What are the Main Factors for the Subdued Profitability of Significant Banks in the Banking Union, and is the ECB’s Supervisory Response Conclusive and Exhaustive?

This paper examines how the ECB should respond to the currently low profitability of significant banks in the Banking Union. The subdued profitability appears to be a structural problem caused by overbanking, with too many bank assets chasing too few profitable banking sector opportunities. To address the root problem of overbanking, the ECB should use its existing supervisory powers to require significant banks with unsustainably low profitability to restructure reducing their overall size. This document was provided by the Economic Governance Support Unit at the request of the ECON Committee.