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Freeze! Financial sanctions and bank responses

Author

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  • Efing, Matthias
  • Goldbach, Stefan
  • Nitsch, Volker

Abstract

We study the effects of financial sanctions on cross-border credit supply. Using a differences-in-differences approach to analyze eleven sanctions episodes between 2002 and 2015, we find that banks located in Germany reduce their positions in countries with sanctioned entities by 38%. The average German branch or subsidiary located outside Germany does not adjust its positions after the imposition of sanctions. For affiliated banks located in countries with low financial standards, we even observe a relative increase in credit supply. These effects are stronger if sanctions are only imposed by EU member states and not by the entire UN.

Suggested Citation

  • Efing, Matthias & Goldbach, Stefan & Nitsch, Volker, 2018. "Freeze! Financial sanctions and bank responses," Discussion Papers 45/2018, Deutsche Bundesbank.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:bubdps:452018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Tibor Besedeš & Stefan Goldbach & Volker Nitsch, 2024. "Smart or smash? The effect of financial sanctions on trade in goods and services," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 223-251, February.
    3. Lastauskas, Povilas & Proškutė, Aurelija & Žaldokas, Alminas, 2023. "How do firms adjust when trade stops?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 287-307.
    4. Anirudh Shingal, 2023. "Sanctions and services trade: the neglected dimension," RSCAS Working Papers 2023/39, European University Institute.
    5. Sami Bensassi & Arisyi F. Raz, 2025. "Combating trade‐related fraud: do the Financial Action Task Force recommendations bite?," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 92(365), pages 322-347, January.
    6. Liu, Xue-Ying & Zhao, Xin-Xin & Ma, Kun & Sharma, Susan Sunila, 2024. "The impact of financial sanctions on ESG performance of target countries," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    7. Konstantin Egorov & Vasily Korovkin & Alexey Makarin & Dzhamilya Nigmatulina, 2025. "Trade sanctions," Economics Working Papers 1920, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    8. Crosignani, Matteo & Han, Lina & Macchiavelli, Marco & Silva, André F., 2026. "Securing technological leadership? The cost of export controls on firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    9. Duong, Kiet Tuan & Huynh, Luu Duc Toan & Phan, Anh Dang Bao & Vu, Nam T., 2024. "From Russia with love: International risk-sharing, sanctions, and firm investments," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    10. Matteo Crosignani & Lina Han & Marco Macchiavelli, 2025. "Navigating Geoeconomic Risk: Evidence from U.S. Mutual Funds," Staff Reports 1172, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    11. Michelle Lowry, 2024. "The questions being asked: Academic research, the media, and regulators," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(3), pages 549-560, August.
    12. Gutmann, Jerg & Neuenkirch, Matthias & Neumeier, Florian, 2023. "The economic effects of international sanctions: An event study," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 1214-1231.
    13. Drapkin, I. & Simachev, Yu. & Fedyunina, A. & Pastukhova, P., 2025. "The impact of financial sanctions on countries' participation in global value chains: An assessment with the synthetic control method," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 69(4), pages 151-172.
    14. Friederike Niepmann & Leslie Sheng Shen, 2025. "Geopolitical Risk and Global Banking," International Finance Discussion Papers 1418, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F51 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Conflicts; Negotiations; Sanctions
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • K33 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - International Law

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