Staff Reports
Coexistence of Banks and Non-Banks: Intermediation Functions and Strategies
Number 1145
March 2025

JEL classification: G21, G23, G18

Authors: Nicola Cetorelli, Gonzalo Cisternas, and Asani Sarkar

What is the essence of non-bank financial intermediation? How does it emerge and interact with intermediation performed by banks? To investigate these questions, we develop a model-based survey: we classify existing models into different intermediation functions á la Merton (1995) to show that variations of them admit a common modeling structure; then, we extend or reinterpret the resulting models to connect equilibrium strategies to non-bank activities in practice. Particular emphasis is placed on the coexistence of banks and non-banks: how their competition, or the extent of cooperation through contractual arrangements, varies across intermediation functions. Through this approach we speak to a variety of entities such as traditional banks, open-end funds, special purpose vehicles, private credit entities, and fintech lenders. We also discuss innovation, regulation, and market liquidity as drivers of non-bank activities.

Full Article
Author Disclosure Statement(s)
Nicola Cetorelli
The author declares that (s)he has no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.

Gonzalo Cisternas
The author declares that (s)he has no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.

Asani Sarkar
The author declares that (s)he has no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.
Suggested Citation:
Cetorelli, Nicola, Gonzalo Cisternas, and Asani Sarkar. 2024. “Coexistence of Banks and Non-Banks: Intermediation Functions and Strategies.” Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Reports, no. 1145, September. https://doi.org/10.59576/sr.1145

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