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The Institutional Risk Analyst
© 2003-2025 | Whalen Global Advisors LLC All Rights Reserved in All Media | ISSN 2692-1812
Banks | Markets | Finance
![Interview: Lee Smith, Flagstar Bank](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_ede9103d3c1244a4acb80806ee394d28~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_ede9103d3c1244a4acb80806ee394d28~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Aug 23, 20217 min read
Interview: Lee Smith, Flagstar Bank
We expect to see a lot more M&A activity over the next 12 – 18 months, as that’s the only way for some players to grow share.
828 views
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![Fed Chairman Jay Powell as RobinHood](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_ce4eb0d303f74cf0923c227031cfe2b9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/b0226b_ce4eb0d303f74cf0923c227031cfe2b9~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Aug 19, 20216 min read
Fed Chairman Jay Powell as RobinHood
There is, after all, no free lunch for investors when the Fed is serving the thin meal of Financial Repression
518 views
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![Anti-Money Laundering, Know Your Customer and the End of Offshore Crypto](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_8ce1eb8d86654b7ea949908068811ad3~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/11062b_8ce1eb8d86654b7ea949908068811ad3~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jul 27, 20216 min read
Anti-Money Laundering, Know Your Customer and the End of Offshore Crypto
Could the tether market and a small, little-known private bank in the Bahamas be the precursor of the next systemic market event in the US?
1,534 views
![Profile: Bank of America (BAC)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_d10c425af4174b86bea679eef5256e45~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_d10c425af4174b86bea679eef5256e45~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jul 23, 20215 min read
Profile: Bank of America (BAC)
BAC is the worst performing bank in the top-five US commercial banks and often underperforms the average for Peer Group 1.
320 views
![GNMA Issuer Rule Threatens Government Market](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_20a96b4d504b454ab4df19db24f3e755~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_20a96b4d504b454ab4df19db24f3e755~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jul 19, 20217 min read
GNMA Issuer Rule Threatens Government Market
This rule could cost literally tens of billions in losses to banks and nonbanks alike...
2,050 views
![Profile: Wise Ltd (LSE:WISE)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_ecdbc248cb0f45ee94785c6b636aff5c~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_225,h_225,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_ecdbc248cb0f45ee94785c6b636aff5c~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jul 15, 20215 min read
Profile: Wise Ltd (LSE:WISE)
WISE is a play on the relentless advance of technology that lowers costs and eventually forces change in the legacy world of banking and pay
378 views
![Q2 2021 Bank Earnings Setup | GS, JPM, FRC | NIM Lower for Longer](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_33bc911328684459b2915f9064aad4f3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_33bc911328684459b2915f9064aad4f3~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jul 12, 20213 min read
Q2 2021 Bank Earnings Setup | GS, JPM, FRC | NIM Lower for Longer
Cheap liquidity c/o the FOMC does little for bank earnings when asset returns are also falling
762 views
![Jay Powell Defends the Lower Bound](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_db63ddf4eb6548e6ade93c85b8684730~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_db63ddf4eb6548e6ade93c85b8684730~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jul 6, 20216 min read
Jay Powell Defends the Lower Bound
We anticipate a shift in deposits out of banks and into the Fed that could further complicate liquidity in Q3 2021.
623 views
![Profile: Blend Labs, Inc ("BLND")](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_a6269bfcc85a44539456c284ee881f7e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_a6269bfcc85a44539456c284ee881f7e~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jun 30, 20217 min read
Profile: Blend Labs, Inc ("BLND")
Is BLND worth more than RKT, or entrenched data monopolies and solution providers such as BKI or even CLGX?
879 views
![Fed Hikes Rates, Rescues Money Market Funds](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_8940d9f94a7640dc907fb058ba3d139e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_8940d9f94a7640dc907fb058ba3d139e~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jun 28, 20215 min read
Fed Hikes Rates, Rescues Money Market Funds
When you hear people talking about the Fed tapering QE next year, you know they are behind the proverbial curve.
917 views
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_9b051afaf8e7401cbbc4b683a9be08c4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/b0226b_9b051afaf8e7401cbbc4b683a9be08c4~mv2.webp)
![Juneteenth and Wall Street](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_9b051afaf8e7401cbbc4b683a9be08c4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/b0226b_9b051afaf8e7401cbbc4b683a9be08c4~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jun 21, 20214 min read
Juneteenth and Wall Street
The big banks in Boston, New York and London did not support “Lincoln’s War”
404 views
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![Upstart Holdings: Victory for AI? Or Not...](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_427ee15119a1422796968b54a0ca823a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/b0226b_427ee15119a1422796968b54a0ca823a~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jun 17, 20219 min read
Upstart Holdings: Victory for AI? Or Not...
While the progress in machine learning is impressive, horsepower in terms of computational capacity does not translate into intelligence.
554 views
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_8ce1eb8d86654b7ea949908068811ad3~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/11062b_8ce1eb8d86654b7ea949908068811ad3~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.webp)
![BIS Says "No Thanks" to Bitcoin for Payments](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_8ce1eb8d86654b7ea949908068811ad3~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/11062b_8ce1eb8d86654b7ea949908068811ad3~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jun 14, 20215 min read
BIS Says "No Thanks" to Bitcoin for Payments
The BIS is essentially saying to the banking industry that bitcoin is not a permitted asset for depositories. Adios bitcoin!
1,604 views
![Icons of Meme Investing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_a40cafc5bd76403fb006b332ddad09b1~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_a40cafc5bd76403fb006b332ddad09b1~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jun 8, 20217 min read
Icons of Meme Investing
Fed Chairman Jay Powell effectively is short an equity put option to the world...
573 views
![The IRA Bank Book Q2 2021: Lower Earnings Ahead](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_7c8e966b9b0442558c716a4ff79410f5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_7c8e966b9b0442558c716a4ff79410f5~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jun 3, 202110 min read
The IRA Bank Book Q2 2021: Lower Earnings Ahead
If you back reserve releases out of Q1 2021 bank results, revenues and earnings were down and trend is headed lower due to QE
354 views
![Lee Adler: Banks Are As Fragile As Ever](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_f958eb27665540e58a9b2997de6cbcfd~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_197,h_135,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_f958eb27665540e58a9b2997de6cbcfd~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jun 1, 20214 min read
Lee Adler: Banks Are As Fragile As Ever
Every time there’s a critical problem in the banking system due to banker malfeasance, the Fed steps in to paper it over....
925 views
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![Update: Rising Interest Rates & Mortgage Servicing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6d541016cb8d4d91b5a2b1ebb7f81705.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6d541016cb8d4d91b5a2b1ebb7f81705.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
May 25, 20215 min read
Update: Rising Interest Rates & Mortgage Servicing
The Fed’s chief concern is keeping the Treasury debt market open and functional. Liquidity includes cash and risk-free collateral...
694 views
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/738945d60c914b448a36dcab9c4685d5.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/738945d60c914b448a36dcab9c4685d5.webp)
![Fed Prepares to Go Direct with Liquidity](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/738945d60c914b448a36dcab9c4685d5.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/738945d60c914b448a36dcab9c4685d5.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
May 21, 20215 min read
Fed Prepares to Go Direct with Liquidity
Why did the Fed feel the need to absorb $351 billion in cash yesterday via reverse repurchase (RRP) transactions?
7,339 views
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![Citigroup: Breaking Up is Hard to Do](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_acea12a954c041f292d9f6a72789698d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/11062b_acea12a954c041f292d9f6a72789698d~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Apr 22, 20216 min read
Citigroup: Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Citi has drifted through years of government ownership and weak leadership by the board of directors
335 views
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18bb2675743241fe8f3884418af647b2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/18bb2675743241fe8f3884418af647b2.webp)
![The Interview: Nom de Plumber on Forbearance Risk](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18bb2675743241fe8f3884418af647b2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/18bb2675743241fe8f3884418af647b2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Apr 19, 20215 min read
The Interview: Nom de Plumber on Forbearance Risk
Sooner or later someone has to eat those forgone cash flow losses....
923 views
Christopher Whalen
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