Whether these risk exposures had good risk-adjusted return prospects, has often been of secondary importance. Models and warning signs flagged by risk management were often disregarded; high risks were taken even if the probability of success was low and the potential downside was significant.
In traditional retail banking, profits are mainly earned from interest rate margin income from long term customer relationships in a more stable manner. Credit quality assessment and pricing policy lie at the core of the business. –  Also the time horizon differs markedly. In the trading activity the results settled and assessed every single day.