Economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis may be looking better than expected, but as the rubber hits the road in March the false economy of deferrals and stimulus will make way for new business activity and policies.

As we emerge from an unprecedented year when banks acted as the nation’s financial shock absorbers to help limit business casualties and economic fallout, the conversation is being reset. Focus now is how the banking sector can act as a springboard to drive the recovery from the health and economic crisis and bring the economy back to growth.