Funding Liquidity and Risk-Taking Behavior of Banks in India

This study, utilizing bank-level data for India, investigates the relationship between funding liquidity and banks’ risk-taking behavior. The study uses two risk measures: risk-weighted assets (encompassing credit, market, and operational risk) and liquidity creation (encompassing intermediacy risk). Findings reveal that banks with higher funding liquidity exhibit higher risk-taking behavior. This risk-taking behavior is more pronounced during economic recuperation and expansionary monetary policy phases. Notably, during economic recuperation, banks display heightened intermediacy risk, contrasting with the absence of such evidence during expansionary monetary policy phases. Larger banks with higher deposit shares demonstrate lower risk-taking behavior. Additionally, banks with a return on equity (ROE) below the average ROE exhibit a proclivity for increased risk-taking. This study advocates for liquidity regulation as a crucial complement to bank capital regulation, offering empirical support for moderate risk-taking among highly liquid banks and fortify their balance sheets for a stable banking system in India. JEL Codes: E32, E52, G21, G28