JP Morgan Acquires First Republic Bank: A Game of 'Big Bank Take Little Bank'?

Once is Chance, Twice is Coincidence, Third Time's a Pattern

The closure of First Republic adds to the list of bank failures that have occurred thus far in the year. In taking a historical comparison, the bank failures of 2023, thus far, are greater than the collective bank failure that occurred in 2008. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Source: The New York Times (May 1, 2023)

Though deposit flight is a common theme cited in the press release for these banks, in looking at the data from Federal Reserve, deposit flight has occurred for both large and small domestically charted banks, however in the case of the latter, there is greater volatility in recent deposit flow and the depth of decline in deposits over the past quarter has been more pervasive.  

However, looking more closely provides a more clarifying view. In examining the Federal Reserve’s list of Large Commercial Banks, last updated as of December 2022, First Republic Bank and Silicon Valley Bank were the 14th and 16th , respectively, on the list – highlighting their size and importance to the U.S. financial system; despite them being considered ‘regional/mid-sized banks’.

Scale as a Safe Haven 

Since the failure of Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank, regional banking ETFs have taken a beating, with year-to-date performance being close to -30% for two of three prominent investment solutions that reflect said industry segment. In looking at ETFs that capture the performance of the broader banking sector, performance has also been negative for the same time period.  

Not all bank-focused ETFs are the same. In March 2023, I wrote about the launch of Roundhill Big Bank ETF (Ticker: BIGB), an investment solution that will solely invest in the largest banks in America, namely, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo & Co. and  Bank of America Corp. While the timing of the fund’s launch may have been fortuitous – as it was in the midst of Silicon Valley Bank’s failure - its value proposition within the current market environment is precinct.  

JP Morgan Chase & Co is the largest bank in the U.S., as such as its scale and scope of operations is broad and all encompassing. As outlined in the FDIC press release, JP Morgan Chase & Co will be assuming all the deposits ($103.9 billion as of April 13th, 2023) and all assets ($229.1 billion as of April 13th, 2023) of First Republic Bank. Additionally, The FDIC and JPMorgan Chase & Co. will be entering a loss-share transaction on single-family, residential and commercial loans it purchased of the former First Republic Bank. The FDIC as receiver and JPMorgan Chase & Co., will share in the losses and potential recoveries on the loans covered by the loss–share agreement.  

Simply put, JP Morgan Chase & Co. was able to acquire a sizable industry peer at a discount, thus strengthening its market positioning significantly. 

For individuals and investors looking on, the developments of the banking sector in the last few months have been truly fast-moving and exceptional in nature. While no one can completely determine what new developments will occur within the sector, gravitating towards financial institutions that have systemic importance to U.S. financial ecosystems seems to be the safest approach. 

As the developments in the U.S. banking sector continue to unfold, for investors looking for safety in the banking sector – Roundhill’s Big Bank ETF (BIGB) offers them the opportunity to invest in the largest banking institutions, that are most capable of weathering this turbulent period.  

Please note this article is for information purposes only and does not in any way constitute investment advice. It is essential that you seek advice from a registered financial professional prior to making any investment decision.