The timeliness of loan loss provisions and the credit crunch in Spain: Evidence from firm-level data

Abstract

The main objective of this End of Degree Project is to test whether more conservative banks before the economic crisis –i.e., those who exhibited timelier loan loss recognition-, were able to extend more loans to their borrowers after the burst of the real estate bubble in Spain. To do this, we use a unique database (SABI), which allows us to match borrowers and lenders financial statements for the period 1997-2009. Our findings suggest that a) financial entities with higher capital buffers before the crisis exhibit a lower reduction in its lending to non-financial firms during the crisis, b) commercial banks and saving banks with more timely loan loss recognition prior to the crisis exhibit a lower reduction in its lending to non-financial firms during the crisis, c) firms borrowing from banks with more timely loan loss recognition prior to the crisis exhibit a lower likelihood of bankruptcy during the crisis.