Skip to main content

Deposit Times Are Changing

04/22/2024 07:27 pm

By Ray Birch

LAKE FOREST, Ill.— While the U.S. money supply in recent years has appeared to be stable, one economist says that’s not the case, adding that money supply components have been moving as wildly as a theme park ride and affecting deposits at FIs across the country.

“What’s the story?” asked Michael Moebs, economist and chair of Moebs $ervices, whose new study takes a detailed look at money supply components. “Insured transactions have fallen but are at an all-time high since 1914. Insured savings are making a big comeback. And uninsured deposits are soaring with insured deposits. Total money supply is far from stable. It is like a Disney amusement park ride with people looking suspiciously calm after a wild ride where each screamed and yelled as limbs and bodies were thrown around.”

Feature Money Supply

Moebs said Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s “new definition of money,” announced in the second quarter of 2020, has finally been implemented by financial institutions of all sizes.

“FIs all over are marketing and selling as dollars and accounts are moving to the best deals and highest rates,” he said.

chart

What Happened in 2023

Moebs detailed what happened with money supply in 2023:

  • Regular DDA (no interest) accounts fell slightly, by (1.7%) or about $90 billion, yet are still at their highest levels since 1914 when the Fed starting tracking money
  • Interest paying DDA levels fell (11.5%), the lowest since COVID started in U.S in. January 2020
  • Savings levels dropped dramaticaly (13.9% or $1.5 trillion), and are at their lowest level since COVID started. “In March 2020, when Powell eliminated reserve requirements and monthly transaction restrictions moving savings to M1, the bell started tolling for savings,” Moebs said. “The saver is moving money to DDA since saving rates are less than an average of 25 BPS. Plus, DDA is where stimulus funds came into play and have left about $1 trillion”
  • M2 was left with term-money CDs and retirement accounts (IRAs and Keoghs)
Moebs Mike

Michael Moebs

Additional Changes—And a First

Moebs highlighted the major money supply changes that ocurred last year:

  • Retail CDs had a huge resurgence “after almost dying” during COVID. Retail CDs increased 282% in 2023 and now are over $1 trillion
  • Jumbo CDs surged 46.7% to more than $800 billion

“For the first time since starting in 1962, retirement accounts at depositories dropped (19.3%),” Moebs said. “Why the dramatic shift in money? The answer is rates. Wall Street rates are being offered for all CDs and staying low for IRAs and Keoghs. M3 is money market mutual funds. Rates for MMMFs soared and funds poured in. Dollars mainly came from depositories. The most sensitive was depository retirement deposits.”

Effect on Money Stock

Moebs reiterated that pricing is influencing money stock.

“Gathering funds has gone beyond deposit insurance caps of $250,000. Risk is fundamental to price. Depositories need to adhere to analytical systems such as debit scoring and forego judgemental approaches,” Moebs said. “CDs are returning. Savings are falling. DDA is high. MMMFs on Wall Street are soaring. The signals call for new and different methods for managing deposit portfolios. Info is vital.  Measuring and pricing is essential. Deposit times are changing.”

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Effective January 1, 2026 - Credit Union Succession Planning

  First Responder Credit Union Academy www. NCOFCU .org   Effective January 1, 2026 This  statement  from current NCUA Chairman Todd M. Harper states that “this final rule on succession planning establishes a way for the NCUA to address one of the most common causes for unplanned and unforced credit union mergers. It also ensures that smaller institutions remain the cornerstone of ...

Federal Reserve Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/4 percentage point to 3-1/2 to 3‑3/4 percent

  Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement For release at 2:00 p.m. EST Share Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace. Job gains have slowed this year, and the unemployment rate has edged up through September. More recent indicators are consistent with these developments. Inflation has moved up since earlier in the year and remains somewhat elevated. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated. The Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate and judges that downside risks to employment rose in recent months. In support of its goals and in light of the shift in the balance of risks, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/4 percentage point to 3-1/2 to 3‑3/4 percent. In considering the extent and timing of additional adjustments to the target range for...

Credit Union Profits Climb 21% As Margins Widen, NCUA Reports

  If you don't read anything else, read this:  Performance By Asset Category WASHINGTON—Federally insured credit unions posted a sharp rebound in profitability through the third quarter of 2025, with net income up 21% year over year to an annualized $19.1 billion, according to new NCUA data. The increase—one of the strongest gains across the agency’s quarterly metrics—came as institutions benefited from rising interest income, wider net interest margins, and relatively stable credit costs. The NCUA reported that Q3 data show interest income climbed 7.6% over the period while the systemwide net interest margin expanded nearly 13%, helping credit unions absorb higher operating expenses and modest increases in loan-loss provisioning. The earnings surge outpaced the credit union system’s 3.7% asset growth and came amid a mixed lending environment in which residential mortgage balances rose sharply, but auto lending weakened. The industry’s aggregate net worth ratio also im...

Fed’s Powell: Strong hiring could force further rate hikes

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday that if the U.S. job market further strengthens in the coming months or inflation readings accelerate, the Fed might have to raise its benchmark interest rate higher than it now projects. Powell’s remarks followed the government’s blockbuster report last week that employers added 517,000 jobs in January , nearly double December’s gain. The unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in 53 years, 3.4%. “The reality is if we continue to get strong labor market reports or higher inflation reports, it might be the case that we have to raise rates more” than is now expected, Powell said in remarks to the Economic Club of Washington. Though price pressures are easing and Powell said he envisions a “significant” decline in inflation this year, he cautioned that so far the central bank is seeing only “the very early stages of disinflation. It has a long way to go.” Even as the Fed has raised r...

Sunday Reading - What happened at Pearl Harbor?

    What happened at Pearl Harbor? On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii ( watch visualization ). The strike marked the culmination of a decade of rising tensions as Japan expanded its empire   across East Asia and the Pacific. With its industrial capacity unable to match the United States in a long-term war, Japanese leaders opted for a preemptive blow designed to cripple American naval power.   The attack—which permanently sank three American ships, damaged 15 more, and killed 2,403 Americans—was a tactical success but a strategic failure. Japanese forces did not hit the base’s oil reserves, submarine facilities, or repair yards, all of which proved crucial in the months that followed. The US Navy ultimately refloated all but three damaged ships, returning many to combat . Pearl Harbor was the deadliest attack on US ...

Sheehans Consulting LLC - "We only have one goal in mind!"

We have one goal in mind: “What is best for you? We achieve strategic initiatives, develop products, optimize profitability and productivity through best practices, and make our firm a strong asset for professional services.  With over 30 years of experience in public administration, credit union, and association management, I have developed a solid track record in leadership and development.  Please visit us at https://www.sheehansconsultingllc.com/ to learn more about what we can do for you.   _________________________________________ Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board

Building a Digital Strategy for Post-COVID Debt Recovery

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, some credit union relief and government support programs are due to expire – and many Americans are still struggling financially. While these short-term programs have helped, the drastic disruptions in employment and member behaviors over the last several months are creating major, lasting changes for credit unions. As members look for financial solutions and alternatives while staying safe, two of the biggest shifts are increasing call volume and website traffic, prompting credit unions to evaluate and improve their digital capabilities to meet future collections and recovery needs. Credit unions are no strangers to helping members through difficult times. However, the impacts of the pandemic are widespread. The sheer volume of members faced with short- and long-term unemployment is daunting, and collection leaders must realistically re-forecast delinquencies and potential losses in a world with many unknowns. How many jobs will come b...

Here’s What Americans Have to Say About the Fed’s Anticipated Move to Cut Rates

MIAMI–After 11 interest rate increases since early 2022, the Federal Reserve is widely expected to announce a rate cut when it meets next week—but not all Americans agree that’s a good thing. According to a new  Fed Rate Survey conducted by WalletHub, a 25-basis point rate reduction would save consumers roughly $1.87 billion in interest over the next 12 months. Some economists, including in credit unions, say a 50-basis point cut could be on the table. To gauge public sentiment about Federal Reserve rate cuts, WalletHub said it conducted a  nationally representative survey . Here’s what it said it found: Key Findings Rate-Cut Concerns:  63% of Americans are concerned that cutting interest rates will make inflation worse. ...

Moving to a Credit Union Doesn’t Mean Giving Up Rewards Credit Cards

Moving to a Credit Union Doesn’t Mean Giving Up Rewards Credit Cards : "We’ve received a couple questions at NerdWallet about credit unions and rewards credit cards. Generally, the perception is that while credit unions are great for low interest rates and fees, the major banks have the profit margins to spend on a great rewards program. But now, " 'via Blog this'

Tracking Firm Reports Foreclosures Down in 2011 – But Not Really

“Foreclosures were in full delay mode in 2011, resulting in a dramatic drop in foreclosure activity for the year,” said Brandon Moore, CEO of RealtyTrac. “The lack of clarity regarding many of the documentation and legal issues plaguing the foreclosure industry means that we are continuing to see a highly dysfunctional foreclosure process that is inefficiently dealing with delinquent mortgages — particularly in states with a judicial foreclosure process." *** Tracking Firm Reports Foreclosures Down in 2011 – But Not Really : " 'via Blog this'