COVID-19 pandemic, but conceded much uncertainty lies ahead — particularly as loan deferrals and government relief efforts launched in the early days of the pandemic draw to a close.The Big Six banks, which revealed their third-quarter earnings this week, said they were encouraged by consumer spending patterns creeping towards pre-pandemic levels and fewer Canadians seeking loan relief, but they continued to set aside hefty cash reserves to protect themselves from potential credit losses.“The last thing we want to signal is hubris or arrogance in this kind of environment,” Louis Vachon, National Bank of Canada’s chief executive, told analysts on Wednesday.“We called it a very good quarter, but it’s tough to be ecstatic in an environment.