The causal relationship between SME sustainability and banks’ risk

Abstract

This study aims to examine the influence of banks’ credit to SMEs on non-performing loans. Many studies find that access to financial sources has become an obstacle to the growth and sustainability of SMEs. This study uses theoretical and empirical approaches to support the study’s hypothesis. Data are presented for 15 banks in Palestine, covering the period 2006 to 2016.The study uses empirical techniques regarding to examine the relationship between the variables. Evidence shows that encouraging banks to lend more money to SMEs through the use of a guarantee fund could decrease their risk. Thus, enhancing credit to SMEs could improve the growth and sustainability of these firms. The study recommending policymakers and bank’s managers could develop their strategies according to SME’s needing. Therefore, enhancing the growth in these firms and reducing the bank’s risk. Furthermore, adopting the guarantee funds in developing countries could decrease the bank’s risk, thus lending more to SME. The value of this paper comes from the importance of SME in the economic growth and development sustainability. Therefore, there is a need to convince banks to enhance SME credit through a guarantee fund and that extending this type of credit would positively influence banks’ activities.