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Journal of Corporate Finance Vol. 17 No. 2 2011

Corporate choice of banks: Decision factors, decision maker, and decision process — First evidence

Steven Ongena1,2; Günseli Tümer-Alkan; Bram Vermeer1

1 Tilburg University · 2 Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate how firms choose their banks. We focus on the role played by the decision factors, the decision maker and the decision process in determining firm–bank relationships. We have access to a unique survey that was run by a major bank in the Czech Republic. We find that firms that consider bank reputation to be an important decision factor, have fewer bank relationships and are less likely to reduce the number or quantity of services taken from their banks. Firms that emphasize the price of bank services are more likely to end relationships or to reduce services. Interestingly, the identity of the corporate decision maker determines the number of bank relationships. A Chief Financial Officer deciding on her own will opt for a lower number of banks than a committee of board members.

DOI
10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2010.09.006
Volume
17
Issue
2
Pages
326-351
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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