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Journal of Finance Vol. 80 No. 4 2025

Dynamic Banking and the Value of Deposits

Patrick Bolton; Ye Li1; Neng Wang; Jinqiang Yang

1 University of Washington

open access

Abstract

We propose a theory of banking in which banks cannot perfectly control deposit flows. Facing uninsurable loan and deposit shocks, banks dynamically manage lending, wholesale funding, deposits, and equity. Deposits create value by lowering funding costs. However, when the bank is undercapitalized and at risk of breaching leverage requirements, the marginal value of deposits can turn negative as deposit inflows, by raising leverage, increase the likelihood of costly equity issuance. Banks' inability to fully control leverage distinguishes them from nondepository intermediaries. Our model suggests a reevaluation of leverage regulations and offers new perspectives on banking in a low‐interest‐rate environment.

DOI
10.1111/jofi.13454
Volume
80
Issue
4
Pages
2063-2105
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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