This paper analyzes the importance of discretion in bank lending decisions. We use a unique dataset of more than 1 million loan applications to customers of German savings banks and can observe accept and reject decisions as well as loan performance. We document that discretion is widespread and...

On 26 October 2014, the European Central Bank (ECB) published the results of the comprehensive assessment that comprised both an asset quality review (AQR) as well as a stress test. Banks that have shown capital shortfalls after the assessment had up to 9a months the close the capital gap. In...

On 26 October 2014, the European Central Bank (ECB) published the results of the comprehensive assessment that comprised both an asset quality review (AQR) as well as a stress test. Banks that have shown capital shortfalls after the assessment had up to 9a months the close the capital gap. In...

This paper analyzes the importance of retail consumers' banking relationships for loan defaults using a unique, comprehensive dataset of over one million loans by savings banks in Germany. We find that loans of retail customers, who have a relationship with their savings bank prior to applying...

This paper analyzes the effect of the removal of government guarantees on bank risk taking. We exploit the removal of guarantees for German Landesbanken which results in lower credit ratings, higher funding costs, and a loss in franchise value. This removal was announced in 2001, but...