Noncredit Services
Citigroup recorded approximately $27 billion in noncredit service income in 2017, roughly 60% of its net interest revenue (interest revenue minus interest expense, or the spread in terms of dollar amount). The bank derived a majority of the noncredit service income from commissions and fees described above while the balance came from administration and fiduciary fees. Some of these services include bank accounts, asset management services, payroll processing, merchant services, and underwriting. This includes the revenue taken in from account-related charges such as nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees, overdraft charges, late fees, over-limit fees, wire transfer fees, monthly service charges, and account research fees, among others. For small businesses and larger corporate entities, noncredit services include cash management, payroll processing, merchant transactions, mergers and acquisition (M&A) advisory or other corporate finance services, loan syndication, and insurance underwriting.
What Are Noncredit Services?
The term noncredit services refers to fee-based services provided by financial institutions to their customers that don't involve the extension of credit. Banks and other institutions provide noncredit services to both individual and commercial clients. Some of these services include bank accounts, asset management services, payroll processing, merchant services, and underwriting. Income generated from noncredit services can be a significant source of revenue for banks and can limit the erosion of profitability when net interest margins are squeezed in a declining interest rate environment.
Understanding Noncredit Services
Banks traditionally make money on the net interest rate spread between lending to customers through loans and that credited to depositors. Historically, the basic profitability model of a bank has therefore been to lend to customers at X% and pay them some lower interest rate Y% on deposits held at the bank. The difference between X% and Y% is the spread that brings money to the bottom line.
However, another pillar of profitability has developed for banks, that does not involve using the balance sheet to generate income. Various noncredit services for retail and corporate customers are routinely offered by banks to their customers. For retail customers, such services often include debit card processing, stock trading or brokerage accounts, and asset management. This is, of course, on top of checking, savings, and other accounts banks offer.
Fee income is also derived from noncredit services. This includes the revenue taken in from account-related charges such as nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees, overdraft charges, late fees, over-limit fees, wire transfer fees, monthly service charges, and account research fees, among others.
You may be able to avoid maintenance charges by maintaining a monthly minimum balance in your bank account.
For small businesses and larger corporate entities, noncredit services include cash management, payroll processing, merchant transactions, mergers and acquisition (M&A) advisory or other corporate finance services, loan syndication, and insurance underwriting. These services collectively produce commissions and fees for a bank. In such cases, not a single dollar needs to be loaned out to increase profitability.
Example of Noncredit Services
Citigroup recorded approximately $27 billion in noncredit service income in 2017, roughly 60% of its net interest revenue (interest revenue minus interest expense, or the spread in terms of dollar amount). The bank derived a majority of the noncredit service income from commissions and fees described above while the balance came from administration and fiduciary fees.
The income from noncredit services for the bank has provided a measure of stability to overall earnings during a period of suppressed interest rates as a result of quantitative easing policies by the Federal Reserve Bank. Net interest revenues had declined from around $47 billion in 2015 to about $45 billion in 2017, but contributions from noncredit services more or less held steady.
Related terms:
Asset Management
Asset management is the practice of increasing wealth over time by acquiring, maintaining, and trading investments that can grow in value. read more
Balance Sheet : Formula & Examples
A balance sheet is a financial statement that reports a company's assets, liabilities and shareholder equity at a specific point in time. read more
Bottom Line
The bottom line refers to a company's earnings, profit, net income, or earnings per share (EPS). Learn how companies can improve their bottom line. read more
Cash Management
Cash management is the process of managing cash inflows and outflows. Cash monitoring is needed by both individuals and businesses for financial stability. read more
Checking Account
A checking account is a deposit account held at a financial institution that allows deposits and withdrawals. Checking accounts are very liquid and can be accessed using checks, automated teller machines, and electronic debits, among other methods. read more
Credit
Credit is a contractual agreement in which a borrower receives something of value immediately and agrees to pay for it later, usually with interest. read more
Debit Card
A debit card lets consumers pay for purchases by deducting money from their checking account. Learn how debit cards work, their fees, and pros and cons. read more
Earnings
A company's earnings are its after-tax net income, meaning its profits. Earnings are the main determinant of a public company's share price. read more
Federal Reserve System (FRS)
The Federal Reserve System is the central bank of the United States and provides the nation with a safe, flexible, and stable financial system. read more
Fee Income
Fee income is the revenue produced by a financial institution that does not derive from the interest paid on loans. read more