Competitive Advantages of Small-Cap
Banks
Many small banks have relatively straightforward business
models, where they earn money by taking short-term deposits
and making long-term loans, carefully maintaining a balance
between assets and liabilities. This function is essential to
the local economy, with community banks providing nearly
half of all small-business loans, 35% of commercial real
estate loans and about 16% of residential mortgage lending
as of 2010.4
While recognizing that there continued to be “considerable
revenue pressure from low margins,” in May 2014, Federal
Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the following:
“Earnings for most community banks have
rebounded since the financial crisis. Asset quality
and capital ratios continue to improve, and the
number of problem banks continues to decline.
Notably, after several years of reduced lending
following the recession, we are starting to see slow
but steady loan growth at community banks.”5
Loan Growth
For smaller banks, loan balances and growth are critical as
a primary source of revenue generation. Interest and fees
earned from loans comprise a majority of their revenues.
While loan growth has been difficult to cultivate in recent
years, the industry has been witnessing signs of improvement.
Following 2008, loans and leases held at commercial banks
sunk from a high of about $7.3 trillion in the fall of 2008 to
below $6.6 trillion at the beginning of 2010. By 2011, the
figure began to slowly increase. In 2014, loan levels have
risen to a record high.
Change in Annual Rate of
Commercial Banks Loans and Leases
10%
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-2