European banks are trying stronger and extra engaging than their U.S. counterparts on many metrics, in accordance with officers and analysts talking on the Institute of Worldwide Finance convention in Brussels this week, who add that regulation and collaboration continues to be wanted to spice up progress within the area.

The largest financial institution within the U.S. is price what the highest 9 or 10 European banks are because of weaker progress and fewer profitability because the 2008 monetary disaster, Ana Botín, government chair of Spain’s Santander Group, informed CNBC on the occasion on Tuesday.

Nonetheless, the highest European banks have higher ranges of credit score default swaps, a type of insurance coverage for a corporation’s bondholders in opposition to default, “which implies that mounted revenue traders assume the chance of our debt is decrease than one of the best banks within the U.S.,” Botín added.

The latest volatility that led to the sale of Credit score Suisse to UBS was not proof of a systemic banking disaster, she mentioned, however somewhat mismanagement and liquidity points at particular banks.

“We’re in a really sturdy place by way of capital, liquidity supervision, safety of our clients’ knowledge. However we additionally want a bit extra capability to help progress so we will be extra worthwhile,” she mentioned.

“What we’d like is a elementary rethink of what do we would like banks to be within the new financial system in a world that wants progress. And discovering that steadiness is admittedly vital between being prudent, we’re not saying that we must always return on that, but in addition having the ability to finance progress,” Botín continued, including this is able to be a key theme on the IIF’s convention.

European banks are “safer, stronger, cheaper” than U.S. ones mentioned Davide Serra, chief government officer of Algebris Investments, who confused the upper liquidity ratio of European banks — round 160% — versus 120% within the U.S.

“In a approach, banks within the U.S. have been optimizing their deposit base extra. And now with the Fed [Federal Reserve] preserving greater rates of interest, folks simply wish to receives a commission on their deposits. So that they have choices with cash markets, or with transferring money round,” he mentioned.

“On the identical time within the U.S., persons are being reminded that, you recognize, not all banks are born equal. And simply because you’ve got an indication referred to as financial institution, you are not as protected, as you recognize, JPMorgan, or Morgan Stanley.”

That can result in additional consolidation within the U.S., he mentioned, following the sequence of regional financial institution collapses this 12 months, with banks thought-about protected benefitting.

“General, I believe the chance is obvious. For the sturdy banks in Europe and within the U.S., with Europe a lot, far more engaging, there was zero deposit outflow, zero concern … And therefore, to be sincere, after 10 years of restructuring, Europe I believe is the place to be.”

José Manuel Campa, chair of the European Banking Authority, famous low valuations of European banks, however mentioned these had been enhancing amid wider sector turmoil and as greater rates of interest increase their returns.

“I believe that as rates of interest rise, if [European banks] proceed to indicate that their enterprise mannequin is sustainable, we must always see enhancements over the medium time period on these valuations as properly,” he mentioned.

For Campa, any additional consolidation in European banking have to be about creating higher banks and “go alongside to fostering a extra built-in single market within the European Union so we are able to have cross-border banking and extra environment friendly companies to European clients.”

The EU has a long-delayed plan to additional develop its banking union, a set of legal guidelines launched in 2014 to strengthen banks, to create a typical system in deposit insurance coverage and different areas. Talks are additionally ongoing over a Capital Markets Union.

Each Botín and Campa mentioned pushing these difficult negotiations ahead was vital for the way forward for the sector, with Botín saying they might assist increase European progress.

“There may be one factor that we may do in Europe to have greater progress, which is securitization,” she mentioned.

Creating new guidelines on securitization, the creation of tradeable securities from a gaggle of property — which stays a contested topic following the subprime mortgage disaster — is vital to the EU’s proposed Capital Markets Union.

“The securitization market in Europe is 6% the scale of the American market. Banks are not one of the best holders of credit score,” Botín mentioned.

“In lots of instances we are able to originate, we will help our clients elevate that capital after which place it with different funds and different events which can be higher holders. So there are a variety of issues round Capital Markets Union, for instance, that would transfer quicker and assist greater progress,” Botín mentioned.