The price of liquidity: The effects of market conditions and bank characteristics

We study the prices that individual banks pay for liquidity (captured by borrowing rates in repos with the central bank and benchmarked by the overnight index swap) as a function of market conditions and bank characteristics. These prices depend in particular on the distribution of liquidity across banks, which is calculated over time using individual bank-level data on reserve requirements and actual holdings. Banks pay more for liquidity when positions are more imbalanced across banks, consistent with the existence of short squeezing. We also show that small banks pay more for liquidity and are more vulnerable to squeezes. Healthier banks pay less but, contrary to what one might expect, banks in formal liquidity networks do not. State guarantees reduce the price of liquidity but do not protect against squeezes.

► We study the prices individual banks pay for liquidity.
► Prices are captured by repo rates and benchmarked by the overnight index swap.
► These prices are higher when liquidity is distributed more unevenly across banks.
► Larger and healthier banks pay less, but banks in formal liquidity networks do not.
► State guarantees reduce the price of liquidity but do not protect against squeezes.