A bank can safely lend only an amount equal to its excess reserves because

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Excess reserves are the reserves held by a bank that exceed the required reserves. When a bank lends out its excess reserves, the borrower receives the loan amount in their account and may spend that money. As a result, the bank would lose its excess reserves since the borrower is likely to deposit the funds in another bank, and this money will become part of the required reserves of that bank. Therefore, a bank can safely lend only an amount equal to its excess reserves without risking a shortage of reserves.

A Bank Can Safely Lend Only an Amount Equal to Its