History Shows Banks Should Have a 20% Equity to Assets Ratio

Banks need WAY more than 6-10% capital. 

We are hearing the bankers, regulators, and lobbyists deciding where in the 6-10% range the banks should be to be "competitive". But historically speaking the rate should be more like 20%. The banks will argue that they don't need more than 10% because of modern safety mechanisms such as FDIC insurance and federal reserve intervention. But why we should we purposefully concede the need for government insurance in the future. This is absurd.

The burning question is how much is needed so the financial crisis cannot happen again. Great strides have been taken on the underwriting standards for borrowers. But many banks are sill relying on accounting gimmicks such as 'mark to market'. They are also squandering income on bonus and dividends. We believe that at a minimum, the equity-to-total-assets ratio should be 12%, and at least a 20% equity-to-risk-weighted-asset ratio. And this should be done immediately in lieu of paying dividends or these out-sized bonus schemes.

Otherwise, expect the taxpayer to get hit with more bailouts. As you can see in chart 4, the non-performing loan ration went well above 20% in the last crisis. What if there was also a simultaneous currency crisis? 

 

Chart.1

 

Chart.2

 

 

 

Chart.3

 

 

Chart.4

 

Alabama FHA Loan Limits

County Name
Single Family
Duplex
Tri-plex
Four-plex

AUTAUGA
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
MONTGOMERY, AL

BALDWIN
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
DAPHNE-FAIRHOPE-FOLEY, AL

BARBOUR
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

BIBB
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER, AL

BLOUNT
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER, AL

BULLOCK
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

BUTLER
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

CALHOUN
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
ANNISTON-OXFORD-JACKSONVILLE, AL

CHAMBERS
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
VALLEY, AL

CHEROKEE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

CHILTON
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER, AL

CHOCTAW
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

CLARKE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

CLAY
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

CLEBURNE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

COFFEE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
ENTERPRISE, AL

COLBERT
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
FLORENCE-MUSCLE SHOALS, AL

CONECUH
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

COOSA
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
TALLADEGA-SYLACAUGA, AL

COVINGTON
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

CRENSHAW
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

CULLMAN
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
CULLMAN, AL

DALE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
OZARK, AL

DALLAS
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
SELMA, AL

DEKALB
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

ELMORE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
MONTGOMERY, AL

ESCAMBIA
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

ETOWAH
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
GADSDEN, AL

FAYETTE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

FRANKLIN
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

GENEVA
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
DOTHAN, AL

GREENE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

HALE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
TUSCALOOSA, AL

HENRY
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
DOTHAN, AL

HOUSTON
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
DOTHAN, AL

JACKSON
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
SCOTTSBORO, AL

JEFFERSON
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER, AL

LAMAR
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

LAUDERDALE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
FLORENCE-MUSCLE SHOALS, AL

LAWRENCE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
DECATUR, AL

LEE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
AUBURN-OPELIKA, AL

LIMESTONE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
HUNTSVILLE, AL

LOWNDES
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
MONTGOMERY, AL

MACON
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

MADISON
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
HUNTSVILLE, AL

MARENGO
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

MARION
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

MARSHALL
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
ALBERTVILLE, AL

MOBILE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
MOBILE, AL

MONROE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

MONTGOMERY
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
MONTGOMERY, AL

MORGAN
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
DECATUR, AL

PERRY
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

PICKENS
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
TUSCALOOSA, AL

PIKE
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
TROY, AL

RANDOLPH
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

RUSSELL
$289,800
$371,000
$448,450
$557,300
COLUMBUS, GA-AL

SHELBY
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER, AL

ST. CLAIR
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER, AL

SUMTER
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

TALLADEGA
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
TALLADEGA-SYLACAUGA, AL

TALLAPOOSA
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

TUSCALOOSA
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
TUSCALOOSA, AL

WALKER
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER, AL

WASHINGTON
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

WILCOX
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO

WINSTON
$271,050
$347,000
$419,425
$521,250
NON-METRO