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What do a bank’s legal expenses reveal about its internal controls and operational risk?

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  • McNulty, James E.
  • Akhigbe, Aigbe

Abstract

Excessive (substantially above peer) litigation against a bank is indicative of operational risk because it often suggests failure to maintain a strong system of internal control. We examine the relation between bank performance and weak internal control using legal expense as a proxy. We find that legal expense is a strong determinant of loan losses and stock returns. Bank regulators should require reporting of legal expense on call reports to help identify institutions with weaknesses in internal control. Current reporting creates unnecessary information asymmetries because investors are not well informed about operational risk, leading to mispricing of bank securities.

Suggested Citation

  • McNulty, James E. & Akhigbe, Aigbe, 2017. "What do a bank’s legal expenses reveal about its internal controls and operational risk?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 181-191.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finsta:v:30:y:2017:i:c:p:181-191
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfs.2016.10.001
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    2. Paraskevi Katsiampa & Paul B. McGuinness & Jean-Philippe Serbera & Kun Zhao, 2022. "The financial and prudential performance of Chinese banks and Fintech lenders in the era of digitalization," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1451-1503, May.
    3. Chalmers, Keryn & Hay, David & Khlif, Hichem, 2019. "Internal control in accounting research: A review," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 80-103.
    4. Uddin, Md Hamid & Mollah, Sabur & Islam, Nazrul & Ali, Md Hakim, 2023. "Does digital transformation matter for operational risk exposure?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    5. Clark, Brian & Ebrahim, Alireza, 2022. "Risk shifting and regulatory arbitrage: Evidence from operational risk," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    6. Mohanty, Sunil K. & Akhigbe, Aigbe & Basheikh, Abdulrahman & Khan, Haroon ur Rashid, 2018. "The Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III: Market-based risk implications for global systemically important banks (G-SIBs)," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 47, pages 91-109.

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