Credit rationing and risk management for SMEs: The way forward for South Africa

Abstract

Small and medium enterprises are increasingly seen as playing an important role in the economies of many countries. Studies identify adequate and accessible financing as a critical component of SME development. Many SMES are unable to access loans from the commercial banks due to lack of financial knowledge, collateral and credit history. The drive to minimise risks informs the decision of banks to minimise loan approval for SMEs. The question that now arises is how to strike a balance between financial intermediation towards achieving economic development, while reducing operational and credit risks that confront financial intermediation at large, especially banks. The aim of this paper is to investigate the factors affecting the SME lending-decision process of commercial banks and uncover the possible way forward for South Africa.