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ECON 105

When does a bank run out of cushion?

Learn how bank funding, leverage and asset losses can turn a cash shortage into a financial crisis. Move the balance sheets, then solve 10 questions about losses, runs and recovery.

How banks fund loans · Step 1 of 12

Banks connect savers with borrowers

Harbournook Bank: all amounts in $k
Assets
Cash$100k
Loans$900k
Total assets$1,000k
Liabilities and capital
Deposits$900k
Capital$100k
Total liabilities and capital$1,000k
Our fictional economy is Cedarhaven, and its lender is Harbournook Bank. The bank offers savers access to their money and uses funding to hold loans. Deposits are liabilities; loans and cash are assets; owners provide capital.
Try it: Add deposits while keeping owners’ capital at $100k. Watch loans and funding grow together.
Deposits funding the bank ($k)$900k
Total assets
$1,000k
Bank capital
$100k
Leverage
10.00 times
Assets = (100 + 900) = $1,000k.
Capital = (1,000 − 900) = $100k.
Cash and loans are ownedDeposits are owed
Check yourself
Why are deposits a liability for a bank?

Exam coming up and banking crises still feel confusing?

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