1 min readBanks have traditionally been a little slow to follow interest rate hikes by the Fed with comparable rate increases on their own deposit accounts. But this time around they seem to be moving more slowly than ever. Our August research report―Higher Deposit Rates-Where Art Thou?―looks back at the past two Fed tightening cycles and compares…
3 min readAbstract The return of yield opportunities presents institutional cash investors with fresh challenges. Higher rates have driven up the cost of staying with ultra conservative instruments. Money market fund reforms have left corporate cash managers with few clear choices to add yield. And historically popular cash vehicles that have undergone significant changes demand a fresh…
3 min readThe Earnings Credit Rate (ECR) has been a successful tool used by banks to lure corporate depositors during the low interest rate environment, but shouldn’t be expected to keep pace with rising interest rates. Banks offer ECRs to offset bank transactional fees for non-interest bearing deposits accounts, effectively acting as a conduit to hard interest….
1 min readIt may be time for a refresher course on the pros and cons of bank deposits as the primary repository of corporate cash. In the wake of last fall’s transition to floating net asset values (NAVs) at institutional prime money market funds, treasurers were already going through a once-in-a-generation rethink of liquidity and risk. Now,…
3 min readAbstract Treasury organizations maintain deposit relationships despite uninsured credit risk and lost yield opportunity. Earnings credit rates may become less competitive than market-based rates. Including separate accounts in the mix helps address both credit and yield objectives in institutional liquidity management. Introduction The search for liquidity management solutions reached a new level of significance when…
1 min readAbstract This introductory product brief discusses insured deposit programs’ potential safety, liquidity, yield, diversification and ease of use benefits. It also cautions on their servicer risk, liquidity, size restrictions, risks related to FDIC payoffs and sustainability. Such vehicles may be well suited for moderate-sized accounts with government mandate that desire higher yield potential than government…
1 min readOn October 15, institutional cash investors entering the uncertain world of floating net asset values (NAVs) on institutional prime money market funds may be looking for alternative liquidity vehicles. While government money market funds may be the first obvious choice because they will still offer stable NAVs and no redemption fees or liquidity gates, increased…
2 min readAbstract As Federal banking authorities work to implement rules to allow for the quick and efficient dissolution of too-big-to-fail banks, ratings once again are under assault, and most large U.S. banks could lose their access to the short-term markets toward the end of 2013. The anticipated negative rating moves will be the direct result of…
2 min readAbstract Global banking authorities’ moves to resolve systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) may result in first losses being borne by bank creditors in the event of a failure. Under the new resolution authority, size no longer may be an indication of safety for bank credit. Instead, one should look to a bank’s fundamental business condition…
2 min readAbstract Deposits at the 20 largest U.S. banks are generally concentrated in banks with Tier 2 ratings, many of which are just one step away from BBB status. Significant cross-concentration of bank names also exists in large prime money market funds. The dominance of bank exposure in corporate portfolios through deposits and money market funds…