Friday, July 3, 2009

U.S. Bank can learn from Canadian Banks



A few noteworthy differences:

• Superintendent of Financial Institutions: A single, powerful regulator;
• Industry Concentration: 5 banks have 85% of assets in Canada;
• More conservative executive-suite culture: Bankers are more like Accountants;
• Canada’s version of Glass Steagall repealed in the 1980s.


Canada also has a very different corporate culture, less driven by pursuit of option riches instead focuses on sustainable and long term corporate profitability.

One of the main factors affecting long-term profitability is inflation which leads to many turning to real estate, which is considered a hedge against inflation. Couple that with low mortgage rates and you have a strong real estate market.

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