JPMorgan, Citi, Bank of America tell staff not to poach clients from stressed banks

NEW YORK - As a series of US lenders were besieged by customers yanking out their money in March, banking behemoths JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup and Bank of America warned employees: Do not make it worse.

JPMorgan, the nation’s largest bank, told all employees in a memo dated March 13 that they “should never give the appearance of exploiting a situation of stress or uncertainty”.

“We do not make disparaging comments regarding competitors,” it said.

According to extracts seen by Reuters, the leaders of the bank’s consumer and business banking unit told branch employees on the same day: “We should refrain from soliciting client business from an institution in stress.”

Citigroup has also given similar guidance to its business heads, a source familiar with the matter said. The guidance includes not speculating about other banks or market rumours.

The lender sent a memo reminding bank staff that, in discussions with prospective customers, they should not discuss the standing and condition of other firms, the source said.

Top executives at Bank of America were also briefed that their employees should not be going after the customers of distressed firms or doing anything to exacerbate the situation, a source familiar with the matter said.

The bank runs that

toppled Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank,

the second- and third-largest lenders to fail in US history, prompted customers to move about half a trillion dollars of deposits from the “most vulnerable” US banks to bigger institutions in March, JPMorgan analysts led by Mr Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote in a note on Wednesday.

As SVB teetered, billions of dollars in deposits poured into the nation’s banking giants, which are required by regulators to hold more capital to withstand shocks.

While lenders regularly compete for customers, the loss of confidence that shook the banking system in the last two weeks sparked concerns about contagion that could lead to a broader panic.

The turmoil prompted unprecedented moves by regulators to guarantee the deposits of SVB and Signature.

US President Joe Biden, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Citigroup chief executive Jane Fraser have all made statements in recent days to reassure the public that the US banking system is safe.

“We all have a vested interest in keeping America’s financial system strong and thriving,” said a JPMorgan spokesman. “It’s the envy of the world, with thousands of institutions of all sizes serving every corner of the country.” REUTERS