Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Tan Schelling
Author-Name-First: Tan
Author-Name-Last: Schelling
Author-Name: Dr. Pascal Towbin
Author-Name-First: Pascal
Author-Name-Last: Towbin
Author-Person: pto269
Title: Negative interest rates, deposit funding and bank lending
Abstract: In a negative interest rate environment, banks have generally proved reluctant to pass on negative interest rates to their retail depositors. Thus, banks that are more dependent on deposit funding face higher funding costs relative to other banks. This raises questions about the effect of negative interest rates on bank lending and monetary policy transmission. To study the transmission of negative interest rates, we use an unexpected policy decision by the Swiss National Bank in combination with a comprehensive and granular micro data set on individual Swiss corporate loans. We find that banks relying more heavily on deposit funding take more risks and offer looser lending terms than other banks. This result is consistent with the risk-taking channel, where a lower policy rate spurs bank risk-taking to maintain profits.
Length: 36 pages
Creation-Date: 2020
Contact-Email: forschung@snb.ch
File-URL: https://www.snb.ch/en/publications/research/working-papers/2020/working_paper_2020_05
File-Format: text/html
Number: 2020-05
Classification-JEL: G21, G28, E58
Keywords: Negative interest rates, bank lending, deposit funding, monetary transmission
Handle: RePEc:snb:snbwpa:2020-05