US banks stand apart as top lenders cancel dividends

Capital savings would equal 3% of end-2019 aggregate total if payouts suspended

European banks are doing it, UK banks are doing it, but so far, the top US banks have yet to cancel dividend payouts. If they do, they could hold on to around $27 billion of earnings to shore up their capital positions.

In recent days, financial watchdogs around the world have urged lenders to suspend dividends while the coronavirus crisis rages. On March 15, the eight systemically important US firms stopped buying back their own shares, but have yet to put the brakes on dividends.

Doing so