The Effect of Relationship Lending on Loan Contract Terms

This paper investigates the effect of relationship-lending on loan contract terms, especially on the interest rate, loan value, and collateral requirements. For this purpose, data on 4850 loans granted by a bank in 2016 is employed. Our estimations show a negative and significant relationship between the interest rate and quality and quantity of borrower-lender relationship. Furthermore, there has been a positive and significant relationship between loan volumes granted to the borrower and the scope of his/her relation with the bank. Finally, there has been a positive and insignificant relationship between customer relationship with the bank and pledged collateral. The relationship-lending, as a solution for asymmetry information problems, is a winner-winner game such that the lender saves on screening expenses and the borrower is financed at lower costs. Thus, deliberate regulation in support of relationship lending increases the welfare of both sides of the credit market.