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Does monetary policy affect bank risk?

Author

Listed:
  • Yener Altunbas

    (Bangor Business School)

  • Leonardo Gambacorta

    (Bank for International Settlements)

  • David Marques-Ibanez

    (European Central Bank)

Abstract

We investigate the effect of relatively loose monetary policy on bank risk through a large panel including quarterly information from listed banks operating in the European Union and the United States. We find evidence that relatively low levels of interest rates over an extended period of time contributed to an increase in bank risk. This result holds for a wide range of measures of risk, as well as macroeconomic and institutional controls including the intensity of supervision, securitization activity and bank competition. The results also hold when changes in realized bank risk due to the crisis are accounted for. The results suggest that monetary policy is not neutral from a financial stability perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • Yener Altunbas & Leonardo Gambacorta & David Marques-Ibanez, 2012. "Does monetary policy affect bank risk?," Working Papers 12002, Bangor Business School, Prifysgol Bangor University (Cymru / Wales).
    • Handle: RePEc:bng:wpaper:12002
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    bank risk; monetary policy; credit crisis.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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