Bank Financing for SMEs around the World : Drivers, Obstacles, Business Models, and Lending Practices

Beck, Thorsten ; Demirgü ; ç ; -Kunt, Asli ; Martí ; nez Perí ; a, Marí ; a Soledad

Washington, DC:World Bank

关键词: ACCESS TO CREDIT;    ACCESS TO FINANCE;    ACCESS TO INFORMATION;    BANK CONSOLIDATION;    BANK FINANCING;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-4785
RP-ID  :  WPS4785

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Using data from a survey of 91 banks in45 countries, the authors characterize bank financing tosmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) around the world. Theyfind that banks perceive the SME segment to be highlyprofitable, but perceive macroeconomic instability indeveloping countries and competition in developed countriesas the main obstacles. To serve SMEs banks have set updedicated departments and decentralized the sale of productsto the branches. However, loan approval, risk management,and loan recovery functions remain centralized. Comparedwith large firms, banks are less exposed to smallenterprises, charge them higher interest rates and fees, andexperience more non-performing loans from lending to them.Although there are some differences in SMEs financing acrossgovernment, private, and foreign-owned banks - with thelatter being more likely to engage in arms-length lending -the most significant differences are found between banks indeveloped and developing countries. Banks in developingcountries tend to be less exposed to SMEs, provide a lowershare of investment loans, and charge higher fees andinterest rates. Overall, the evidence suggests that thelending environment is more important than firm size or bankownership type in shaping bank financing to SMEs.