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Effect of COVID-19 on non-performing loans in China

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  • Kryzanowski, Lawrence
  • Liu, Jinjing
  • Zhang, Jie

Abstract

We examine the resilience of Chinese banks during the COVID-19 pandemic by investigating non-performing loan (NPL) ratios. We find that despite the reduction in the growth rate of total bank lending, bank NPL ratios significantly increase during the COVID-19 crisis. Banks with high-quality capital are more effective in controlling their NPL ratios during the Crisis. Big Five banks, state-owned banks and domestic banks have lower NPL ratios than their counterparts during the Crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Kryzanowski, Lawrence & Liu, Jinjing & Zhang, Jie, 2023. "Effect of COVID-19 on non-performing loans in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:52:y:2023:i:c:s1544612322005499
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2022.103372
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    Cited by:

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    3. Mehmet Selman Colak & Yavuz Kilic & Huseyin Ozturk & Mehmet Emre Samci, 2024. "An Application to Model Uncertainty in Modelling Non-Performing Loans," CBT Research Notes in Economics 2404, Research and Monetary Policy Department, Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey.
    4. Anani, Makafui & Elwasify, Eman Ibrahem, 2023. "Regulatory capital management and available-for-sale securities: Evidence from the Covid-19 pandemic," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PA).
    5. Polina Popova, 2024. "COVID-19, Corporate Non-performing Loans, and Corporate Lending Dynamics: Evidence from Russian Regions," HSE Working papers WP BRP 93/FE/2024, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    6. Tran, Dung Viet & Nguyen, Thanh Cong & Hoang, Huy Viet, 2024. "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on bank funding costs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PB).
    7. Zhang, Xizhi & Wu, Zixi & Xian, Chenxu & Zhang, Yanjuan, 2025. "Short-term cross-border capital flows and corporate financialization," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    8. Ananya Bhatia & Jagdeep Kumar, 2025. "Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Financial Performance of Public and Private Banks in India," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 23(2), pages 601-620, June.
    9. Olmas ISAKOV, 2024. "Factors Affecting Non-Performing Loans: Empirical Evidence from Commercial Banks in Uzbekistan," Journal of Economics and Financial Analysis, Tripal Publishing House, vol. 8(2), pages 1-21.
    10. Sakila Zabin & Manik Hossain & Ayrin Sultana, 2024. "Impact of Non-Performing Loans on Bank Profitability: A Study of Rupali Bank PLC, Bangladesh," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 42(1), pages 159-174.
    11. Renata Karkowska & Zbigniew Korzeb & Anna Matysek & Paweł Niedziółka, 2025. "Governance, business model and size as drivers of loan’s portfolio management and provisioning in European banks," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(3), pages 590-609, September.
    12. Ozili, Peterson K, 2025. "Financial stability determinants in Nigeria: role of profitability, capital regulation, financial inclusion, inflation, unemployment and economic growth," MPRA Paper 125792, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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