strategic cost management is key to efficiency and profitability
unabated pressure on revenue
two data points do not a trend make. nevertheless. the 10 year comparison of revenue as percent of income.
using fdic year-end call report data as reference a look at revenue finds top line revenue comprised of net interest income and non interest income declined by 58 basis points compared to 2000 results the 58 basis point decline is 10.3 percent of year 2000 revenue
myriad factor that unfavorably impact revenue have been discrussed extensively and there is little to add to the ever-lengthening list of negative factoers that have been impacting top-line income production. while the industry is working diligently to seek out new sources of revenue there seems little doubt that overall revenue momentum is negative -and it is likely to stay that way continuing the downward slide seen over the past 10 years.
the fundamental questions become are the improvement that have been made adequate to offset future revenue pressure if not what else can be done to improve efficiency?
10 year of revenue and expense change
if the past 10 year have proven anything besides how imperative sound credit policies and procedures are, it is the value of continuing to focus on cost control as a means of offsetting ongoing pressure on revenue were it not for reducing operating costs at a rate outpaced revenue declines profitability would have deteriorated even further than it did due to credit quality issues.