The Effects of Banking Mergers on Loan Contracts

Author: Sapienza, Paola¹

Source: The Journal of Finance, Volume 57, Number 1, February 2002 , pp. 329-367(39)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

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Abstract:

This paper studies the effects of banking mergers on individual business borrowers. Using information on individual loan contracts between banks and companies, I analyze the effect of banking consolidation on banks' credit policies. I find that in-market mergers benefit borrowers if these mergers involve the acquisition of banks with small market shares. Interest rates charged by the consolidated banks decrease, but as the local market share of the acquired bank increases, the efficiency effect is offset by market power. Mergers have different distributional effects across borrowers. When banks become larger, they reduce the supply of loans to small borrowers.

Document Type: Original article

DOI: 10.1111/1540-6261.00424

Affiliations: 1: Northwestern University and CEPR

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