Effect of COVID-19 on non-performing loans in China

Abstract

We examine the resilience of Chinese banks during the COVID-19 pandemic by investigating non-performing loan (NPL) ratios. We find that despite the reduction in the growth rate of total bank lending, bank NPL ratios significantly increase during the COVID-19 crisis. Banks with high-quality capital are more effective in controlling their NPL ratios during the Crisis. Big Five banks, state-owned banks and domestic banks have lower NPL ratios than their counterparts during the Crisis.