BID® Daily Newsletter
Apr 18, 2016

BID® Daily Newsletter

Apr 18, 2016

Good Times Or Bad Times


The first song on the first album by the iconic heavy metal group Led Zeppelin was "Good Times Bad Times," a tune infused with Jimmy Page's surging guitar riffs and a taste of Robert Plant's signature caterwauls. The lyrics weren't exactly poetic, but they were terse and to the point: "Good times, bad times, you know I had my share." Community bankers who were around for the last recession can no doubt identify with the "bad times" sentiment. Indeed, the cover of that album, an image of the Hindenburg airship bursting into flames, is a fitting icon of what the banking industry felt like then.
Things have certainly swung to the more favorable side of the Zeppelin song since then, but challenges remain. Consider remarks made in February by FDIC Chair Gruenberg. He ticked off positive signs for the industry, but also sprinkled in a few potential warning notes. He indicated that "fourth quarter results for the banking industry were positive, and for community banks in particular" which is good and then indicated "insured institutions are in much better position today to handle uncertain conditions than they were in the past."
Now that Q1 2016 earnings are right around the corner, we look back to see what has improved since those dire days and what we can expect now.
According to the FDIC report, just about everything has gotten better. After all, revenue and income are up, asset quality has improved, loan balances have increased and fewer banks are on the problem list. Further, more than 67% of banks reported higher net operating revenue in 2015 vs. 2014. Community banks in particular stand out, performing better than big banks on several key metrics (including net operating revenue, which grew by a solid 7.4% in 2015 vs. 2014).
As for potential problem areas, one is a rise in credit risk as a result of loans tied to energy and agriculture. Another is in earnings, as the extended low interest rate environment could squeeze banks. Yet another is spillover weakness from global economic conditions and volatile financial markets, which Gruenberg said "underline the fact that banks confront considerable uncertainty going forward."
It is, of course, the duty of regulators across the system to point out the dark clouds they see lurking behind every silver-lined one. However, perhaps the key takeaway from these and other comments from senior regulators is that things have generally improved in the industry since the crisis, so it is all about maintaining the direction. After all, capital levels are at the highest in decades, so the system is sturdy and ready for almost anything the world may throw at it.
Whether banks can continue to move in a positive direction, or will get swept up in credit or other issues down the road remains to be seen, but we are cautiously optimistic. Much depends on how well bankers control risk going forward, and those we know are actively measuring, monitoring and controlling what they can.
The key for all bankers will be to remain vigilant as risks appear and issues surface. Or, as Gruenberg points out "banks must remain vigilant as they manage interest rate risk, credit risk, and evolving market conditions," because "These challenges will continue to be a focus of ongoing supervisory attention."
Whether you are a fan of Led Zeppelin or not, stay alert and flexible to keep your bank airship floating forward over calm seas.
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