Article

Why Bank Governance is Different

Marco Becht, Patrick Bolton, and Ailsa Roell

Abstract

This paper reviews the pattern of bank failures during the financial crisis and asks whether there was a link with corporate governance. It revisits the theory of bank governance and suggests a multi-constituency approach that emphasizes the role of weak creditors. The empirical evidence suggests that, on average, banks with stronger risk officers, less independent boards, and executives with less variable remuneration incurred fewer losses. There is no evidence that institutional shareholders opposed aggressive risk-taking. The Financial Stability Board published Principles for Sound Compensation Practices in 2009, and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision issued principles for enhancing corporate governance in 1999, 2006, and 2010. The reports have in common that shareholders retain residual control and executive pay continues to be aligned with shareholder interests. However, we argue that bank governance is different and requires more radical departures from traditional governance for non-financial firms.

JEL codes

  • G20: General
  • G21: Banks • Depository Institutions • Micro Finance Institutions • Mortgages
  • G24: Investment Banking • Venture Capital • Brokerage • Ratings and Ratings Agencies
  • G28: Government Policy and Regulation
  • G32: Financing Policy • Financial Risk and Risk Management • Capital and Ownership Structure • Value of Firms • Goodwill
  • G34: Mergers • Acquisitions • Restructuring • Corporate Governance

Published in

Oxford Review of Economic Policy, vol. 27, n. 3, 2011, pp. 437–463