Don't blame
Politicians or Central Banks. Of course they must share the blame, but what about Top Management taking their eye off the ball, antiquated and hierarchical business structures, poor control over lending decisions, poor acquisition strategy and execution? Low or negative interest rates are a burden, but no one stops banks from charging interest rates that give them a positive margin - credit cards and small business loans are anything but cheap! And if you cannot use deposits then just charge customers penal interest rates, you owe them nothing, put the blame on thieving Central Banks and their paymasters in Politics!