Bank Deposit Rate Clustering: Theory and Empirical Evidence

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Finance
Year: 1999
Volume: 54
Issue: 6
Pages: 2185-2214

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Like security prices, retail deposit interest rates cluster around integers and “even” fractions. However, explanations for security price clustering are incompatible with deposit rate clustering. A theory based on the limited recall of retail depositors is proposed. It predicts that banks tend to set rates at integers and that rates are “sticky” at these levels. The propensity for integer rates increases with the level of wholesale interest rates and deposit market concentration. When banks set noninteger rates, rates are more likely to be just above, rather than just below, integers. The paper finds substantial empirical support for the theory's implications.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:jfinan:v:54:y:1999:i:6:p:2185-2214
Journal Field
Finance
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25