Discussion paper

DP4260 Bank Mergers, Competition and Liquidity

We model the impact of bank mergers on loan competition, reserve holdings and aggregate liquidity. A merger creates an internal money market that affects reserve holdings and induces financial cost advantages, but also withdraws liquidity from the interbank market. We assess changes in liquidity needs for each bank and for the banking system as a whole, and relate them to the degree of loan market competition. Large mergers tend to increase aggregate liquidity needs, and thus the liquidity provision in monetary operations by the central bank. Fiercer loan market competition seems to be beneficial for aggregate liquidity in industrial countries.

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Citation

Hartmann, P, G Spagnolo and E Carletti (2004), ‘DP4260 Bank Mergers, Competition and Liquidity‘, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 4260. CEPR Press, Paris & London. https://cepr.org/publications/dp4260