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Competition in a consumer loan market: Payday loans and overdraft credit

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  • Melzer, Brian T.
  • Morgan, Donald P.

Abstract

Using variation in payday lending restrictions over time and across states, we study competition in the market for small, short-term consumer loans. We find that banks and credit unions reduce overdraft credit limits and prices when payday credit, a possible substitute, is prohibited. These findings suggest that depositories respond to payday loan bans by taking less risk, bouncing checks that they would have otherwise covered. The decline in overdraft prices is surprising when viewed in isolation, but sensible given that depositories incur lower credit losses as they limit overdraft coverage. We find some evidence that credit unions’ overdraft activities are more profitable when payday loans are prohibited, consistent with decreased competition. In addition to characterizing the impact of prohibiting payday lending, a common state policy change in recent years, our findings illuminate competition in the small-dollar loan market by highlighting the importance of non-price adjustments to credit offers.

Suggested Citation

  • Melzer, Brian T. & Morgan, Donald P., 2015. "Competition in a consumer loan market: Payday loans and overdraft credit," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 25-44.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinin:v:24:y:2015:i:1:p:25-44
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfi.2014.07.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert M. Adams, 2017. "Bank Fees, Aftermarkets, and Consumer Behavior," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2017-054, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    2. Louis-Gaëtan Giraudet & Anna Petronevich & Laurent Faucheux, 2021. "Differentiated green loans," Post-Print hal-01890636, HAL.
    3. Julia Fonseca, 2023. "Less Mainstream Credit, More Payday Borrowing? Evidence from Debt Collection Restrictions," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 78(1), pages 63-103, February.
    4. Dasgupta, Kabir & Mason, Brenden J., 2020. "The effect of interest rate caps on bankruptcy: Synthetic control evidence from recent payday lending bans," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    5. J. Brandon Bolen & Gregory Elliehausen & Thomas W. Miller, 2020. "Do Consumers Need More Protection From Small‐Dollar Lenders? Historical Evidence And A Roadmap For Future Research," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(4), pages 1577-1613, October.
    6. Marco Migueis & Michael Suher & Jessie Xu, 2022. "Cost of Banking for LMI and Minority Communities," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2022-040, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    7. Jonathan Zinman, 2014. "Consumer Credit: Too Much or Too Little (or Just Right)?," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 43(S2), pages 209-237.
    8. Jennifer L. Dlugosz & Brian T. Melzer & Donald P. Morgan, 2021. "Who Pays the Price? Overdraft Fee Ceilings and the Unbanked," Staff Reports 973, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    9. Yang Sun, 2021. "Index Fund Entry and Financial Product Market Competition," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(1), pages 500-523, January.
    10. Megan Doherty Bea, 2023. "Relational foundations of an unequal consumer credit market: Symbiotic ties between banks and payday lenders," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(1), pages 320-345, January.
    11. Giraudet, Louis-Gaëtan & Petronevich, Anna & Faucheux, Laurent, 2021. "Differentiated green loans," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    12. Thomas A. Hemphill, 0. "The small-dollar loan industry: a new era of regulatory reform—and emerging competition?," Business Economics, Palgrave Macmillan;National Association for Business Economics, vol. 0, pages 1-11.
    13. Thomas A. Hemphill, 2020. "The small-dollar loan industry: a new era of regulatory reform—and emerging competition?," Business Economics, Palgrave Macmillan;National Association for Business Economics, vol. 55(3), pages 150-160, July.
    14. Christine L. Dobridge, 2016. "For Better and for Worse? Effects of Access to High-Cost Consumer Credit," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2016-056, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    15. Desai, Chintal A. & Elliehausen, Gregory, 2017. "The effect of state bans of payday lending on consumer credit delinquencies," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 94-107.
    16. Pankaj K. Maskara & Florence Neymotin, 2021. "Do Credit Unions Serve the Underserved?," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 47(2), pages 184-205, April.

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