"Sorry, We're Closed" Bank Branch Closures, Loan Pricing, and Information Asymmetries. (17th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bonfim, Diana; Nogueira, Gil; Ongena, Steven
• Is Part Of: Review of finance. Volume 25:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 1211
• Page End: 1259
• Publication Date: 2020-11-17
• Subjects: D22 -- D40 -- F36 -- G21; Bank branch closures -- Loan pricing -- Information asymmetries; Finance -- Europe -- Periodicals; Financiën; Finance; Periodicals; 332.09405
• DOI: 10.1093/rof/rfaa036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1572-3097

Abstract

Abstract: We study local loan conditions when banks close branches. In places where branch closures do not take place, firms that purposely switch banks receive a sixty-three basis points ( bps) discount. However, after the closure of nearby branches of their credit- granting banks, firms that locally and hurriedly transfer to other banks receive no such discount. Yet, the loan default rate for the latter (more expensive) transfer loans is on average a full percentage point lower than that for the former (cheaper) switching loans. This suggests that transfer firms are of "better" quality than switching firms. In sum, even if local markets remain competitive, when banks close branches, firms lose.