Discussion paper
DP15445 Screening and Loan Origination Time: Lending Standards, Loan Defaults and Bank Failures
We show that loan origination time is key for bank credit standards, defaults and failures over the cycle. We use the credit register from Spain, with the time of a loan application and its granting. When VIX is lower, banks shorten loan origination time, especially to less-capitalized firms.
Bank moral hazard incentives (competition and capital) are crucial drivers. Moreover, shorter (loan-level) origination time implies higher ex-post defaults, especially for less-capitalized firms in areas with higher bank competition or when VIX is lower. Finally, shorter pre-crisis origination
time involves more bank-level failures, even more than other lending conditions, consistent with lower screening.
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