Big U.S. Banks Crush Q2 Earnings, Is Loan Growth On The Cards?

Big U.S. Banks Crush Q2 Earnings, Is Loan Growth On The Cards?

The biggest U.S. banks reported stellar Q2 performances. While 2021 is turning out to be a weak revenue year, continued improvement in the broader economic environment, strong credit quality, and net reserve releases are significantly boosting the profitability of the top American banks. Furthermore, banks continue to return excess capital to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.

Though profitability improved in Q2, the lower interest rate environment remained a drag, putting pressure on net interest income. On the balance sheet front, trends continue to improve, with deposits driving modest growth. However, loan growth remains a challenge.