Beyond the short term the prudent assessment of assets is beneficial to the financing of customers, especially if coupled with action by the banks to increase their ability to resist and  BIS central bankers’ speeches  5  react to external shocks.
Efficient production processes and attention to strategic sectors contribute to the growth of credit business and in this way to the support of the economy. In recent years Italian banks have increased their capital resources considerably, especially core tier 1 capital. Since 2007 the core tier 1 ratio of the banking system has risen from 7.1 to 10.4 per cent.