By use of cointegration analysis, this paper splits bank leverage into a short-and long-run dimension. Regarding the long run, if banks' leverage ratios or related liability shares are stable over time, they form a cointegrating relationship. Thus, cointegration tests indicate whether banks' liability ratios were stable or subject to structural breaks during the financial crisis in 2007 and 2008. By endogenous identification of structural breaks, my analysis tracks the precise channels of banks' leverage adjustments. Regarding the short run, I study how banks adjust to the dynamics of risk proxies from distinct financial markets. Findings on the short run point out that banks' reactions to risks differ considerably across different types of financial markets.JEL codes: C32, F65, G21