TARP’s Deadbeat Banks

Abstract

This paper tests whether poorly capitalized banks with troubled loan books are more likely to miss their bailout dividends. Privately held banks with weaker core capital ratios, more charged off loans, more allowances for loan losses, and more non-performing loans are more likely to miss their Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) dividends. Banks that issue non-cumulative preferred stock are also more likely to be TARP deadbeats. In addition, banks that missed a bailout dividend in the prior quarter are significantly more likely to miss the next bailout dividend.

Keywords: bailout, banking, debt overhang, Capital Purchase Program, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, lending, preferred stock, subordinated debt, TARP

JEL Classification: G21, G28, G38