Such measures, which rarely provide for capital increases or new business plans, must be targeted at firms actually capable of overcoming the crisis and not be merely a way for banks to put off booking losses. Small banks have provided support to the economy, including during the recession. They have expanded their business both outside their territory and with large customers.
They must now make their governance arrangements, organizational structures and credit risk control systems adequate to their larger shares of intermediation. The cost and availability of the funds that banks can raise on the markets have been affected by the pressures on sovereign debts.