The Risk of Commercial Banks

Commercial banks are among the major financial intermediaries in the marketplace. As a result of this role, commercial banks are exposed to the risks that affect both the securities markets and the economic conditions that affect consumers. To understand the risks associated with commercial banks, it is helpful to consider some key areas that affect banking operations.

Interest rate risk is one of the more prevalent risks for commercial banks. Generally, commercial banks are proficient at mitigating interest rate risk in their investment portfolios. However, interest rates are outside the domain of commercial bank operations. Instead, the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the U.S., exercises considerable influence over interest rates. As a result, commercial banks try to hedge their loans against any changes in the general interest rate level in the economy. For example, if a bank makes a business loan and charges the borrower 5 percent interest with a current interest rate level at 2 percent, the bank will make a profit of 3 percent if the rate remains at 2 percent throughout the life of the loan. However, if the general level of interest rates increases from 2 to 3 percent, the bank's profit will decline to 2 percent.

Commercial banks generally make most of their money on loans. Although banks screen borrowers and analyze their financial position and ability to pay, commercial banks are still susceptible to borrower default. When borrowers are unable to pay, they default on a loan, causing the bank to lose money. Although a general analysis of a bank's loan portfolio will indicate a small margin of default, widespread borrower default may jeopardize the solvency of a commercial bank.

Commercial banks are also subject to regulation. Depending on the type of bank, specialization and state in which they operate, commercial banks work within a framework of legal regulation. When regulations change, the bank's operational framework changes, which may impact its ability to generate profits from loans. For example, the Federal Reserve may increase the amount of required reserves, forcing commercial banks to withhold more money to cover customer withdrawals. This decreases the amount of bank capital available to lend, which may reduce bank profits.

Although loans are a significant part of commercial bank operations, banks may quit lending for fear of widespread default. If a bank's financial analysis expects diminished economic activity, a commercial bank may expect diminished capacity of borrower repayment. With a higher default rate, a bank may prefer to invest only a portion of its capital to make money from a few successful loans rather than risk more money with the potential for default.

Commercial banks rely partly on attracting deposits from customers to fund banking investments and loans. To do so, many commercial banks offer traditional banking services, including certificates of deposit and checking, savings and money market accounts. In addition, banks may increase the interest rate payments on these accounts to make them more attractive to depositors. Without a consistent flow of deposit funds, commercial banks would be unable to operate at an optimal level.