Banks: What Business Model in the Aftermath of the Crisis?

The crisis that started in 2008 has not impacted the banks equally and did not reveal any optimal business model. In particular, the liquidity crisis triggered by the downward spiral of the originate-to-distribute model intensified and reached universal banks with the sovereign crisis. As a response to the crisis, public authorities developed new regulatory requirements, complemented in some countries by structural measures. These two complementary aspects have a common objective, namely to limit bankruptcy and contagion risks but also to facilitate the resolution of complex entities.

However, it is necessary to make sure that these rules does not have unintended consequences, including by reviving pre-crisis business models and activities that turned out to be unsustainable and by limiting banks' activities to an extent that would be detrimental to the economy funding. Therefore, it is essential to assess properly the cumulative impact of all the reforms related to the banking sector in order to develop a framework that would ensure at the same time risks' control and sound economy financing.