm
Imperfect, but step in right direction
Further modifications may be necessary

80

SUBORDINATED DEBT CUSHION


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Minor modifications to current risk-based
capital guidelines
Require 4 percent subordinated debt-to-assets ratio
Subordinated debt needs to possess
certain characteristics

81

SUBORDINATED DEBT CHARACTERISTICS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Dividends restricted when core equity falls
below a certain level
Bank ownership converts to the subordinated
debtholders upon insolvency
Creditors convert to common shareholders of "new entity"
Warrants distributed to former common shareholders
"New" bank would be required to raise new subordinated
debt, find an acquirer, or liquidate within a year
Subordinated debt issued with staggering
maturities of five years or more

82

ADVANTAGES OF SUBORDINATED DEBT CUSHION


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Probability of bank run is small
Subordinated debtholders are truly subordinated

Allow insurance fund to eliminate implicit coverage
of all deposits of large banks
Early resolution of bank failures
Market discipline

83

BANK RISK-TAKING


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

When banking firm's solvency is questionable,
no dramatic changes in bank's risk profile
Bank powers restricted to direct credit
and related activities
Nonbanking financial activities conducted by
holding company affiliates of bank
Nonfinancial activities prohibited

84

IMPORTANT FIREWALLS


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Limit lending by a bank to nonbank affiliates
to 20 percent of bank's capital
Require bank to demonstrate capability to operate
separately from the rest of the holding company
Require separate Boards of Directors for bank and
bank holding company

85

DO FIREWALLS WORK?


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Drexel Burnham Lambert - broker/dealer insulated
Campeau - Ralph 's Grocery Stores insulated

86

CAN FIREWALLS WORK IN BANKING?


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Subordinated debtholders will enforce firewalls
Balance benefits of firewalls against efficiency
loss of multiproduct production and marketing

87

SUPERVISORY ISSUES


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

"Super regulator" not necessary
Well-defined allocation of regulatory responsibility
and intergovernmental cooperation
Consolidated oversight responsibility of Fed

88

IN CONCLUSION ...


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Current bank regulatory structure is outmoded
Bank profits from traditional activities have fallen
Bank management incentives are distorted
Bank closures are complex and expensive
Broader array of banking services are efficient
Chicago proposal relies on market discipline to reduce
distortions from safety net mispricing

89

YOU ARE THE POLICYMAKER


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1. What role do you think banks should play in the economy?
2. What powers should they and shouldn't they have?
3. Would you make any legal distinction between banks and
their nonbank affiliates (i.e. would you erect "firewalls")?
4. What powers should nonbank affiliates of banks have?
5. Who would regulate banking firms? One regulator?
Various regulators according to function?
6. Would you change the deposit insurance system?
•

Would you reduce coverage from the
current $100,000 per account?

•

Would you institute a risk-based
deposit insurance system?

•

Would you explicitly and implicitly not
insure all liabilities? How?

90

YOU ARE A BANKER
'


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1. How do you prepare to compete in a deregulated industry?
2. How do the growth of securitization and long term financing
affect your long run profitability?
3. What kind of banks do you acquire?
4. How tough do you want regulators to be on poorly
capitalized banks?
5. How do you respond to growing number of competitors
that are falling on hard times?
6. How much capital do you hold?
7. What kind of deposit insurance system is best for you?

91