Asian bank research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Asian bank research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Total impairment costs are soaring now at Citigroup up to USD3.5bn in 4Q23 compared with an average charge of USD1.8-1.9bn in the recent preceding quarters. </li>
<li>Net interest income appears to be topping out now, as there is generally a lagged impact on funding in a rising rate environment. </li>
<li>The implications of the Citi results, steeped in geopolitical risk, are not positive for large global banks, major US banks in particular and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:516:1" rel="noopener">HSBC Holdings (5 HK)</a> specifically. </li>
</ul>


Total impairment costs are soaring now at Citigroup up to USD3.5bn in 4Q23 compared with an average charge of USD1.8-1.9bn in the recent preceding quarters. 
Net interest income appears to be topping out now, as there is generally a lagged impact on funding in a rising rate environment. 
The implications of the Citi results, steeped in geopolitical risk, are not positive for large global banks, major US banks in particular and HSBC Holdings (5 HK) specifically. 


Citigroup - Impairment Costs Far Higher than Any Recent Quarter & Net Interest Income near Halting

<ul>
<li>HSBC holds 19% of BoCom and still carries it with a value of USD23.3bn despite the stock market valuation putting it closer to USD8.1bn on YE22 figures. </li>
<li>The bank cites its Value In Use testing as the justifiable reason for this gap, and this testing will include major assumptions like discount rates and long term growth rates.</li>
<li>Goodwill and other intangible charges were USD10.6bn in FY08, USD3.4bn in FY16, and USD7.4bn in FY19 for HSBC. </li>
</ul>


HSBC holds 19% of BoCom and still carries it with a value of USD23.3bn despite the stock market valuation putting it closer to USD8.1bn on YE22 figures. 
The bank cites its Value In Use testing as the justifiable reason for this gap, and this testing will include major assumptions like discount rates and long term growth rates.
Goodwill and other intangible charges were USD10.6bn in FY08, USD3.4bn in FY16, and USD7.4bn in FY19 for HSBC. 


HSBC - Gap of USD15bn on Carrying Value Vs Fair Value of BoCom, as China Economy Weakens More

Specialist in Indian Banking and Economic Research

Hemindra Hazari

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/citigroup-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:279:1" rel="noopener">Citigroup Inc (C US)</a>’s decision to <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/investor/data/qer121.pdf?ieNocache=351" target="_blank" rel="noopener">withdraw</a>  from consumer banking in 13 geographies, including India, and focus instead on corporate/institutional banking, is a lesson in missed opportunities, at least in the case of India. Citi India was the pioneer in consumer banking, in products such as mortgages and credit cards, but it flourished when there were only government banks. The post-1991 entry of the new private banks in India which concentrated on the retail and corporate customers of foreign banks, and the post-Lehman crisis in 2008, heralded the decline of foreign banks in India. The present market capitalisation of the new private banks, and their significant footfall in retail banking in India, highlight the missed opportunity by foreign banks like Citi. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provided the foreign banks an opportunity from <a href="https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/PressRelease/PDFs/IEPR936SC1113.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2013</a>  to set up Indian subsidiaries which could unfetter their network shackles and expand their branches, which is necessary for consumer banking, but the foreign banks preferred not to get tied down by the other regulatory and social commitments. Instead they focused on hiring direct sales agents to grow their consumer book. Although Citi developed a premium retail clientele franchise, the lack of a broader retail network and intense competition impeded their growth in retail. They preferred to remain focused on the corporate portfolio where, using their global balance sheet, creating structured products and handling treasury and foreign exchange transactions, they managed a lucrative business. Citi’s 5% market share in credit cards remains the jewel in its retail consumer franchise in India, and its monthly credit card spends per customer are at the top of the league, and close to HDFC Bank. Many players are eyeing Citibank’s market share in credit cards and it remains to be seen whether Citi offloads it on a standalone basis, or sells it with its other retail franchise in India, or sells all 13 geographies to a global player.

Citigroup Inc (C US)’s decision to withdraw  from consumer banking in 13 geographies, including India, and focus instead on corporate/institutional banking, is a lesson in missed opportunities, at least in the case of India. Citi India was the pioneer in consumer banking, in products such as mortgages and credit cards, but it flourished when there were only government banks. The post-1991 entry of the new private banks in India which concentrated on the retail and corporate customers of foreign banks, and the post-Lehman crisis in 2008, heralded the decline of foreign banks in India. The present market capitalisation of the new private banks, and their significant footfall in retail banking in India, highlight the missed opportunity by foreign banks like Citi. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provided the foreign banks an opportunity from 2013  to set up Indian subsidiaries which could unfetter their network shackles and expand their branches, which is necessary for consumer banking, but the foreign banks preferred not to get tied down by the other regulatory and social commitments. Instead they focused on hiring direct sales agents to grow their consumer book. Although Citi developed a premium retail clientele franchise, the lack of a broader retail network and intense competition impeded their growth in retail. They preferred to remain focused on the corporate portfolio where, using their global balance sheet, creating structured products and handling treasury and foreign exchange transactions, they managed a lucrative business. Citi’s 5% market share in credit cards remains the jewel in its retail consumer franchise in India, and its monthly credit card spends per customer are at the top of the league, and close to HDFC Bank. Many players are eyeing Citibank’s market share in credit cards and it remains to be seen whether Citi offloads it on a standalone basis, or sells it with its other retail franchise in India, or sells all 13 geographies to a global player.   

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The risk for US small banks is clear with the major charge taken by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-york-community-bancorp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1193:1" rel="noopener">New York Community Bank (NYCB US)</a> for its CRE exposure</li>
<li>Small banks in the US, those outside the largest 25 by assets, have 45% of their loans in CRE which equates to 2.9x shareholders' equity </li>
<li>The reality is that NYCB's credit costs are now far higher than in the recessionary period of the early 1990s, showing what some banks can face in coming quarters</li>
</ul>


The risk for US small banks is clear with the major charge taken by New York Community Bank (NYCB US) for its CRE exposure
Small banks in the US, those outside the largest 25 by assets, have 45% of their loans in CRE which equates to 2.9x shareholders' equity 
The reality is that NYCB's credit costs are now far higher than in the recessionary period of the early 1990s, showing what some banks can face in coming quarters


US Banks - NYCB Credit Costs Are Much Higher than in the Early 1990s

<ul>
<li>Weekly balance sheets give a view of underlying credit conditions in the US and they are not positive. Lending growth continues to decelerate and could reach negative growth soon. </li>
<li>Cash balances are rising and this suggests that US large banks are not comfortable with risk and also seeing less opportunities. Cash/loans ratio rising fastest in most recent week. </li>
<li>Large time deposits cost the most, and their growth rate is now 109% YoY in the most recent week, rising more than loans in each of the past 3 weeks.</li>
</ul>


Weekly balance sheets give a view of underlying credit conditions in the US and they are not positive. Lending growth continues to decelerate and could reach negative growth soon. 
Cash balances are rising and this suggests that US large banks are not comfortable with risk and also seeing less opportunities. Cash/loans ratio rising fastest in most recent week. 
Large time deposits cost the most, and their growth rate is now 109% YoY in the most recent week, rising more than loans in each of the past 3 weeks.


US Large Banks - Weekly Balance Sheets: Decelerating Loans, Rising Cash, Big Time Deposits +109% YoY

United States

Citigroup Inc. is a diversified financial services holding company that provides a broad range of financial services to consumer and corporate customers. The Company services include investment banking, retail brokerage, corporate banking, and cash management products and services. Citigroup serves customers globally.

Citigroup Inc (C US)

Citigroup - Impairment Costs Far Higher than Any Recent Quarter & Net Interest Income near Halting

Citigroup is now seeing its impairment costs far higher than any recent quarter, and much of this is from unfunded commitments. Its net interest...

Daniel Tabbush

HSBC - Gap of USD15bn on Carrying Value Vs Fair Value of BoCom, as China Economy Weakens More

HSBC still carries its 19% investment in BoCom at a very high value compared with the market value and with a far weaker China outlook, we are not...

Daniel Tabbush

While Citi Slept

Citi's decision to withdraw from consumer banking in 13 geographies, including India, and focus on corp./institutional banking, is a lesson in...

Hemindra Hazari

US Banks - NYCB Credit Costs Are Much Higher than in the Early 1990s

US CRE loan risk is clearest now with the NYCB charge taken in 4Q23, putting its credit costs now well higher than the recessionary period in...

Daniel Tabbush

US Large Banks - Weekly Balance Sheets: Decelerating Loans, Rising Cash, Big Time Deposits +109% YoY

US large banks are seeing loan growth decelerating, cash rising, large time deposits up 109% YoY in most recent week. Weekly B/S data suggests net...

Daniel Tabbush