Federal Reserve Bulletin

Profits and Balance Sheet Developments at U.S. Commercial Banks in 2005

Figure 1. Bank profitability, 1990-2005. Data plotted as curves. The return on equity rises from about 7 percent in 1990 to almost 16 percent in 1993, varies between about 13.5 percent and 16 percent through 2003, and then falls to reach about 13 percent in 2005. The return on assets rises from about 0.5 percent in 1990 to about 1.2 percent in 1993, varies between 1.2 percent and 1.4 percent through 2003, and then declines to reach about 1.3 percent in 2005.

Note: The data are annual.  Return to article