$174,303,000,000 in Deposit Flight Hits US Banks in Three Months As S&P Global Declares Banking Industry Is ‘Gradually Shrinking’

New numbers are shedding light on the multi billion-dollar flow of capital out of the US banking system.

In a new report, S&P Global says total non-brokered deposits, or funds coming mostly from retail customers, recorded their sixth consecutive quarterly decline in Q3 of this year.

The market intelligence firm says non-brokered deposits dropped from $17.430 trillion in Q2 to $17.256 trillion in Q3, representing a decrease of $174.303 billion. Specifically, S&P Global says Citibank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase saw at least a 2% quarterly decline.

Deposits across the commercial banking industry are down about $947 billion dollars from an all-time high of $18.203 trillion set in April of 2022.

To make up for the deposit outflows, the data intelligence firm says the industry is beginning to rely more on wholesale funding, which involves brokered deposits from large financial institutions.

“During the last year, brokered deposits plus total borrowings have more than doubled at Bank of America Corp. unit Bank of America NA and Wells Fargo & Co. unit Wells Fargo Bank NA. At JPMorgan Chase & Co. unit JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, the increase is 30.5%.

Bucking the trend within the Big Four is Citigroup Inc. unit Citibank NA, with a 10.2% yearly decrease.”

Banks are also depending on loans and leases to shore up their balance sheet.

The shift in strategy comes as the total assets held across the industry continue to drop.

“That transformation is taking place as the industry gradually shrinks. Total assets for US commercial banks, savings banks and savings and loan associations were $23.406 trillion at Sept. 30, representing a 0.2% decline from June 30 and a 2.4% decrease since the all-time peak at March 31, 2022.”

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