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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
![The Bull Case for Large Banks](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_c279e880c14d4215b1df74d878697ad2~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_c279e880c14d4215b1df74d878697ad2~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
May 15, 20247 min read
The Bull Case for Large Banks
Big banks have big CRE exposures, too. So what drives this marvelous progression up the wall of worry?
566 views
![Debt Deflation in CRE? PFSI, COOP & RKT](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_e90467ba9fb448e5a1c4352f7c4c685d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_e90467ba9fb448e5a1c4352f7c4c685d~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
May 5, 20249 min read
Debt Deflation in CRE? PFSI, COOP & RKT
If the run-of-the-mill Republic First interest rate mark is 13.3% of assets that is not just wiping out one bank’s 8% capital but also FDIC
688 views
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![WGA Bank Top 100 Index | Q2 2024](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_76f1fa02acb14d9b88e57c3e4e0327cb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/nsplsh_76f1fa02acb14d9b88e57c3e4e0327cb~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Apr 29, 20243 min read
WGA Bank Top 100 Index | Q2 2024
Our Bank Top 10 and Top 25 indices continue to outperform the industry benchmarks, but the broader samples show growing financial stress
580 views
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![The Death of Leverage; What's the WAC of Bank America?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_1479ed4da4654d0f92e02a5a8326bf56~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/nsplsh_1479ed4da4654d0f92e02a5a8326bf56~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Apr 24, 20247 min read
The Death of Leverage; What's the WAC of Bank America?
The yield on BAC's $320 billion commercial and industrial (C&I) book was just 5.4% or more than 150bp below peer at year-end 2023.
936 views
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![A Rising Floor on Interest Rates? | Update: Bank OZK](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_00e5dc954bf44e009d86690d901390ec~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/nsplsh_00e5dc954bf44e009d86690d901390ec~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Apr 7, 20247 min read
A Rising Floor on Interest Rates? | Update: Bank OZK
Only in the strange confines of Washington do you still find people who think that the federal budget deficit is not a problem.
1,049 views
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![Top-Five Banks: Q1 '24 Earnings Setup](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_55662d6334753175734651~mv2_d_4739_3159_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/nsplsh_55662d6334753175734651~mv2_d_4739_3159_s_4_2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Mar 19, 20247 min read
Top-Five Banks: Q1 '24 Earnings Setup
We see higher credit costs, narrowing NIM and still rising funding costs squeezing the banking industry in Q1 2024...
586 views
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![Does Kathy Hochul Have a New York Community Bank Endgame?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_ebcf482a576b4a51aefdcd66f0bcc65a~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,al_c,q_90,enc_auto/b0226b_ebcf482a576b4a51aefdcd66f0bcc65a~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Mar 6, 20247 min read
Does Kathy Hochul Have a New York Community Bank Endgame?
FDIC Chairman Gruenberg ought to tell New York State to take over the rent controlled loans from Signature, NYCB and other lenders...
2,016 views1 comment
![NYCB Cleans House Badly, NAIC Gives Insurers Pass on Realized Losses](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_500646a2217a4caea8df8a73b43ac2d3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_500646a2217a4caea8df8a73b43ac2d3~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Feb 1, 20247 min read
NYCB Cleans House Badly, NAIC Gives Insurers Pass on Realized Losses
Sad to say, the business at NYCB is doing better than you'd think reading the bank's absurd disclosure.
1,901 views
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![Good, Bad & Ugly: AXP, SOFI & BAC](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae9e93fe9a3246bc84df069a002210b0.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/ae9e93fe9a3246bc84df069a002210b0.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jan 30, 20246 min read
Good, Bad & Ugly: AXP, SOFI & BAC
AXP is a premium stock that is best acquired when people think, incorrectly, that the world is ending.
862 views
![With Commercial Property, the Equity Goes First](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_691d990dd035490eb5fc02b8d9005b87~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_691d990dd035490eb5fc02b8d9005b87~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jan 20, 20245 min read
With Commercial Property, the Equity Goes First
The key thing to remember with commercial real estate is the change in price volatility and direction that has occurred since COVID.
1,292 views
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![Banks Slow Walk Commercial Real Estate Losses](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b1f2897eb1f49cbae3159a3b345ffd7.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/3b1f2897eb1f49cbae3159a3b345ffd7.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jan 18, 20247 min read
Banks Slow Walk Commercial Real Estate Losses
As reflected in the valuations for JPM, WFC and BXMT, institutional investors are still not that concerned about commercial real est losses
770 views
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![Bank Earnings Setup Q4 2023](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_325f4b3832677839556b38~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/nsplsh_325f4b3832677839556b38~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jan 11, 20245 min read
Bank Earnings Setup Q4 2023
Look for falling rates sooner rather than later as the Fed and other agencies prepare to resolve more bank failures in 2024.
619 views
![Comments on Basel III Endgame](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_ad608794b0074db792fd1e954e299043~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_204,h_192,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_ad608794b0074db792fd1e954e299043~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Jan 3, 20243 min read
Comments on Basel III Endgame
The Basel III proposal reflects a view of financial risks facing US banks that is decades out of date and ignores market risk
754 views
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![Update: Citigroup Fights for Credibility](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_91c83985efb54573b79fc9b854c980d7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_255,h_197,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/b0226b_91c83985efb54573b79fc9b854c980d7~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Dec 21, 20237 min read
Update: Citigroup Fights for Credibility
Citigroup picked up almost 10 points of book value since the end of Q3 2023.
614 views
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![Another Progressive New Year?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_634e6145715853735a306b~mv2_d_5454_3068_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/nsplsh_634e6145715853735a306b~mv2_d_5454_3068_s_4_2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Dec 19, 20236 min read
Another Progressive New Year?
Many participants in the equity markets are chewing on ski tips this holiday season after boldly predicting lower interest rates in 2024
724 views
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![Rates Rally Financials, But Credit Fears Remain](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/77e9849579aa4e5985019cd20d8d5ea1.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/77e9849579aa4e5985019cd20d8d5ea1.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Dec 15, 20237 min read
Rates Rally Financials, But Credit Fears Remain
The key term for risk managers and investors in 2024 remains unchanged from this year: Volatility.
483 views
![Update: Flying Fintechs & Zombie Banks](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_46e56d6914f946a1b40caf26e94b169d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_46e56d6914f946a1b40caf26e94b169d~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Nov 29, 20236 min read
Update: Flying Fintechs & Zombie Banks
COIN has been helped by a groundswell of positive comment about crypto in 2023...
660 views
![FSOC Frets About Nonbank Risk; Goldman Sachs Stepping Back?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_85b2593e25d04d1db105abdde61b513a~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_85b2593e25d04d1db105abdde61b513a~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Sep 21, 20236 min read
FSOC Frets About Nonbank Risk; Goldman Sachs Stepping Back?
GS has the weakest position in terms of funding of the top-ten banks and no real narrative for the business post-Marcus.
617 views
![Bank Industry Review & Survey Q3 2023](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0226b_ca7ac3f373ec4724b62e5ac5f27b70bf~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/b0226b_ca7ac3f373ec4724b62e5ac5f27b70bf~mv2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Sep 11, 20233 min read
Bank Industry Review & Survey Q3 2023
The US banking industry has seen now two consecutive down quarters for net income caused by the Fed’s massive open market operations
867 views
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![Consumer Credit Collapsing? Not Yet...](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_656d33376b5338574a4a51~mv2_d_5472_3648_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_436,h_327,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/nsplsh_656d33376b5338574a4a51~mv2_d_5472_3648_s_4_2.webp)
R. Christopher Whalen
Sep 5, 20236 min read
Consumer Credit Collapsing? Not Yet...
Sadly for the bears in the audience, nothing would make the banks happier than if consumers would use more credit....
1,094 views
Christopher Whalen
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