We are calling for comparisons of banking and banking systems from a spatial perspective. Therefore, this paper develops a classification identifying decentralized and centralized banking according to two characteristics: geographical market orientation (regional vs. supraregional) - to...

Den regionalen Sparkassen und Kreditgenossenschaften gelang es, die Kreditvergabe an Unternehmen in der Finanzkrise zu steigern, während Groß- und Landesbanken Kredite kürzten. Entsprechend wird international die Bedeutung regionaler Banken diskutiert. Der Einführungsband zum Thema „Banken...

Based on the classification of decentralised and centralised banking, this paper investigates diversity in business lending in the UK. Using expert interviews and desk research, the distance between lenders and SMEs in credit decisions for the identified types of lenders is classified. Due to...

By lending to SMEs at low geographical distance, banks can realise competitive advantage due to enhanced access to soft information that allows the better screening of firms. As especially regional banks lend at a low distance, the decentralised German banking system is deemed ideal for SME...

Although small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contribute considerably to Germany's carbon emissions, regional savings and cooperative banks - SMEs' most important financiers - hardly consider this aspect in lending to these businesses. However, given Germany's commitment to climate...

By lending to SMEs at low geographical distance, banks can realise competitive advantage due to enhanced access to soft information that allows the better screening of firms. As especially regional banks lend at a low distance, the decentralised German banking system is deemed ideal for SME...

Auf Grundlage eines neuen Datensatzes wird untersucht, warum dezentrale Banken auch in strukturschwachen Regionen, in denen sie wichtige gesamtgesellschaftliche Aufgaben übernehmen, i.d.R. erfolgreich wirtschaften. Sparkassen in demographisch schrumpfenden Regionen und insbesondere in...