The Banking Crisis Revisited

On today’s show we are taking a look at why we are experiencing a banking crisis. There are those in the Federal Reserve and in the media who are critical of recent bank failures. Those banks were irresponsible and didn’t hedge their interest rate risk properly.

Silicon Valley Bank in particular received heaps of criticism for not hedging their interest rate risk.

But let’s step back for a moment and look at the big picture.

We have more than 10 years with interest rates being held near the zero bound. In that environment, interest rates on loans have been at historic lows. The problem is that our banks have a fractional reserve system. If every depositor comes to withdraw their funds all at once, the bank will go broke. Every bank, not just poorly managed banks, every bank will experience the same outcome regardless of size.

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Host: Victor Menasce

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