Role of Retail Banking in the U. S. Banking Industry: Risk, Return, and Industry Structure A Reprint from "Economic Policy Review"

The U.S. banking industry is experiencing a renewed interest in retail banking (RB), defined as products & services provided to consumers & small bus. This article documents the ¿return to retail¿ in the U.S. banking industry & offers some insight into why the shift has occurred. The principal attraction of RB seems to be the belief that its revenues are stable & thus can offset volatility in non-retail bus. Interest in RB activities fluctuates with the performance of non-retail banking & financial market activities. Documents the features that the recent ¿return to retail¿ has in common with past cycles, but also identifies factors suggesting that this episode may be more persistent. This RB cycle is being driven almost entirely by the very largest U.S. banks. Charts.