The big wobble: Can the SSM stabilize Europe’s banking system?

The Single Supervisory Mechanism, the eurozone’s new banking supervisor, is tasked with combating financial fragmentation, building a banking union and, above all, making Europe’s banks investable once again. The first few months of its tenure were some of the most difficult since the dark days of the euro crisis. Bankers’ scepticism about the new regime is the least of their worries.

BEAR wobble-350


Illustration: Ron Borrensen

Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow in 1812 proved withdrawal can be as deadly as invasion. It is a lesson not lost on European banks today as they beat a retreat from international markets, downsize businesses and shed risk-weighted assets, seven years after the global crisis. 

An over-banked industry is saddled with up to €1 trillion of non-performing loans and razor-thin net interest margins. Lenders have diminished risk appetite and operational capacity to build fee and commission income.

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