Credit Management Practices and Loan Performance of Microfinance Banks in Kenya

Abstract

Loan performance of microfinance firms has declined recently. This pattern compromises microfinance organizations sustainability, viability and hinders them achieving their objectives. The purpose of this study was to see how credit management strategies affected loan performance at Kenyan microfinance institutions. The particular objectives of the study were to assess the impact of credit policy, customer evaluation, collection policy, credit conditions, and credit risk management on loan performance. Thirteen Kenyan microfinance banks are the subject of this initiative. Financial Intermediation theory, Information Asymmetry theory, and Transaction Cost theory will be used in this research. The study employed a descriptive research approach. In this study, both primary and secondary data will be employed. The basic data will be evaluated using the statistical metrics of mean and standard deviation. A direct model will be used to evaluate the impact of credit management strategies on loan performance (without moderation) and a moderating effect (with moderation). It was also utilized inferential statistics with linear regression models. Structured questionnaires were utilized in primary data collection. Financial reports for Microfinance banks and supervisory reports from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) will be used for secondary data collection. The study found that that their firms conduct client appraisal. The study also found that client appraisals were effective. The study found that the firm checks at the client’s credit worthiness before issuing a loan. The study found that the bank has credit analyst whose work is appraise all potential loan customers who seek to borrow from the bank. There are various services providers contracted by the bank e.g. for credit tracking to help with tracking of vehicles used as collateral, insurance firms, law firms who assist in security perfection in case where land has been used as collateral, CRB firms who assist in giving information on clients CRB performance, company search firms e.g. credit info who assist in ascertaining the authenticity of companies belonging to clients who seek to borrow a loan from the firm. The study found that that the loan default rate is below 20%. The study also found that loan performance can be improved by calling customers frequently to remind them off their loans obligation particularly the perennial defaulters. Credit policy, client evaluation, collection policy, credit conditions, and credit hazard control were all huge on advance exhibition of microfinance banks in Kenya, as per the review, at a 5% degree of importance and a 95% degree of certainty. Their organizations perform customer assessment, as indicated by the review's discoveries. Client evaluations were also shown to be beneficial in the study. Before granting a loan, the business examines the client's credit worthiness, according to the research. Following are some recommendations based on the study's results and conclusions: On the impact of microfinance banks' credit policies and decision-making on loan performance, it is recommended that effective credit risk management procedures be developed and executed, particularly through credit risk management information systems. Keywords: Credit Management, Loan Performance, Microfinance