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1 – 10 of over 2000The purpose of the study is to examine the use of alternative information in bank lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Understanding alternative information and its use…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to examine the use of alternative information in bank lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Understanding alternative information and its use in bank lending to SMEs is important because it has become a growing part of the future of SME finance. The results and findings of my study not only enrich the finance literature but, more importantly, also address the use of Fintech in the risk management of SME lending, a new and complex problem that is specific to both the information technology and finance field.
Design/methodology/approach
To answer the research question, the author used a case study approach that relies upon qualitative data and analysis. By iterating between the existing literature, theoretical pieces and empirical findings, the author explain and interpret in detail how the use of alternative information impacts loan outcomes and develop insights to guide future research.
Findings
The case is outlined in two time periods including the prepartnership period and the postpartnership period. It highlights the establishment of a partnership between LoanBank and FintechInc (pseudonym), aimed at SME-focused Fintech lending. The findings underscore how the partnership has enabled a mutually beneficial situation where LoanBank and FintechInc leverage each other’s strengths to provide efficient and effective lending services. The adoption of alternative information in the risk management Fintech (RMF) platform of FintechInc has transformed LoanBank’s lending processes, showcasing how technological innovations can enhance SME lending practices.
Originality/value
The study’s originality mainly lies in the three detailed insights regarding alternative information’s impact on SME lending: information, platform properties and financial inclusion. The information part demonstrates that RMF platforms expand the information used for lending decisions, shifting from traditional hard and soft data to incorporating various alternative information sources. The platform properties part suggests that location, openness and technology also play a pivotal role in shaping lending outcomes. Finally, the financial inclusion part proposes that the use of alternative information has the potential to improve financial inclusion and offer better credit terms to previously underserved borrowers.
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Constantin Bratianu, Alexeis Garcia-Perez, Francesca Dal Mas and Denise Bedford
The purpose of this study is to examine the transformation expectations and well-being of lenders as a consequence of participation in peer-to-peer (p2p) lending in India. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the transformation expectations and well-being of lenders as a consequence of participation in peer-to-peer (p2p) lending in India. The study tested the influence of transformation expectations on well-being, social connectedness on transformation expectations and the influence of customer participation on financial empowerment of borrowers.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted to collect data from 434 customers in India. Structural equation modelling procedure was performed to test the hypothesized relationships.
Findings
The findings show that relational transformation expectations leads to well-being, while social connectedness influences self and relational transformation expectations. Further, customer participation has a positive influence on financial empowerment of borrowers.
Practical implications
Managers may use these findings to create suitable marketing strategies for increasing customer participation in p2p lending.
Originality/value
Previous studies on transformative services have shown that well-being can be achieved through participation in services that are transformative by design, while this study has established that lender participation in peer-to-peer lending can result in relational transformation expectations and lead to well-being. Also, the current study has shown that social connectedness is an antecedent of transformation expectations.
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Zifeng Wang, Dezhu Ye and Tao Liang
This paper empirically investigates the relationship between financial availability and crime by measuring it across five dimensions: banking, securities, insurance, private…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper empirically investigates the relationship between financial availability and crime by measuring it across five dimensions: banking, securities, insurance, private lending and digital inclusive finance.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilizes 2011–2017 data from prefecture-level cities as a representative sample. Moreover, these findings remain robust after addressing endogeneity through the use of the historical distance between cities and the railroad network as an instrumental variable.
Findings
The findings demonstrate a significant negative relationship between financial accessibility and crime rates. Heterogeneity exists in the inhibitory effect of different types of financial accessibility on crime, with banking finance exhibiting a stronger inhibitory effect compared to private lending. Areas affected by natural disasters and infectious diseases exhibit a stronger inhibitory effect of financial accessibility on crime rates, particularly in areas with severe shocks of natural disasters and epidemics. This effect is attributed to the low financing threshold and easy access to private lending, which plays a more effective role than bank finance when people face extreme risks.
Practical implications
There should be stricter regulations imposed on private lending markets and the introduction of more rational legislation aimed at guiding a healthy development within these markets; such measures serve as effective and complementary means for individuals from all walks of life to access credit financing.
Social implications
The regulation of financial resources by the government should always prioritize ensuring the accessibility of financial policies to cater to the needs of the majority population.
Originality/value
This study is for the first time in an emerging economy context, the causal relationship between financial accessibility and crime. To provide a more comprehensive measure of financial accessibility in a region, this paper proposes a five-dimensional methodology.
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Kellen Murungi, Abdul Latif Alhassan and Bomikazi Zeka
The agricultural sector remains the backbone of several emerging economies, including Kenya, where it contributes 34% to its gross domestic product (GDP). However, access to…
Abstract
Purpose
The agricultural sector remains the backbone of several emerging economies, including Kenya, where it contributes 34% to its gross domestic product (GDP). However, access to financing for agricultural activities appears to be very low compared to developed economies. Following this, governments in a number of countries have sought to introduce banking sector regulations to facilitate increased funding to the agricultural sector. Taking motivation of the interest rate capping regulations by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in 2016, this paper examined the effect of these interest rate ceiling regulations on agri-lending in Kenya.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper employs random effects technique to estimate a panel data of 26 commercial banks in Kenya from 2014 to 2018 using the ratio of loans to agricultural sector to gross loans and the natural logarithm of loans to agricultural sector as proxies for agri-lending. Bank size, equity, asset quality, liquidity, revenue concentration and bank concentration are employed as control variables.
Findings
The results of the panel regression estimations show that the introduction of the interest cap resulted in increases in the proportion and growth in agri-lending compared with the pre-interest cap period. In addition, large banks and highly capitalised banks were found to be associated with lower agri-lending, with differences in the effects across pre-cap and post-cap periods.
Practical implications
From a policy perspective, the findings highlight the effectiveness of interest rate capping in meeting this objective and supports the calls for strengthening cooperation between the government and key stakeholders in the financial sector. This will allow for the effective enforcement of policies by the regulatory powers in a manner that guarantees sound and dynamic financial systems, particularly within the agricultural sector.
Originality/value
As far as the authors are aware, this the first paper to examine the effect of the interest rate cap regulation on agri-lending in Kenya.
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Dini Rosdini, Ersa Tri Wahyuni and Prima Yusi Sari
This study aims to explore credit scoring regulations, governance, variables and methods used by peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms in key players of the Association of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore credit scoring regulations, governance, variables and methods used by peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms in key players of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region’s P2P, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Design/methodology/approach
This study explores the P2P Lending characteristics of the three countries using qualitative literature review, interview, focus group discussion and desk research.
Findings
This study concludes that the credit scoring variables used by the countries’ companies are almost the same. Key drivers of the differences are countries’ regulations, management/business core value and credit scoring data processing methods.
Practical implications
Ultimately, this research provides a comprehensive view for investors, businesses and researchers on the topic of ASEAN credit scoring governance and will help them navigate the complexities and improve their awareness on the importance of credit scoring governance in P2P lending companies.
Originality/value
This research provides an in-depth perspective on how P2P lending companies, credit scoring governance and regulations in the biggest three countries in Southeast Asia.
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Dinuja Perera, Parmod Chand and Rajni Mala
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has justified the simplification of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for small- and medium-sized enterprises…
Abstract
Purpose
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has justified the simplification of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in several ways, but no effective justification for this simplification has been made based on the information needs of users. This study aims to provide empirical evidence of the decision usefulness of IFRS for SMEs from a prominent user group of SME financial statements – the banks.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a mixed-method approach. First, a survey was conducted on commercial bank lending officers to assess the usefulness of different disclosure items included in the SME financial statements. Second, semi-structured interviews were conducted with commercial bank lending officers to gain an in-depth insight into the appropriateness and economic consequences of the requirements of IFRS for SMEs on their lending decisions.
Findings
The findings show that commercial bank lending officers did not consider all the disclosure requirements presented to them to be equally important. Hence, to facilitate the actual needs of the users’ decision usefulness, it is imperative that when given the opportunity, users participate in the development of accounting standards.
Originality/value
The findings of this study will be of interest to accounting regulators for evaluating the successful implementation of IFRS for SMEs and planning the next review of IFRS for SMEs. The IASB and SME Implementation Group are presently considering ways to increase user involvement for the next review of IFRS for SMEs, and the findings of this study signify the need for user involvement in the standard setting process.
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This research analyzes borrowers' credit utilization through prepayment behavior in peer-to-peer (P2P) lending. The authors investigate factors influencing the decision to prepay…
Abstract
Purpose
This research analyzes borrowers' credit utilization through prepayment behavior in peer-to-peer (P2P) lending. The authors investigate factors influencing the decision to prepay and assess the role of P2P lending as an alternative source of consumer credits.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use individual loan-level data from the LendingClub, one of the largest P2P platforms in the USA. The authors use a Logit model and a sample selection model estimated by the two-stage Heckman method. The empirical analysis considers borrower-specific and loan-specific characteristics as well as macroeconomic factors.
Findings
The authors present a number of significant findings that can enhance understanding consumers' financing decisions. The authors offer evidence that borrowers are able to take advantage of cheaper loans offered by P2P lending to better manage credit card balance and consolidate debt. The authors find that borrowers tend to prepay P2P loans quickly when the aggregate cost of borrowing is low, suggesting that P2P lending offers an efficient alternative to obtain credit. This is particularly true for creditworthy borrowers that are able to take advantage of competing sources of finance. The authors' results provide evidence that P2P lending can improve consumers' optimal credit utilization.
Originality/value
P2P lending has grown exponentially and has become a significant credit supplier to consumers and small businesses. While the existing literature mostly focuses on default risks, prepayment has received much less attention. This research fills in the gap and investigates borrowers' prepayment behavior in P2P loans and the role of P2P lending as an alternative source of consumer credits.
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Zahid Iqbal, Zia-ur-Rehman Rao and Hassan Ahmad
To improve the loan repayment performance (LRP) of microfinance banks (MFBs) in Pakistan, this study aims to look at the direct impact of multiple borrowing (MB) on LRP and…
Abstract
Purpose
To improve the loan repayment performance (LRP) of microfinance banks (MFBs) in Pakistan, this study aims to look at the direct impact of multiple borrowing (MB) on LRP and client-business performance (CBP), as well as the direct impact of CBP on LRP. The moderating function of pandemic factors in the relationship between MB and CBP, as well as the mediating effect of CBP in the association between MB and LRP, was also investigated in this study.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was used to obtain data from 531 lower-level workers of microfinance institutions (MFIs) for the study. The respondents were chosen using stratified sampling, which divided the target population into four influential groups: lending officers in agriculture, lending officers in businesses, lending officers in gold loans and lending officers in salary loans. In this study, a two-stage structural equation modeling approach was used, including a measurement model (outer model) and a structural model (inner model). The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were investigated using the measurement model (outer model), whereas PLS-SEM bootstrapping was performed to test the hypothesis and find the relationship among different underpinning constructs by using the structural model (inner model).
Findings
The outcomes of this study demonstrate that MB has a direct impact on CBP, and that CBP has a direct impact on LRP. MB, on the contrary, had no direct and significant impact on LRP in this study. The idea that CBP mediates the relationship between MB and LRP, as well as the moderating effect of pandemic factors on the relationship between MB and CBP, is supported by this research.
Originality/value
Until now, the influence of MB on LRP via the mediating role of CBP and the moderating role of a pandemic factor in the setting of Pakistani MFBs has received little attention. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this research also aids MFBs in better understanding MB and its impact on LRP. Furthermore, based on the findings of this study, Pakistani MFIs can enhance their LRP by implementing new lending regulations, particularly with reference to MB and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Fátima Sol Murta and Paulo M. Gama
This paper aims to study the effect of country-level perceptions of corruption on commercial banks’ lending activity over the importance of loans and the quality of loan…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the effect of country-level perceptions of corruption on commercial banks’ lending activity over the importance of loans and the quality of loan portfolios of banks in Europe.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses country-level perceptions of corruption scores from Transparency International, individual bank-specific data from ORBIS and macroeconomic data from the World Bank. The sample is composed of 640 commercial banks in 42 European countries from 2013 to 2019. The authors estimate, by pooled OLS, the relationship between corruption and the importance of loans and the quality of the banks’ loan portfolios. In addition, several robustness tests reinforce the results.
Findings
The results show that corruption negatively impacts the importance of loans in bank assets and positively impacts the proportion of bad loans. In addition, trade openness increases the weight of loans and the weight of nonperforming loans. Bank size, capital and risk also affect bank lending activity. Finally, European Monetary Union (EMU) membership reinforces the negative (positive) effect on loans (bad loans).
Research limitations/implications
The results highlight the importance of fighting corruption. Governments, regulators and banks benefit from pursuing transparency-oriented policies to decrease the perception of corruption and foster economic development.
Originality/value
The literature on the impact of corruption on bank lending activity focuses mainly on high-corruption countries. This paper studies the European case, scarcely investigated in the literature, in the aftermath of two international financial crises and when significant regulatory transformations in banking supervision were instituted in the EMU countries.
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