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Informational switching costs, bank competition, and the cost of finance

Author

Listed:
  • José Renato Haas Ornelas
  • Marcos Soares da Silva
  • Bernardus F Nazar Van Doornik

Abstract

This paper studies the links between competition in the lending market and spreads of bank loans in Brazil. Evidence from a dataset of more than 13 million loan-level observations from private banks shows a positive relationship between market power, measured by the Lerner index, and the cost of finance, measured by loan spreads over the treasury curve. Furthermore, there is evidence of the holdup problem, originating from informational switching costs faced by firms. Private banks engage in a strategy of first competing fiercely for clients by offering a lower loan interest rate and later increasing interest rates as the bank-firm relationship duration increases. Both results are stronger for micro and small firms than for medium and large firms.

Suggested Citation

  • José Renato Haas Ornelas & Marcos Soares da Silva & Bernardus F Nazar Van Doornik, 2022. "Informational switching costs, bank competition, and the cost of finance," BIS Working Papers 990, Bank for International Settlements.
    • Handle: RePEc:bis:biswps:990
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    Cited by:

    1. Dimas Mateus Fazio & Thiago Christiano Silva, 2022. "Creditor Rights and Bank Competition," Working Papers Series 569, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.
    2. Baah Kusi & Elikplimi Agbloyor & Agyapomaa Gyeke‐Dako & Simplice Asongu, 2022. "Financial sector transparency, financial crises and market power: A cross‐country evidence," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(4), pages 4431-4450, October.
    3. Xiao, Zumian & Niu, Yiran & Xiang, Lijin & Cui, Yingshuo, 2024. "Central bank digital currency and corporate debt financing costs: Empirical evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PB).
    4. Tian, Guangning & Li, Bo & Cheng, Yue, 2022. "Bank competition and corporate financial asset holdings," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Jose E. Gomez-Gonzalez & Sebastian Sanin-Restrepo & Cesar E. Tamayo & Oscar M. Valencia, 2023. "Bank market power and firm finance: evidence from bank and loan-level data," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4629-4660, December.
    6. José Renato Haas Ornelas & Alvaro Pedraza & Claudia Ruiz-Ortega & Thiago Christiano Silva, 2021. "Credit Allocation When Private Banks Distribute Government Loans," Working Papers Series 548, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.
    7. Cathcart, Lara & Dufour, Alfonso & Rossi, Ludovico & Varotto, Simone, 2024. "Corporate bankruptcy and banking deregulation: The effect of financial leverage," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    8. Di Gong & Steven Ongena & Shusen Qi, 2025. "Information Frictions inside a Bank: Evidence from Borrower Switching between Branches," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 25-10, Swiss Finance Institute.
    9. Lai, Chong & Li, Rui & Gao, Xiujuan, 2024. "Bank competition with technological innovation based on evolutionary games," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 742-759.
    10. Li, Bo & Cheng, Yue & Tian, Guangning, 2024. "Bank competition and firm asset- debt maturity mismatch: Evidence from the SMEs in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    11. Mariarosaria Agostino & Lucia Errico & Sandro Rondinella & Francesco Trivieri, 2024. "Leverage and SMEs financial stability: the role of banking competition," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 48(2), pages 345-376, June.
    12. Guettler, Andre & Naeem, Mahvish & Norden, Lars & Van Doornik, Bernardus, 2024. "Pre-publication revisions of bank financial statements: A novel way to monitor banks?," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    13. Behr, Patrick & Norden, Lars & de Freitas Oliveira, Raquel, 2024. "Labor and Finance: The Effect of Bank Relationships," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 59(1), pages 283-306, February.
    14. Aurore Burietz & Kim Oosterlinck & Ariane Szafarz, 2025. "Hold-up in Syndicated Lending: Why Do Bank Relationships Lead to Higher Costs for High-Quality Firms?," Working Papers CEB 25-005, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    15. Malik, Sikandar Hayyat & Saba, Irum, 2025. "Navigating the intersection of competition and performance in the banking sector: A hybrid review," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    16. Si, Deng-Kui & Wang, Meng & Wang, Jiaming & Li, Hong-Xue, 2024. "Does banking competition increase corporate labor income share? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 440-454.
    17. Sun, Yabin, 2024. "Bank competition and firm greenwashing: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation

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