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Is Lending Distance Really Changing? Distance Dynamics and Loan Composition in Small Business Lending

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Abstract

Has information technology improved small businesses' access to credit by hardening the information used in loan underwriting and reducing the importance of proximity to lenders? Previous research, pointing to increasing average lending distances, suggests that it has. But this conclusion can obscure differences across loans and lenders. Using over 20 years of Community Reinvestment Act data on small business lending, we find that while average distances have increased substantially, distances at individual banks remain unchanged. Instead, average distance has increased because a small group of lenders specializing in high-volume, small-loan lending nationwide have increased their share of small business lending by 10 percentage points. Our findings imply that small businesses continue to depend on local banks.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert M. Adams & Kenneth P. Brevoort & John C. Driscoll, 2021. "Is Lending Distance Really Changing? Distance Dynamics and Loan Composition in Small Business Lending," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2021-011, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedgfe:2021-11
    DOI: 10.17016/FEDS.2021.011
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    1. Hans Degryse & Steven Ongena, 2005. "Distance, Lending Relationships, and Competition," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 60(1), pages 231-266, February.
    2. Dean F. Amel & Kenneth P. Brevoort, 2005. "The Perceived Size Of Small Business Banking Markets," Journal of Competition Law and Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 1(4), pages 771-784.
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    Cited by:

    1. Manasa Gopal & Philipp Schnabl, 2022. "The Rise of Finance Companies and FinTech Lenders in Small Business Lending," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 35(11), pages 4859-4901.
    2. Prieger, James E., 2023. "Local banking markets and barriers to entrepreneurship in minority and other areas," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Banks; Credit Card; Small Business Lending;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance

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