Community banks that invested more in technology generally reported faster loan and deposit growth in 2020 than did banks with less technology investment. Moreover, the differences in loan and deposit growth associated with technology investment were greater in 2020 than the differences reported prior to the pandemic. Faster loan growth for community banks with greater technology investment largely stemmed from participation in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These community banks, on average, originated a greater share of PPP loans regardless of the loan size, origination date, or borrower distance from the nearest bank branch. Meanwhile, the larger increases in deposit growth of community banks that invested more in technology were due to increases in deposit balances of existing customers rather than from new depositors.
Last Updated: January 1, 2021