$100bn in legal settlements for banks also means $2tn less in bank lending capacity

Sir Richard McGregor and Aaron Stanley write on FT’s first page “Banks hit by $100bn in US legal settlements since crisis” March 26.

If I was a medium or a small business, an entrepreneur or a start-up, starved for bank credit, and if I multiplied that bank capital gone in legal settlements by the allowed leverage implied by in a 5% leverage ratio, 20 times, I would know it means I am $2tn in bank credit capacity further away from having my fund needs satisfied.

If in Europe, with its Basel III 3% leverage ratio, 33 times, I would find myself an even more distant $3.3tn from it.