Loan sales and capital constraint: a study on Brazilian banks

Abstract

This study investigates the relation between capital restriction and credit assignment operations carried out by Brazilian banks. The analysis period, between June 2004 and June 2009 - when credit assignments increased almost by 20 times, in face of a 162% growth in credit volume - includes the 2008/2009 financial crisis, an exogenous shock to Brazilian financial system during which financial institutions faced difficulties due to the reduction in fund raising by means of free and inter-bank deposits. This also allows observing whether capital restriction effects on credit assignment are higher during financial crises.  The results indicate that an increase in capital restriction – own or third parties’ – is related to the expansion of credit assignment operations of Brazilian banks.