摘要：Bank operating statistics for 1980-91 illustrate important differences between agricultural and nonagricultural banks. The agricultural banks, with a higher proportion of agricultural loans, were more profitable overall, while having more securities and fewer loans. Most agricultural banks were small, having assets under $100 million, and were located in the Midwest or South. Agricultural bank numbers declined considerably over the study period, but only at a slightly higher rate than did other banks. Many analysts have expressed concern that financial market deregulation would threaten the survival of small banks. The data presented here, however, indicate that, although there has been significant consolidation, these predominantly small agricultural banks are finding ways to compete, and on several measures they outperform nonagricultural banks.
