The ownership structure of banks and laws protecting shareholders affect how much banks are worth. In most countries, banks are controlled by families or the government, not by many shareholders. When the owner with the most control also gets more money from the bank, the bank is worth more. Strong laws protecting shareholders also make banks more valuable. And when the owner with the most control gets more money, it helps make up for weak shareholder protection laws. This shows that who owns a bank is really important for how well it's run.