What is a key characteristic of highly leveraged banks?

Highly leveraged banks are defined by their substantial use of debt relative to their equity. This characteristic allows them to increase their potential return on equity because they can finance more assets than they own in equity. By relying significantly on borrowed funds, these banks can amplify their profits during prosperous economic times. However, this high leverage also exposes them to greater risk, particularly in downturns when losses can exceed the equity they hold, leading to potential insolvency challenges.

In contrast, banks with a large amount of customer deposits may have a stable funding base but do not necessarily indicate high leverage. Focusing on risk-free investments is a more conservative approach that is not characteristic of highly leveraged entities, as they typically engage in riskier activities to achieve higher returns. Additionally, while operating predominantly on short-term loans can reflect a certain banking strategy, it does not inherently relate to the concept of being highly leveraged, as leverage specifically pertains to the ratio of debt to equity rather than the nature of the loans themselves.