Securitization, Monetary Policy and Bank Stability Mohamed Bakousha,1,∗, Tapas Mishraa,2, Simon Wolfea,3, aSouthampton Business School, University of Southampton, UK Abstract We provide new evidence about the effect of securitization activities on bank stability and systemic risk in the run-up to and following the global financial crisis by consid- ering the role of monetary policy interest rates. In so doing, we propose S{score as a new measure of the net effect of securitization activities on bank stability. Analyzing the dynamics of this measure at the individual bank level and the banking system level shows that securitization activities have a destabilizing effect on banks. We also find that securitization increases commonality of asset returns among banks leading to increased interconnectedness and systemic risk. We also find that low monetary policy interest rates in the aftermath of the global financial crisis have mitigated the destabilizing effect of securitization on banks. Keywords: Securitization, Bank Profitability, Bank Risk, Bank Stability, Systemic Risk; Monetary Policy JEL Classification: G21; G10 ∗Corresponding Author (Email:
[email protected]). 1Mohamed Bakoush is an Assistant Professor in Banking and Finance, Southampton Business School, University of Southampton. (Email:
[email protected]) 2Tapas Mishra is a Professor of Banking and Finance, Southampton Business School, University of Southampton. (Email:
[email protected]) 3Simon Wolfe is a Professor of Banking and Finance, Southampton Business School, University of Southampton.(Email:
[email protected]) Preprint submitted to Elsevier December 31, 2019 1. Introduction Securitization has fundamentally altered the way in which financial intermediation is organized as it has provided banks with an innovative way to improve efficiency and performance.