Chapter Profitability, efficiency, and lending dynamics in an unstable environment : IN Book: Bank Performance Measures

Abstract

The reforms introduced in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis of 2007–2009 have had the desired effect in that banks are better capitalised, banks have higher liquidity buffers, and the share of non-performing loans is low. Macroprudential policies have been implemented, banking sector supervision has been overhauled, and the new resolution framework gives hope that bank failures will not escalate systemic risk. This book argues, however, that we still need to remain vigilant. The world has not yet recovered from the pandemic, and we are now faced with new challenges, particularly climate, technological, and geopolitical risks affecting international trade, the availability and prices of energy carriers, and the cost of capital. In this context, it asks what measures should be used to assess a commercial bank, whether as a potential shareholder, client, member of the bank’s bodies, or a supervisory institution. It provides a broad overview of bank performance measures used in contemporary investment, management, and supervisory practice in the most important areas of a bank’s activity, as well as metrics that synthetically reflect the bank’s standing. The book evaluates a commercial bank in the context of the climate crisis and risk, the growing importance of FinTech, cybersecurity, and AI technology, as well as the challenges related to the escalation of geopolitical risk. It also includes an assessment of the standing of global systemically important banks (G-SiBs) and banking sectors in Europe, indicating potential directions for changes to the tools used so far. It will find a broad audience among students, academics, and researchers in finance and banking, as well as policymakers and regulators.