The Dynamics of Deposit Flightiness and its Impact on Financial Stability
Working Paper 34128
DOI 10.3386/w34128
Issue Date
We document that deposit flightiness varies significantly over time, peaking after Covid-19. Elevated deposit flightiness coincides with QE and low interest rates. We rationalize these trends based on heterogeneity in investors’ convenience value. Investors in the banking system value the convenience benefits of deposits more than outside investors. Following deposit inflows, e.g., due to QE's reserve expansions, the marginal depositor in the banking system becomes less convenience seeking and the risk of panic runs increases. As a result, policy rate hikes are more destabilizing when preceded by QE. Our findings reveal a novel linkage between conventional and unconventional monetary policy.