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The Accounting Review Vol. 93 No. 3 2018

Does Information Technology Reputation Affect Bank Loan Terms?

Jeong‐Bon Kim1; Byron Y. Song2; Theophanis C. Stratopoulos3

1 City University of Hong Kong and University of Waterloo · 2 Hong Kong Baptist University · 3 University of Waterloo

Abstract

This study investigates whether Information Technology (IT) reputation, captured by the accumulation of consistent IT capability signals, influences bank loan contracting even though banks have access to inside information. We predict that IT reputation is associated with better loan terms because it lowers credit risk via its impact on default and information risks. Results based on 4,218 loan facility-years reveal, as predicted, that firms with a reputation for IT capability tend to have more favorable price and non-price terms for loan contracts and are less likely to have their credit rating downgraded or to report internal control weaknesses than firms with no IT reputation. The study contributes to the banking and IT business value literature by showing that banks incorporate borrowers' nonfinancial characteristics, such as IT reputation, into loan contracting terms. JEL Classifications: G21; G32; M41; O32. Data Availability: All data are available from sources identified in the study.

DOI
10.2308/accr-51927
Volume
93
Issue
3
Pages
185-211
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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