From shareholders to stakeholders finance: a more sustainable lending model

Focusing on shareholder value (SHV) maximising banks vs. stakeholder value (STV) maximising banks, we ask: Why do they coexist? What does the recent crisis suggest for their respective sustainability? On the first, we conclude STVs – often cooperatives, catering also for parties other than shareholders – may superiorly manage the conflict of interests between depositors and bank owners and also strengthen borrowers' screening/monitoring. Accordingly, STVs should specialise in traditional intermediation, SHV in financial innovations. Next, we notice that the past financial innovation transformed the banking model from 'originate to hold' (OTH) to 'originate to distribute' (OTD). Knowing ex ante, they would immediately securitise originated loans on financial markets, OTD banks lowered their credit standards. Thus, the OTD model proved unsustainable. Since STV (SHV) stuck prevalently to OTH (moved to OTD), the crisis suggests STV are more sustainable. This contrasts with the prejudice against STV banks, often described before the crisis as outdated and inefficient.