Bank Involvement with SMEs: Beyond Relationship Lending

75 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Augusto de la Torre

Augusto de la Torre

UDLA, Centro de Investigaciones Económicas; Columbia University, SIPA

Maria Soledad Martinez Peria

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Sergio L. Schmukler

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 1, 2008

Abstract

The conventional wisdom in academic and policy circles argues that, while large and foreign banks are generally not interested in serving SMEs, small and niche banks have an advantage in doing so because they can overcome SME opaqueness through relationship lending. This paper shows that there is a gap between this view and what banks actually do. Banks perceive SMEs as a core and strategic business and seem well positioned to expand their links with SMEs. The recent intensification of bank involvement with SMEs in various emerging markets documented in this paper is neither led by small or niche banks nor highly dependent on relationship lending. Rather, all types of banks are catering to SMEs and larger, multiple-service banks have in fact a comparative advantage in offering a wide range of products and services on a large scale, through the use of new technologies, business models, and risk management systems.

Keywords: Banks & Banking Reform, Access to Finance, Financial Intermediation, Debt Markets

Suggested Citation

de la Torre, Augusto and Martinez Peria, Maria Soledad and Schmukler, Sergio, Bank Involvement with SMEs: Beyond Relationship Lending (June 1, 2008). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 4649, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1149602

Augusto De la Torre (Contact Author)

UDLA, Centro de Investigaciones Económicas ( email )

De los Granados y De los Colimes, Esquina
Quito, Pichincha
Ecuador

Columbia University, SIPA ( email )

420 West 118th Street
New York, NY
United States

Maria Soledad Martinez Peria

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20431
United States

Sergio Schmukler

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG) ( email )

1818 H. Street, N.W.
MSN MC 3-301
Washington, DC 20433
United States
202-458-4167 (Phone)
202-522-3518 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/s/sergio-schmukler

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