TITLE: Is the Neumann series a compact operator?
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: Let $X$ be an infinite dimensional Banach space and $A:X\to X$ be a compact operator with the operator norm $\|A\|<1$. Then $I-A$ is invertible and the Neumann series 
$$
S_N = \sum_{k=0}^N A^k
$$
converges in the operator norm to $(I-A)^{-1}$:
$$
\|S_N-(I-A)^{-1}\| \to 0, \ \text{ as } \ N\to \infty
$$
Now I think all $S_N$ are compact operators hence the limit $(I-A)^{-1}$ is also compact. However this cannot be the case because then
$$
I=(I-A)(I-A)^{-1}
$$
would be compact, which is not possible for infinite dimension $X$. What is wrong in my argument?

REPLY [2 votes]: As pointed out by Daniel Fischer, it is true that for each $n\geqslant 1$, $A^n$ is compact hence so is $\sum_{n=1}^NA^n$. Since a norm-limit of compact operators is compact and $\sum_{n=1}^\infty\lVert A^n\rVert$ is convergent, we obtain that $\color{red}{A}(I-A)^{-1}$ is compact. 
But $(I-A)^{-1}$ is not compact, otherwise so would be $A(I-A)^{-1}-(I-A)^{-1}=-I$.