Publications

27 Oct 2009
First Look

First Look: October 27

crossed with small financial incentives (ranging from U.S. $3 to $14) to open bank savings accounts. We find that the financial literacy program has no effect on the likelihood of opening a bank savings... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

15 Sep 2014
Research & Ideas

Are the Most Talented Employees the Highest Paid? Yes—If They’re Bankers

between measurable talent and its impact on wages. In part, Vallée and Célérier wanted to study talent to challenge the idea that bankers are paid according to how hard they work. "That's silly," says... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Banking

January 2010 (Revised March 2011)
Case

Ben Bernanke: Person of the Year?

By: Lakshmi Iyer and Matthew C. Weinzierl

In response to the economic and financial crisis of 2008–2009, the Federal Reserve greatly expanded the scale and scope of its activities. Though lauded by many experts for its actions, the Fed and its chairman, Ben Bernanke, faced harsh criticism from some public... View Details

Keywords: Financial Crisis; Central Banking; Governance Controls; Policy; Crisis Management; Power and Influence; Public Administration Industry; United States

September 1999 (Revised April 2001)
Case

Credit Suisse (A) (Abridged)

By: W. Earl Sasser and William E. Fulmer

Credit Suisse is looking for ways to differentiate itself from current and likely competitors. After two years of restructuring, the bank's leadership wants profitable growth. It has decided to emphasize customer service. View Details

Keywords: Restructuring; Competitive Advantage; Customer Satisfaction; Banks and Banking; Growth and Development Strategy; Banking Industry; Banking Industry

Find at Harvard

November 2006
Case

Selling Biovail Short

By: Malcolm P. Baker, Chris Lombardi and Aldo Sesia

Hedge fund SAC Capital and analysts from Gradient Analytics and Banc of America face charges of stock price manipulation from Biovail, a Canadian pharmaceutical company. Gradient and BofA produced negative reports on Biovail's earnings quality. At the same time, SAC... View Details

Keywords: Stock Shares; Investment Banking; Asset Pricing; Financial Strategy; Crime and Corruption; Pharmaceutical Industry; Financial Services Industry; Canada

October 2022
Supplement

Beam Dental (B)

By: Rembrand Koning and Alicia Dadlani

In May 2016, venture-backed Beam Dental was on the brink of financial collapse. Cofounder and CEO Alex Frommeyer weighed the unattractive terms of a bridge loan offered by Beam’s largest investor. Frommeyer needed to decide whether to accept the terms or concede defeat... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Business Strategy; Entrepreneurship; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Financing and Loans; Insurance Industry; United States; Kentucky; Ohio

07 Dec 2010
First Look

First Look: Dec. 7

(EV) reporting by firms with life insurance operations to assess the impact of unregulated financial reporting on transparency and to examine the institutional characteristics that promote unregulated... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

23 Dec 2008
First Look

First Look: December 23, 2008

China Harvard Business School Case 209-021 The Chubb Corporation, headquartered in the U.S., was the holding company for a number of property and casualty insurance companies which operated in 29 countries.... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

June 1996 (Revised July 1997)
Case

Hostile Bid for Red October, The

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Alan Bigman

Manatep Bank, a Russian investment bank, has just announced the country's first hostile tender offer for Red October, a confectionery company located in Moscow. As the chief financial officer of the target company, Yuri Yegorov must decide how to respond, how much his... View Details

Keywords: Capital Markets; Cash; Governance Controls; Financial Condition; Investment Banking; Financial Markets; Trade; Valuation; Financial Management; Food and Beverage Industry; Moscow

March 2023 (Revised May 2023)
Case

Tribal Councils Investment Group of Manitoba Ltd.

By: David L. Ager

In the Fall of 2014, Heather Berthelette, the recently appointed COO of Tribal Councils Investment Group of Manitoba Ltd. (TCIG), was preparing a recommendation to the Board of Directors about whether to dissolve the company and return any remaining funds to the seven... View Details

Keywords: Indigenous Communities; Corporate Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; Social Enterprise; Economic Growth; Investment Banking; Canada

01 Jun 2009
Lessons from the Classroom

The Challenges of Investing in Science-Based Innovation

Education program called Managing Breakthroughs—From Science to Enterprise. "Wall Street has conventional and not always accurate measures of a company's value." Take Bank of America, which just... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Banking; Banking; Banking

November–December 1987
Article

Commercial Banks: Taking Shape for Turbulent Times

By: D. B. Crane and R. G. Eccles

Keywords: Banks and Banking; Banking Industry

Find at Harvard

April 2008
Teaching Note

Central Bank: The ChexSystemsSM QualiFile® Decision (TN)

By: Dennis Campbell and Francisco de Asis Martinez-Jerez

Teaching Note for [208029]. View Details

Keywords: Banks and Banking; Banking Industry

April 2008 (Revised October 2008)
Supplement

TD Canada Trust (C): Translating the Service Model to Service Operations

By: Dennis Campbell and Brent Kazan

Keywords: Banks and Banking; Business Model; Service Operations; Banking Industry; Canada

March 2006
Case

Wells Fargo Convertible Bonds

By: Malcolm P. Baker and Elizabeth Kind

Howard Atkins, the chief financial officer of Wells Fargo, is considering issuing $3 billion in convertible debt. With an investment-grade credit rating, Wells Fargo is not the typical issuer of convertible securities, but the market conditions in 2003 are unusual.... View Details

Keywords: Capital Structure; Financial Institutions; Banks and Banking; Debt Securities; Financial Management; Financial Strategy; Strategy; Banking Industry

02 Jul 2015
Op-Ed

The Future of the Greek Economy

pay wages? Why pay loans? With what? What does a "no" mean? What does a "yes" guarantee? These weeks have been a nightmare, with no medium of exchange and banks facing growing lines of... View Details

Keywords: by Laura Alfaro, Dante Roscini & George Serafeim; Banking

fall 1994
Article

Commentaries on Banc One's Hedging Strategy

By: B. C. Esty and P. Tufano

Keywords: Strategy; Banks and Banking; Banking Industry