They have historically had higher profitability, as measured by the return on average assets, than large regional and money center banks and, on an individual-institution basis, have enjoyed relatively strong asset and deposit growth. A study recently published in the Federal Reserve Bulletin examined growth rates during the past fifteen years for large and small banks.
To be sure, the rate of saving from current income has declined a little over the past couple of years, which is what is expected at a time of very low interest rates and positive wealth effects resulting from rising asset values. But it remains significantly higher than it was a decade ago.