Bank Liquidity Crisis Analysis

A bank has the following simplified financial statement: Total Assets = $500 million (comprised of $20 million in cash and $480 million in long-term loans). Total Liabilities = $450 million (all in customer deposits). If a sudden panic leads to depositors attempting to withdraw $50 million in a single day, which statement best analyzes the bank's situation?

A bank is immune to failure from a depositor panic as long as the total value of its assets, such as loans and investments, exceeds the total value of its liabilities, such as customer deposits.

Solvency vs. Liquidity in a Bank Panic

The Paradox of a Solvent Bank's Failure

A bank has assets (loans and investments) valued at $100 million and liabilities (deposits) of $90 million. A widespread, unfounded rumor causes a large number of depositors to rush to withdraw their money simultaneously. Why is this bank still at risk of failure despite being financially sound on paper?

Match each term related to a bank's financial health with the corresponding description.

A bank run is primarily a crisis of ____, which can cause even a financially sound bank with assets exceeding liabilities to fail because it cannot immediately convert its long-term assets into cash to meet mass withdrawal demands.

A financially healthy bank, with assets valued significantly higher than its liabilities, suddenly faces a widespread panic among its depositors. Arrange the following events in the logical sequence that could lead to this bank's failure.

A regional bank has assets totaling $1 billion, primarily in long-term mortgages and business loans. Its liabilities, consisting of customer deposits, amount to $900 million. A false rumor spreads, causing a panic where depositors attempt to withdraw $100 million in cash within two days, but the bank only holds $50 million in cash reserves. A financial commentator makes the following statement: 'There's no need for panic. This bank is fundamentally sound because its assets are worth $100 million more than what it owes. The bank cannot fail.' Which of the following provides the most accurate critique of the commentator's assessment?