The Banking Industry Remains Healthy
The latest FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile indicates the banking industry remains a healthy and strong driver of the U.S. economy. Lending continued to grow across the industry for the third straight quarter and was particularly robust among community banks, which boosted both commercial real estate and residential mortgage lending to businesses and families in their neighborhoods.
Banks boasted strong capital and liquidity levels, which helped them make loans and safeguard against potential losses. While asset quality remained healthy overall, banks increased provisioning as part of their prudent risk management. The industry’s net interest income and net interest margin increased in the fourth quarter, helping banks maintain strong balance sheets as reflected in Tier 1 capital, which has grown to $2.2 trillion.
At this stage of the U.S. economic cycle, the banking industry is well positioned to continue supporting customers, clients and communities with the financial services they want and need.
Sayee Srinivasan is Chief Economist for the American Bankers Association (ABA). He joined the ABA in June 2020 and heads a team responsible for quantitative economic analysis of banking and the broader financial services sector. The ABA is the voice of the nation’s $24.1 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional and large banks that together employ approximately 2.1 million people, safeguard $19.2 trillion in deposits and extend $12.7 trillion in loans.
